Trip of a Lifetime

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

-- Matthew 2:1-2 

         

We call them Christ-followers. They're the folks who are on a life-long spiritual journey that started one day by accepting Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. And all along the way they seek to know Him better and do God's will with purpose and vision.

If you're one of these travelers, you already know that the journey can be rough at times. But what about that remarkable trip taken by some special Christ-followers long ago: one that covered hundreds of miles through deserts and rugged terrain--all for the purpose of meeting Jesus in person? 

 

They were called the Magi, but you might know them better as the Wise Men or the Three Kings. It's thought that they were astrologers from Babylon (ancient Iraq) who were familiar with the Old Testament prophesies about the Jewish people's long-awaited Messiah. Then one evening they recognized a very 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 find the king of Kings.

The Magi's successful journey more than 2,000 years ago holds lessons for modern-day Christ-followers like you and me. One is that following God can be at times both dangerous and demanding. Our winding spiritual pathway is full of hairpin turns and steep hills rather than smooth stretches of superhighway. And to reach their goal, the Three Kings chose the difficult route rather than a clearly marked boulevard. How often do we choose the easy way out of hard situations rather than doing the right thing?

The Magi's trek also reassures us that as Christ-followers, we will indeed find Him if we search diligently. The Wise Men lived up to their name because they not only recognized His star from a distance, they stayed on the path until they reached the destination.

What about you? As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, now's the time to set your sights on Jesus and open your eyes, mind and heart to God's will for your life. As the saying goes, Wise Men Still Seek Him.

 

The Gift of Love

Give him a generous farewell gift from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. Share with him some of the bounty with which the Lord your God has blessed you.

-- Deuteronomy 15:47 

         

Christmas is only a few days away, but opinions vary as to whether that's good news or bad. Either way, if you're still looking for that perfect gift for that someone special, there's no lack of choices, colors and price-points. A quick online trip to Amazon.com proves that. But with money particularly tight these days for so many Americans, every purchase has to count. We need gifts that will make an impression. We need value. It comes down to getting bang-for-the-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 a Low Everyday Wal-Mart price tag.

That's certainly the case if we're to believe God's personal instruction manual, the Bible. What does it have to say about the characteristics of a super gift? And more to the point, what does the Bible tell us about being a super gift-giver? We can find the answers through the Scriptures' 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.

Perhaps 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. (Your grandmother was right!)

Christmas is straight ahead...and the clock is ticking. So before we head to the mall, log onto Amazon.com or tune into the Home Shopping Network, let's follow the example 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 expensive gift that we can never repay. But it was given out of love...and it's free and available to anyone who's willing to open the package. 

Love Language

Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.

-- Deuteronomy 16:17 

         

What's your love language?

According to relationship expert and counselor Gary Chapman, husbands and wives demonstrate their love for each another in distinct ways. Some show it through words of affirmation or acts of service while others speak it through physical touch or quality time. Not surprisingly, another popular marital love language involves giving or receiving gifts. And that's something to consider as we wait in line at the checkout counter this Christmas season.

God also reveals His love in several ways. Think about the famous Bible story about the Prodigal Son, where the loving father welcomes back his wayward--and totally undeserving--child with open arms. Or what about the shepherd who searches tirelessly for a single missing sheep? When he finally finds it, he returns it triumphantly to the rest of the flock. These are vivid illustrations of God's immense love for you and me.

Jesus also paints this remarkable word-portrait of love, which the agrarian people of His day would have recognized immediately:

"I am the good shepherd," Christ tells us though the Gospel of John."The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Jesus also told His disciples about a man who sold his possessions to buy a field. And not just any field, but one that held buried treasure. The purchase price was staggering. Nevertheless, the man did whatever it took to gain the prize.

And that's how God loves us. He'll go to any length to bring you and me into His family. Perhaps the most famous passage in the New Testament, John 3:16, tells us that God loves the world so much that He gave His only Son (Jesus) so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. God willingly let Jesus suffer and die to pay for all of our wrongdoings: past, present and future. We rightfully deserve death because of how we've lived our lives and treated our fellow man. But God's love offers us joy and happiness--if we're only willing to accept it. By living on Earth among everyday people and then dying for our sins, Jesus essentially presented his American Express Gold Card to pay the tab for everyone.

