WHITE LIES

Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. It is I who have turned against every person in your father’s household.”

1 Samuel 22:22

David’s “white lie” in 1 Samuel 21:1-9 contributed to the murders of 85 priests in the town of Nob (1 Samuel 22:18). Why did David lie? The translators of the King James Version added “for fear of Saul” to 1 Samuel 21:10. They did this because they believed the context warranted this comment about David’s motive for fleeing. They are probably right, but they should have clarified that this is not what the Hebrew text reads. It should have been a footnote. It does provide for us an insight into David’s spiritual condition at that point. It was low. Psalm 34 is David’s testimony to God’s mercy and deliverance at that point in his life. His despair and fear were part of the slaughter at Nob.

Two high school girls who had gotten into trouble at a high school in Canton, Ohio were taken to the office. An administrator of the school took one of the girls into his office to talk to her. After he closed the door, she stood up and ripped her blouse open and then screamed. The secretary and others came running in. The principal told this man to go home and they would deal with the allegation, and that there was nothing to worry about. The administrator went home, and wrote a note explaining that even if he was vindicated, his reputation had been soiled permanently. Then, he hung himself.

Sin has far reaching effects, even so-called “white lies.” Do you tell lies, even “white lies?” God hates lying (Proverbs 6:17). A person who is a chronic liar faces eternal judgment in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Do you have a problem with lying? Seek God’s face. Ask Him for forgiveness. Find a Christian brother or sister (if you’re a woman) to whom you can be accountable. Become a person after God’s own heart by telling the truth (Eph. 4:25).

Ike Graham  

THE DAY I BURIED MYSELF

He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world for My sake will keep it to life eternal. John 12:25

A paradox of the Christian faith is that if you hold on to your life you lose it, but if you yield it up to God (dying to self) you will gain eternal life. Our Lord tells two similar parables that capture the essence of this decision: the parable of the hidden treasure, and the pearl of great price (Matt.13:44 and 13:45-46). In each case a man finds a treasure of immense value and gives everything he has to get it. This is the value of the kingdom of heaven. There simply isn't anything more valuable than life in Christ. When I was starting a church in New Albany, Indiana in 1978, I received a phone call from a man named Russell Simpson. He was receiving my mail since he and I had the same name. I went over to meet him and his wife Rosa. They were fine Christian people who I often visited.  When he died his wife Rosa asked me to do the funeral. It was my first funeral. I recounted to the family how Russell and I met and how ironic to me to be burying my name sake, but in reality I had buried Russell Simpson 7 years earlier at The Ohio State University when in my dorm room I saw the inestimable value of Jesus Christ and gave my life to the Savior. Russell has done this, I have done this and everyone who wishes to gain eternal life must do it.       

Russ Simpson 

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed. For in the image of God, He made man. Genesis 9:6

God teaches us in His Word to value life. Why? Because all life, from the moment of conception to natural death has been ordained by Him (Psalm 139:16). Every human being has been created in the image of God, and thereby has intrinsic value and worth. When someone unjustly kills another person, they have destroyed an image bearer of God Himself, and thus have sinned against God. At that moment, God has ordained the government (Rom. 13:1-5) to carry out justice and put the murderer to death.

But some people object. They make the statement, “But doesn’t God tell us to forgive our enemies? Remember what Jesus said on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing’” (Luke 23:34). All of that is true, but that does not negate God’s clear instruction. It is possible for the family of the victim to be willing to forgive the murderer; in fact, it is mandatory (Matt. 6:14-15). And, at the same time, the family has the God given responsibility to call for justice to be carried out. The key is the family is not the one carrying out the justice; God has assigned the government that role (Rom. 13:4).

A government that refuses to put murderers to death has failed in their God-given ordination. The consequences will compound when you consider the dishonor to the victim and the danger to society, as evil is no longer restrained. While you might not be able to change the government, you can boldly stand on the truth God has revealed in His Word, as you eagerly await the day when all justice will be served (Rom. 12:19).

