Worship from Hope

Anna, yet another unlikely character in the birth story of Jesus, the promised Messiah, the Son of God. Her account in scripture is short, but full of information. Considering how few people have any of their story recorded by name in scripture, we should not take it lightly any time a name is mentioned, because God thought their name worth remembering and their story worth retelling.

Anna’s story begins with a look back at the long life she has already lived. As a young woman, she was married and had the hope of all that lay before her in life. Childbearing for a Jewish woman at the time of the New Testament was one of the greatest honors and marks of God’s blessing on your life. I’m sure Anna entered into her marriage with dreams of becoming a mother and raising and loving her children, all while her husband provided for her and the family while leading them in the Lord.

Whatever her plans may have been, this is not what came to be for Anna. Seven years after marrying her husband, he passed away. Though we have no details of his passing, we can empathize with her loss. Many of us have endured sudden, life-altering, and tragic loss. Unfortunately, this experience is far too common for mankind. Though loss is a common experience, Anna’s response to her loss is far less common.

Through her tragic loss, Anna saw something incredible, the Goodness of God. This was not done by ignoring the pain she felt or pretending it wasn’t there. She saw the Goodness of God by taking her eyes off of herself and her misery and placing them on the Good Counselor. Her God is was and will forever be Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals (Exodus 15:26.) Anna found hope in her God, because He is Jehovah-Jireh (Genesis 22:14,) the Lord who provides, and she knew He would provide a way forward out of her grief and through her pain.

Christmas is a time of celebration; the Messiah has come! However, some of us will be celebrating Jesus’ birth while wrestling through the pain of loss. Let us follow Anna’s example and turn our eyes to the God who loves us deeply. Let us turn to Him as our source of comfort. Let us look to His goodness as we seek reasons to celebrate. Let us trust that our God still heals those whom He loves and continues to provide a way for those who follow Him.

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[f] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke 2:36-38

Set Your Hope on Christ Jesus

 “Life is short, death is sure, sin the curse, Christ the cure.” Anonymous

  Mankind, made in the image of God, (Genesis 1:27) has always found life too short. The longer we live on earth, the more we realize how little time we have. To fear death and long for extended or perhaps even eternal life, is natural for each of us. What hope do we have in life? 

 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV

Joseph being a son of David likely shared in the hope of this prophecy from Isaiah and while considering divorce from Mary he was visited by an angel of the Lord in a dream. 

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21 ESV

  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 ESV

   Many people go through their lives seeking for something that can only be found in Christ. The apostle Peter writes, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13 ESV

  We need to set our hope on Christ Jesus and what he accomplished on the cross for each of us. Being crucified for our sins, he accomplished the way to salvation through himself. Our belief in His life, death, and resurrection is what leads to the free gift of the Holy Spirit, sanctifying us to the ultimate goal, eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Celebrate Like A Shepherd

Luke  2 : 8 – 20

As we read the scriptures about the shepherds’ encounter with the angels, we should study their response to the miraculous event of our Savior’s birth.  Let us consider how the shepherds celebrated and let us be challenged to celebrate as they did.

We first note that they were working, watching their flocks at night.  They were faithful in productive activity, living life fully.  They were visited by the angels with all the glory of the Lord enveloping them and they were afraid.  But when they were comforted with the “good news of great joy that will be for all people” they overcame their fear.  They believed the angel’s message… a Savior has been born to you and you will find Him wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger in the town of David.  They participated in praise and worship with the heavenly host that appeared proclaiming glory to God and peace to men on whom His favor rests.

When the angels departed into heaven, the shepherds agreed that they had heard from the Lord and they would be obedient to God’s word, they would go to see this thing that had happened.  They had no doubt that God had done all that the angels proclaimed.  They hurried off, there was an eagerness within them to witness the Savior’s birth.  After they saw Him, they spread the good news all abroad and everyone who heard was amazed at their testimony.  When they returned home, the shepherds continued to glorify and praise God for all the things they had heard and seen and believed.

Our lesson from the shepherds is a beautifully simple one.

• Be a faithful worker, do everything as unto the Lord.