How should Christ-followers respond to his remarkable gesture of grace? Although we can never repay God, our Creator wants us to demonstrate our love through sincere, tangible actions. And we can do so in many ways--from helping an elderly neighbor get groceries to revealing God's light through a prison ministry. It could also translate into changing a co-worker's life by showing him or her how Jesus has changed our own. The possibilities and potential of this eternal love language are endless.

The limits of human language prevent us from fully describing how much God cherishes us through his lavish gifts. But maybe it's really not so difficult. After all, it takes only three simple words from the Book of 1 John to sum up the Creator's love language:

God is Love.  

Bet Your Bottom Dollar

No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

-- Luke 16:13 

         

The essence of being a Christ-follower is accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Rather than following the world's conventional wisdom about life, relationships, possessions and money, Christ-followers see these things in a very different light. That's because our minds begin a positive transformation process as soon as we follow Jesus in earnest. What once seemed so valuable and desirable becomes dull and insignificant...and maybe even a bit tacky.

Well, at least that's the way it should work. But for too many of us, over-spending for Christmas, excessive credit card debt and the ability to buy online with just the click of a mouse can cloud our allegiances. There's too much easy access to too much of what we don't really need. And that's bound to rob us of our ability to lead the productive lives God wants us to enjoy.

Of course, falling into debt is sometimes unavoidable. Job layoffs and hospital bills, for example, can cripple anyone's bank account. But too often it happens because of foolish spending choices, gambling, get-rich-quick schemes or just about anything else that amounts to greed. The borrower becomes the servant of the lender. And as we all know, money tends to be a very harsh master. In a world that tempts us to buy regardless of our ability to pay, what's the key to escaping the debt trap?

It's really about returning to that process of transforming our minds and seeing things through Jesus' eyes. The first step is to determine whose money it really is. (It's God's). Then write out and follow a reasonable financial plan (a budget) for spending less money than you take in. Soon you'll begin to ask yourself if certain desired items are truly necessities or actually unnecessary luxuries. Can you bring your lunch to work most days instead of dining at restaurants? And do you really need another pair of shoes?

Your savings should grow once those questions are resolved.

Money and possessions aren't evil in themselves. But when they're abused through bad choices and priorities, they can quickly become our master through the debt that follows them. Jesus, however, has a better way: He sees money and possessions as tools for helping others, achieving justice and spreading His Kingdom here on earth. 

As we consider the gifts we'll give and receive this Christmas season, may we all embrace the true Master's perspective.

True Worship

Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces.

-- Exodus 23:24 

         

Do you ever wonder if you're worshiping the right god? The answer isn't as obvious as it seems...yet it has eternal consequences.

If you're a Christ-follower, you worship the true God revealed and proven through the Bible. Meanwhile, other religions promote false gods, ancestor worship and even the reverence of nature or living things (worshiping the creation rather than the Creator). Then there are today's popular teachings such as New Age, Scientology and Kabbalah. The list grows longer every day.

Even those who claim to be atheists are actually active worshipers. True, they may not be churchgoers and proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But they--like everyone--bow down to their favorite idol. Some worship money, luxury and pleasure while others choose intellect and higher learning. Still others kneel at the altar of more negative gods such as alcohol, drugs and illicit relationships.

The saying goes that there's no such thing an atheist on the battlefield. But there's a different type of battle--a spiritual one--that rages within everyone: the God of the Bible versus the world's gods and idols. Our hearts, souls and minds happen to be the prize of this ferocious global war.

Perhaps we don't literally kneel and worship before a golden idol like in Old Testament times. But the fact is that we all secretly (and maybe not-so-secretly) cherish our own personal gods. Think about the things that you worry about or sacrifice your time and money for. What are the issues that make you angry? What brings you the most joy? And here's a revealing question: Whose attention and applause do you most crave?

If the answer to each question doesn't involve God, you're likely worshiping an idol. And idols can be difficult to recognize through the fog of spiritual war. After all, they're experts at camouflage. Even apparently good things aren't always "god things."

As we enter the Christmas season, it's especially important for Christ-followers to remember that the real God--the One revealed through Jesus Christ--doesn't want to share His glory with an imitator or cheap idol. So let's all reflect on the God (or perhaps gods) in our lives...and then choose the One to serve, live for and worship fully.