Joshua Steiner

PET STORE

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
1 Corinthians 12:26-27 

My daughter Maddy loves animals of all kinds. When we went to the pet store to get a fish,  she settled on a sleek silver fish with two black stripes; a black tail; and a black lower fin. We learned that these fish are called black skirt tetras. Maddy, excited about her choice, told the pet store clerk “I would like one of the black skirt tetras, please.” We were surprised when the clerk explained that she could not sell just one because they must be sold in groups of two or more. Black skirted tetras are by nature social fish. If they do not have another of their kind, they will get lonely and die. Of course, we bought both of them.

As Christians, we are very much like the black skirted tetra. We need each other in the local church. We share a bond in Christ that the apostle Paul likens to the parts of a physical body. If a part is cut off, that part will start to die, and will no longer be useful to the body.  We are each a member of Christ’s body.  If we are cut off from that body, we become cut off from our Lord and Savior (the head), Jesus Christ, and from each other. Of course we can’t take this illustration too far, but it should help us to see that we need Christ, and we need each other as Christians (Heb. 10:25).

I have talked to many people who claim to be Christians, but when I ask them where they go to church, they usually say, “Nowhere. I don’t like the organized religion.” (or some other such nonsense). I then like to ask them if they love Jesus. “Oh yes!” they will say with enthusiasm, “I love Jesus.” I then explain the Bible teaches that the church is the body of Christ. We are His physical presence here on earth. If you separate yourself from the local church, you separate yourself from Jesus. Imagine someone saying to their spouse, “Honey, I love you, but I just don’t like your body, and I don’t want to be physically anywhere near you!” That conversation will not end well!

We are by spiritual nature like the black skirt tetra.  We need Christ, and we need each other.

Ethan Kallberg

WHAT’S ALL THE HARKING ABOUT?

The heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest!” Luke 2:14

In 1739, Charles Wesley penned “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” with Felix Mendelssohn (1740) providing its popular tune. Wesley’s carol is filled with biblical Christmas truth and theology. 

Verse one answers the question, “Why did Jesus come to earth?”  He came to be our King (Isaiah 9:6-7).  He came to reconcile men back to God. To reconcile means to thoroughly change, restore a broken, alienated relationship.  This reconciliation is available for all nations even as the angel announced to the shepherds (Luke 2:10).  Of course, it all started in Bethlehem just as Micah 5:2 prophesied!

Verse two answers the question of “Who is Jesus?”  He is Christ/Messiah, Anointed One, King (Luke 2:11) who is the everlasting Lord.  He was virgin-born (Isaiah 7:14).  He is incarnate Deity or God incased in human flesh and blood (John 1:1-2, 14) to be the mediator between Holy God and sinful man.  He is Jesus because He would “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21) and is the “name above ALL names” (Philippians 2:9) and lastly Immanuel or “God with us” experiencing all we go through yet without sin (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15-16).  Isn’t Jesus awesome!

Verse three answers “What does Jesus do for us?”  He brings us peace with God through His death on the cross (Romans 5:1), genuine righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), light in this world of darkness and sin (John 8:12) and everlasting life (John 3:16).  He heals us of our chronic disease of sin (Isaiah 53:5).  He sacrificed His life on the cross (Romans 5:6) so that we might be forgiven, born again (John 3:3, 7), and have resurrection hope beyond the grave (John 11:25-26).

Wow!  Wesley sure packed a ton of needed theology into one Christmas song.  Everyone needs to know who Jesus is, why He came and what He desires to do for us.  He is the only One who can save us from our sins.  No wonder the angels got so excited with their harking!

Bob Kulp

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

He who bears witness to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20

When I was in a rehabilitation facility regaining my muscle use after a month of non-use in a Covid hospital I received great care—when I received it. The problem was a shortage of nurses. Each one had more patients to care for than they could handle. That meant using my call button could mean a wait of a few minutes, or much longer. My record wait was 2½ hours for my supper one time. (I had to be fed a liquid via a plunger through a feeding tube.) I finally discovered that when the waits got long that I could usually get good results by using my cell phone to call the facility and choosing the nurses’ station. That worked especially well at night.

Now here we are in a sin-sick world pressing the call button and waiting for the Lord to come and deliver us from our woes. Why doesn’t He come? What is He waiting for? The Bible does not answer these questions. But we know that He IS coming. In the meantime, more people are being saved, and we have the opportunity to earn more gold, silver, and precious stones at the bema seat judgement. We know “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Let's not waste our time while we wait, but pray for and seek to witness to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even strangers of Jesus’ payment for sin for anyone who will just believe.

Jeffrey Eno

MARY’S VIRGIN CONCEPTION AND VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name ‘Emmanuel,’

which translated means, God with us.   Matthew 1:23

Joseph was a righteous man, a descendent of David, and betrothed to Mary, who also was a descendent of David’s line to Messiah. Mary was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit, but Joseph thought her pregnancy was by another man (the only logical means: Luke 1:34). Joseph’s reaction to Mary’s pregnancy proved he was not the father of the Child. This proves the virgin conception of Jesus. An angel appeared to Joseph to urge him to marry Mary since this was of the Holy Spirit. Translations that employ quotation marks close off the quote of the angel at the end of verse 21 (NAS/ESV/NKJV). However, if the quote by the angel continues through verse 23, then the angel was urging Joseph to take Mary as his wife based on the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy. The angel quoting Isaiah should translate, “the whole matter has come to pass to fulfill the word of the Lord...” It was not only a virgin conception by the Holy Spirit, but it was also a virgin birth. Joseph sees that the prophecy had to be fulfilled. He took Mary as his wife and keeps her a virgin. He refrains from consummating the marriage until after she gives birth. “He did not know her until (e3wj) she gave birth to a son” (v. 25a). Mary could have had a virgin conception, but not virgin birth if she and Joseph had physically joined in marriage. So Joseph, being instructed by the angel through the Isaiah prophecy, restrained himself to postpone their honeymoon until after Jesus was virgin birthed. Praise God for godly examples who do what is right.

DeLane Miller

WHEN TROUBLE FOLLOWS SUCCESS

So Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

1 Samuel 18:9 

The verse above characterizes Saul after the many victories over the Philistines which he and David had accomplished under God. Verse 7 reads: “And the women sang as they were merry and said, ‘Saul has struck his thousands, and David his ten thousands.’” Saul’s anger and jealousy plagued David for years. But God was turning David’s losses into gains as He was preparing him to be the king of Israel.

I read about a 16-year-old girl who, in 1967, dove into a lake not knowing how shallow it really was and broke her neck. She became paralyzed from the neck down. Though she professed to be a Christian, she said that her faith was “shipwrecked.” She became numb emotionally, desperately alone, and very, very frightened. One of her friends was a teen by the name of Steve. He spoke of God’s sovereignty, His power and control. But Joni pushed back and said, “How can this be a demonstration of God’s love and power?” Steve opened his Bible to Acts 4:27-28 and asked Joni, “Whose will do you think the cross was?” That began a lengthy journey away from doubt and cynicism to faith and confidence in God. Maybe you’ve heard of or read the writings of Joni Eareckson (Tada). God turned Joni’s loss into great gain. He did the same with David, son of Jesse. God turned Adam’s loss into salvation. He turned Joseph’s loss into gain for the world. He turned Daniel’s loss into great blessings for Israel and the world. God specializes in turning losses into gain. Even death is gain. You cannot lose with God. Margaret Snell Nicholson suffered from 4 incurable diseases for 35 years as an invalid. She wrote this:

​One-by-one He took them from me, all the things I valued most,

​Until I was empty handed; every glittering toy was lost.

​And I walked earth’s highways, grieving; in my rags and poverty.

​Til I heard His voice inviting, “Lift your empty hands to Me!”

​So I held my hands toward heaven, and He filled them with a store

​Of His own transcendent riches, till they could contain no more.

​And at last, I comprehended with my stupid mind and dull,

​That God would not pour His riches into hands already full.

Ike Graham

YOUR BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER!

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.  James 1:17

For most people Christmas is all about the gifts that we give and especially the ones we receive.  Four year old Nancy’s parents and older siblings tried to teach her about Jesus and the real meaning of Christmas but after receiving lots of gifts and toys, she exclaimed, “I sure hope Mary and Joseph have another baby!”  In reality Christmas is about receiving the best gift ever given by the Giver of every good and perfect gift, the Father of lights, Almighty God Himself (James 1:17).