Draft Pick

And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

-- John 1:12 

         

When you were in grade school, did your classmates tend to pick you first or last when choosing teams for kickball or other playground sports? And as you got older, did you ever try out--and make--your high school football, baseball or basketball team?

There's something special about being chosen by others--and in particular--by people you respect. And it extends beyond school and sports. When you've gone through the interview process and the human resources representative finally calls to offer you a job with the company, there's nothing quite like it. After all, you've been picked over the competition to join their team.

Kurt Warner knows what it's like to be picked by a team. But he also knows a lot about rejection. The retired NFL quarterback excelled in football, basketball and baseball in high school, and even led his gridiron team to victory in Iowa's Shrine Bowl. This success, however, failed to translate into a big name college scholarship. So for the next three seasons, Warner rode the bench at the University of Northern Iowa until his senior year. It was then that he guided the Panthers to an 8-3 record while garnering honors as Offensive Player of the Year.

As good as Warner was in college, no NFL team picked him in the draft. He stayed in shaped and supported himself financially by stocking shelves in a supermarket. And before long, he joined an Arena Football team. NFL scouts eventually noticed his talent, but he was cut during tryouts for the Green Bay Packers. Warner finally broke through by starring in the NFL's now defunct European League, and later signed a contract as the Los Angeles Ram's third-string quarterback. The following year, when the starting quarterback suffered a season-ending injury, Warner got his chance. And he responded by leading his squad to a 13-3 record and an unlikely victory in the Super Bowl.

"People think this season is the first time I touched the football; they don't realize I've been doing this for years--just not on this level--because I never got the chance," Warner told reporters. "Sure, I had my tough times, but you don't sit there and say, 'Wow, I was stocking groceries five years ago, and look at me now.' You don't think about it, and when you do achieve something, you know luck had nothing to do with it."

Although he was now a champion quarterback, Warner still faced obstacles in his career. For a short time, he accepted a stop-gap assignment with the New York Giants as they groomed another future Super Bowl quarterback, Eli Manning. Eventually traded to the Arizona Cardinals, Warner played in his second Super Bowl, where he threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kurt Warner is an unabashed Christ-follower who's quick to give God the credit for his successes--both on and off the field. He wasn't always picked first on his sports teams. And he wasn't immune from failure and disappointment. But his gifts and talents always showed through...and the scouts and coaches noticed.

If you've ever been overlooked or experienced disappointment on the playground, the office--or even in your own home--never forget that God has a plan for every Christ-follower. That's no promise that you'll ever lead your team to the Super Bowl. But you're still guaranteed to be His first round draft pick.  

Opportunity Knocks

When you make a promise to God, fulfill it without delay because God has no pleasure
in fools. Fulfill what you promise.

-- Ecclesiastes 5:4 

         

"Tomorrow is the busiest day of the week," says the old Spanish proverb. And famous author and humorist Mark Twain put it this way: "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow."

They're referring of course to procrastination, or what someone once described as "the grave in which opportunity is buried." Procrastination afflicts all cultures, genders and age groups. Ohio State University reports that people tend to embrace it when they perceive a task as being hard, inconvenient or even scary. The reaction is to replace important tasks with low priority substitutes and delay the tough stuff for another day. There's even a term called crooked thinking that describes the illogical--although predictable--way that procrastinators justify their behavior!

Procrastinators may also use their sense of perfectionism, inadequacy or discomfort to put off doing indefinitely what really needs to be done immediately. But the longer the delay with facing the uncomfortable, the worse this pattern becomes. And eventually...nothing gets done. Like they teach in high school physics class, a body at rest tends to stay at rest...unless there's something to put it in motion.

What will it take to put our own uncomfortable life issues in motion--rather than keeping them motionless on the back burner? Once God alerts us to an opportunity, we should respond to it. He might open our eyes through the words of a sermon, a conversation with another Christ-follower...or maybe even an unexpected interaction with a total stranger. But by whatever circumstance, the next move is ours.

Procrastination isn't a viable option--particularly in situations where action (or inaction) has serious life consequences. We need to respond to opportunities by taking that hard first step of faith.

Is your opportunity a conversation that you need to have, a relationship that you need to fix...or maybe a destructive one that you need to end? The truth is that "some day" is really another way of saying never.

So why not start now? Whatever the situation may be, no one's promising that it will be easy. But rest assured: you won't be alone.

"In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you," we read in 2 Corinthians. "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."