So what is the perfect Giver’s best gift to mankind?  Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Eternal life is a totally UNDESERVED gift.  God come to earth in human flesh and blood to pay the full penalty for our sins on Calvary’s cross (Romans 5:6-8).  Furthermore, it is a totally UNEARNABLE gift.  The Greek word “gift” implies something freely, graciously given, gratis.  In light of God’s perfection, our best moral efforts are assessed as “filthy rags” in comparison to His absolute holiness.  The good news is that through God’s grace we can be saved if we trust in Jesus as God’s only way to heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6).  Finally God’s gift is a totally UNPARALLED gift as 2 Corinthians 9:15 exudes “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!!” 

How can you receive this undeserved, unearned and unparalleled eternal gift from God?  You simply take God at His word, admitting your personal sin, guilt and helplessness, putting your trust and hope in Jesus alone for forgiveness and eternal life.  You will also want to share Jesus and His free gift of eternal life with everyone you meet.  Don’t miss out on the greatest of all gifts!

Bob Kulp

PROCESSING TRAGEDY

Will the Lord reject evermore? And will He not be favorable again? Psalm 77:7

 On September 10, 2025 Charlie Kirk was assassinated. In the hours and days that followed believers all over the world experienced a range of emotions, from anger, to disbelief, to fear, to wondering why God allowed it to happen. Maybe you were not impacted by Charlie’s death, but you have experienced a tragedy that has shook you to the core. In those moments, it can seem that God has rejected us; that His grace and mercy have ceased forever. 

That is what Asaph, the writer of Psalm 77 felt. He doesn’t tell us what terrible thing has happened (v. 2), but it was something that was tragic enough that it caused him to wonder if God had forgotten to be gracious (v. 9), or if He was listening anymore. Read Asaph’s heart-wrenching words in verses 7-9. It is important that we tell God what we are thinking and feeling; not in an attacking way, but simply verbalizing what is going on in our thoughts. 

At that point, we then must make the conscious decision to cling to the truth of who God is and what He has promised. You will notice in verse 10, Asaph acknowledges that it is his grief, or his weakness, that caused him to think in that way; which is why he goes on to say (read vv. 11-15). God has not forgotten; He is not asleep. As Asaph reminds us, He is still very much at work, even in the midst of tragedy. Asaph made the conscious decision to meditate on the truth of God; and we must do the same. Will you commit to process tragedy in the way Asaph exemplifies in Psalm 77? 

Joshua Steiner

PERSONAL MAIL

God, having spoken long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days spoke to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. Hebrews 1:1–2

Hebrews 1:1-2; John 1:1, 14

“Back when I was a boy . . .” are words which young people just love to hear from us “geezers!” A few years ago, I talked to a senior saint in the church who had delivered mail to our house when I was in elementary school. He affirmed what I had remembered. At Christmas time the mailman walked his route, then went to a box into which more mail had been deposited to be delivered that same day. There were greeting cards which were considered important enough that the government had determined to deliver them in a timely manner. People sat down and wrote personal notes in Christmas cards which were put into envelopes and sealed shut by licking the adhesive on the flap. The address was written on the envelope. The finishing touch was licking the stamp and placing it on the envelope.

We lived through COVID during which utility and other bills were delivered two weeks after they were due, if at all. In our area the mail service seems to have never fully recovered. Our mailbox generally holds third-class mail- ads for stuff in which I have no interest. My sister and a pastor’s widow with whom I regularly communicated via hand-written letters recently passed away, so I seldom write a letter. It seems sad. I very rarely receive personal, first-class mail. We have the privilege of receiving a personal message from Someone Who loves us any time we desire to hear from Him. His love letter contains life-giving Truth. “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son . . .” (Hebrews 1:1-2) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us . . .” (John 1:1, 14) Are we listening to what He has to say? Do we “long for the pure milk of the Word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2)? Brethren, you’ve got mail!!!

Les Vnasdale

THE RAPIER OF JUSTICE

Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man. Genesis 9:6

The chaotic violence that characterized the days of Noah was grievous unto the heart of God (Gen.6:11-13). After the Flood, God commanded the universal implementation of capital punishment “by man” (containing the germ of human civil government) to curb humanity’s murderous inclinations, which would serve as both a deterrent (Deut.13:11; 21:21) and as a statement of societal revulsion against the wanton destruction of that which was created in “the image of God”(Gen. 9:6). Like other measures associated with the Rainbow Covenant, the central issue involved the preservation and sanctity of human life.

The NT also recognizes that lawful civil magistrates do not bear the sword in vain (Rom.13:1-7; Acts 25:11). Throughout the centuries, even the heathen descendants of Noah instinctively recognized the justice and benefits of the provision—until the dawn of the “Enlightenment,” when Western infidel philosophers came to the realization that Biblical revelation was to be deemed “primitive” and “inhumane.” Apparently, Modern Man is more “ethical” and “loving” than God Himself!!! 

Romanism has solidified its support for the Enlightenment mindset with Pope Francis’ revisions to the Catechism, declaring capital punishment “inadmissible” (CCC 2267). Recently, Leo XIV further muddied the waters while expressing support for the nomination of pro-abortion Sen. Dick Durbin for a Catholic achievement award. In his off-the-cuff rationalizations, Leo redefined the Sanctity of Life ethic, claiming that support for capital punishment is as inconsistent with being “pro-Life” as abortion. Thus, the world’s largest nominal Christian body compares the lawful observance of God’s prescribed judicial mandate with the murdering of innocents.  

Christians cannot afford to be confused concerning basic Biblical ethics, given our calling to be salt and light (Matt.5:13-16)!

Terry L. Reese

TWO BELLY BUTTONS

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5

 I have two belly buttons. I find it fun to say that. Not many people can. One is from my mother; the other is from the removal of a feeding tube the hospital inserted when I was unconscious and unable to eat during weeks of Covid treatment. The one from my mother allowed me to be alive. The one from the hospital gave me a chance to continue living.

As I was getting dressed one morning I again noticed them and a curious thought crossed my mind. One reminds me that I was born; the other reminds me that I have been born again. Born because 9/30/48 I left my mother’s womb. Born again because when I was 12 years old I asked Jesus to be my Savior, which Jesus called being “born again.”

The phrase “born once, die twice; born twice, die once” has been attributed to Martin Luther. It means that if you have only been born physically, you will have both a physical and a spiritual death. Spiritual death results in eternal separation from God, your body, and from everyone and everything else. But if you are born both physically and spiritually you will only have a physical death (if Jesus does not rapture His church before you die). Then you will have eternal life with God in a body, and with countless others who have also been born twice.

You would be wise to test yourself to see if you are in the faith. Do you recall when you were born again?

Have you been born once, or twice?

Jeffrey Eno

THE SERVANTS’ SECRET

When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.’  

John 2:9-10

​The setting was the wedding feast at Cana, and it was the scene of Christ’s first miracle as Jesus the Messiah (John 2:11). Many people know the story, but very few—including those who were there—know what it really means. Yes, Jesus changed water to wine, showing Himself as the Creator God. But two other important facts linger in the background.

​First, notice the use of the terms “good wine” and “poorer wine”. Whenever God’s kingdom is compared to wine, it is always described as “sweet wine” (e.g., Joel 3:18), i.e. fresh wine, free from the “leaven of the Pharisees” that represents the corruption and decay that is in the world, and seen in the fermentation found in aged wine. Accordingly, saving the good wine until last in the wedding is a powerful symbol of how God saves the best until last; His glorious kingdom will be free of all of mankind’s evil corruption and drunken antics.

​Secondly, take note of who all knew that a miracle had taken place. It wasn’t the headwaiter or even the bride or bridegroom; only the servants knew the truth! No wonder Jesus wants us to be “servants”.

It is we who know the truth that goes on behind the scenes; it is His servants who are really aware of the power that controls this world; it is His servants who carry on His work and His will in a sinful world, until it is finally transformed into the true wedding feast that God intended.

Davy L. Troxel

A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES

A friend loves at all times, and a brother

is born for adversity.  Proverbs 17:17

Aristotle defined a friend as “a single soul dwelling in two bodies.” One small boy defined a friend as “someone who knows all about you and likes you just the same.” C.S. Lewis said, “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You, too!? I thought that I was the only one!’”

David, son of Jesse, and Jonathan, son of Saul, were friends. They were kindred spirits. They were committed to the good of the other. Jonathan was probably as much as 15 years older than David. What were the elements of their friendship according to the Bible?

• They made a covenant with each other – 1 Samuel 18:3

• They loved each other and delighted in each other – 1 Samuel 19:1

• They communicated with each other – 1 Samuel 20:12-13

• They counseled each other – 1 Samuel 20:10-23 (cf. Prov. 27:5-6)

• They shared each other’s joys and griefs – 1 Samuel 20:41-42

Someone has said, “Prosperity begets friends, adversity proves them.” That was true of David and Jonathan. Is that true of you? Are you that kind of friend? Many years ago, a British publication offered a prize for the best definition of a friend. They received thousands of definitions. The winning definition was: “A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.” That was the kind of friendship that Jonathan showed to David. When King Saul turned against David, Jonathan stuck with him. Do you have a friend like that?

Friends are like good health; you don’t realize what a gift they are until you lose them. In 1863, James Small wrote the hymn: “I’ve Found a Friend.” Stanza one goes like this:

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a Friend! He loved me ere I knew Him;

​He drew me with the cords of love, and thus He bound me to Him. And round my heart still closely twine those ties which naught can sever, For I am His, and He is mine, forever and forever.

Ike Graham

OVERCOMING WORRY

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,

Your consolations delight my soul. Psalm 91:14

There are times in life when the cares and concerns of this world can overwhelm us. The list of things that we can worry about can quickly grow; whether it is finances, health, deadlines at work, unkind neighbors, what is going to happen in our country or world. What do we do at that point?

We must live out and experience the comfort, the consolations, of our God. Notice, when we do, our soul will be delighted. We will no longer be overwhelmed and beat down; we will be lifted up in joyful praise. You could think of it like a ship that has been unevenly weighed down with a load that is more than it can handle. As the dockhands continue to put more and more material on the boat, it sinks lower and lower into the waters. Then, the water starts to seep over the edges; it is just a matter of time before the vessel will sink and be lost forever. But then the captain comes and turns a valve, releasing some of the ballast water, and the ship rises again. Turning that valve is what happens when we turn our thoughts from our worries to the Lord and receive the comfort that only He can give.

We are able to receive the Lord’s comfort as we meditate on the Scriptures and remind ourselves of who He is and what He has done. This is why Paul instructs us to, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4). As we rejoice in the Lord, we will receive His peace and comfort and our soul will be delighted in Him.

Joshua Steiner

BLINDED EYES?

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18–20

We had been hearing about the expected coup for weeks. We decided that we would go ahead with our planned visit to three local churches. We arrived at the second one on Saturday evening, ate a fellowship meal with the members and prepared for the night. After the morning worship service, we were in front of the church building with the congregation when five pick-up trucks stopped on the road and the occupants appeared to be asking some questions. They soon continued south. We later discovered that they had been inquiring about the distance to the Central African Republic border. Two of the tricks were military and a couple had been stolen from businesses in Moundou where we lived. As we ate our lunch the trucks reappeared headed north. The border guards would not allow the military trucks into the country. The fleeing partisans of the deposed president were looking for vehicles, valuables (especially cash) and food to steal before leaving Chad. It was not long before the trucks passed by heading south. Our presence in the sea of Chadian faces should have been very evident. Our pick-up truck was sitting in plain sight. The armed occupants of the five trucks should have noticed a source of cash - “rich Americans.” They should have seen our red truck, a type of vehicle for which they were searching. Yet, they did not. Is our heavenly Father able to protect His own? We, as believers, would immediately respond “yes” to that question. Have you ever doubted when faced with danger? I have. But our experiences have helped us to trust Him more. “Thank You for always being with us.”

Les Vnasdale

WHO HAS THE REAL CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?

For today in the city of David there has been born for you

a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11

During the Christmas season, we think about the “Christmas spirit.”  Yet this spirit is very different for many.  To get a proper definition of it, let’s go back to the first Christmas in Luke 2:1-20 and investigate what this real spirit is and who has it.

First we meet Caesar Augustus, the emperor of the Roman Empire.  To Caesar, the Christmas spirit with his census was materialistic and monetary.  That spirit continues today.  Christmas is by and large what we can get from the season.  Is this the real spirit of Christmas?

Then we meet the unknown innkeeper.  Mary and Joseph travelled some 75 miles over rough terrain arriving in Bethlehem without a motel reservation.  But the harried innkeeper’s response to them/Christ was “No Vacancy.”  That spirit continues today.  We get so busy with our activities that when Christ knocks, He gets the “NO VACANCY” sign shoved in His face (Revelation 3:20).  Is this the real Christmas spirit?

Next we meet the shepherds on a hillside near Bethlehem.  Their nightly routine is interrupted by some angels whose spirit was one of joy and praise that the Savior had been born.  This is the real Christmas spirit!  After hearing the news, the shepherds searched with urgency until they found the Child.  Then they proclaimed the good news to others!  Far too many people sing of Jesus, put up nativity scenes, go to church, have warm feelings, BUT … never experience a personal relationship with Christ.  Will you stay in the fields or come to the cross and receive life everlasting?

Finally, we find Mary pondering, considering all these things.  The real spirit is not material gifts or profits, not ceaseless activity, BUT to personally receive Jesus as your Savior, and then to continually praise God and give Him all the worship, glory, and thanksgiving He rightfully deserves.  Christ is the only true spirit of Christmas.

Bob Kulp

HE MAKES EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  Romans 15:4

Moses lived to be 120 years old. Someone has divided up his life like this: For his first 40 years, Moses learned that he was everything. For his second 40 years, Moses learned that he was nothing. For his last 40 years, Moses learned that God is everything.

Spiritual ends are not achieved by human power alone. Yet that is what Moses tried to accomplish in murdering the Egyptian. Warren Wiersbe used to say, “Faith is living without scheming.” Then, Moses hid from Pharaoh. Later, he would write: "Be sure your sin will find you out." God determined to turn Moses into a servant, so He developed Moses into a useful servant through obscurity, and time. In the desert, God strips away all unnecessary things and opens the heart to listen.  Other things are not blocking you from listening to God.  I don't know what your desert might be, but anything that brings personal pain or hardship can be a desert experience of life.  Maybe it's losing your job; a boring thankless job; moving, etc. Time is not God's priority; holiness of character is.  God's desert faculty is obscurity, time, solitude and discomfort.  He uses obscurity to break our pride.  He uses time to cure our fears.  He uses solitude to take away bitterness and resentment; to help us see we have no rights.  We are His.  He uses discomfort to change our habits.

There are 3 ways you can react to the deserts of life:

1.    I don't need it!              Pride

2.    I'm tired of it!               Resentment

3.    I accept it.           Humility, lesson learned.

Will you choose #3? If you do, then you will experience how God makes everything beautiful in His time.

Ike Graham

THE PLAY’S THE THING

So that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace… Eph. 2:7

God has authored an epic drama of cosmic proportions set in a theater that is grandiose beyond the scale of human comprehension. Scientists speculate that there may be 100,000,000,000 galaxies in the Universe—each of which has 100,000,000,000 stars as immense as our sun. These “points of light” are separated by distances so vast that they must be measured in unimaginable units of “light years.” Yet, the center of dramatic activity is an otherwise inconspicuous blue rock that orbits a mundane star on the outer rim of the spiral Milky Way galaxy. In Moses’ account of cosmic origins, only six lines are devoted to the stellar hosts (Gen.1:14-19)—but 39 chapters (Gen.11-50) are allotted to a single human family! 

It is not “arrogant” to regard Earth as exceptional (as atheists commonly charge). This planet ALONE is populated by sapient physical life-forms created in God’s image (Gen.1:27) whose flesh has been assumed by God (Heb.2:14-16) for the purpose of securing their redemption. When the Savior completed His atoning work for the sons of Adam, He sat down (Heb. 10:12)—He will not “re-incarnate” elsewhere for the sake of some mythical “E.T.!”

The theme of this drama is its Author’s own glorious attributes (Eph.2:7, Rom.9:17,22-23). The production concludes, of course, with the Great Playwright Himself appearing on stage to accept the standing ovation of angels and men: “AUTHOR! AUTHOR!”  

The title of today’s devotional is from Hamlet; in context, the “thing” about drama is its power to move men’s hearts to the point of response. Has your heart been stirred by the fact that even YOU have been granted a role in such a grand epic? Perform well!

Terry Reese