• Overcome your fears, trust completely in the love of God.

• Believe God’s word, there is nothing impossible for God.

• Participate in praise and worship with true believers.

• Be obedient to God’s commands.

• Witness the power and acknowledge the acts of God.

• Give testimony, spread the good news to all who will listen.

• Continue to glorify and praise God, live every day as if it was Christmas.

Hopeful Like Simeon

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is one which is often forgotten. After Jesus had been born, the shepherds returned home, and Mary and Joseph settled into their new routine as parents, this new family went to the Temple. Similar to a new family’s first time back to church with their new baby, I’m certain Mary and Joseph were full of mixed emotions. Not only did they have the normal concerns that come with caring for a newborn and leaving the safety of your home, but this newborn was the Son of God.

 After offering their sacrifices in worship to God, an elderly man approached them. Luke describes this scene well in Luke 2:25-32.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[e] depart in peace,
    according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

Few people have their names mentioned in scripture, but here is Simeon at the beginning of Jesus' life on Earth! In Luke’s account, there is nothing extraordinary about this man. He was not a mighty warrior looking for a leader, he was not a king or politician, nor was he a priest or prophet. Simeon was a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Simeon had seen all the suffering and tragedies his peers had seen. Simeon had felt the oppression and frustration of the Roman occupation. Simeon was not defined by these things he witnessed. It was his faith and hope in God that defined him. Simeon lived for God while waiting on God and God blessed him with something incredible.

 Perhaps my favorite thing about Simeon’s story in the Bible is God’s desire to use the seemingly unimportant but willing people, to be a part of His extraordinary story. Still today, God uses the seemingly unimportant to bring his extraordinary message of hope to a dying world. Though we know little about Simeon, I pray we live like him, righteous, devout, waiting on the Lord, and full of the Holy Spirit and ready to be part of God’s amazing story!

The Perfect Gift

2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift.”

In this verse, Paul is expressing gratitude for God’s gift. The greatest gift we could ever receive. A gift is something that is given freely without any strings attached.

Jesus was God’s indescribable gift of grace that was freely given to us, providing we accept it.

December is the time of year we search to find the perfect gift for others. We go shopping, putting up with crowed parking lots and stores and other shoppers who are also looking for that perfect gift. It can be an overwhelming time. People are not always pleasant and that can ruin the Christmas spirit.

Let’s not forget that the greatest gift we could ever receive is Jesus. He was born to save us from our sins. We celebrate His birth this time of the year, and we should. So let’s remember not to be overwhelmed with others when we are out shopping for that perfect gift, because we have already been given it.

This could not have happened if Jesus wasn’t born and that’s why we celebrate His birth. The perfect gift, let’s share that with everyone this Christmas.

Giving From Love

I love to give, especially at Christmas. I have felt guilty, wondering, “Am I getting caught up in the commercialism of Christmas?” No, it is the joy in my heart and the love I feel.

Acts 20:35 says, “It is better to give than to receive.”

James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, wit whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

God gave us the greatest example of giving when He gave us His Son, humbly born as a baby (Matthew 1.) He was born to give us hope. Hope is knowing and believing God is making the future better than the past or present.

Our family has traditions we do at Christmas. We decorate, place lights on the Christmas tree, and lights outside. One thing we do is place a very special gift under the tree all by itself. When our son was little he wrapped this gift in his Sunday school class. A little note on it says, “The best Christmas gift can’t be purchased in a store, it comes from God as a gift of love.” He brought it home and put in under the tree and said it has to stay there until Christmas day, because it is full of Jesus love.

We have placed it under our tree ever since.

Our hope can easily be stolen in life by things like tragedies, division, and stress. Psalm 42:5 says, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed? Put your Hope in God.”

“Hope” is believing God has a plan. When you see the word “Believe” on a Christmas decoration, it is not Santa we should think of, but God giving us the gift of Hope through His Son, Jesus. He is why we have hope for our future. A future when we are with Him and all things are beuatiful and perfect!

Focused on the God of Peace and Hope

As we celebrate this Christmas season, we must never forget the love God has shown us. Instead of focusing on God and the love and sacrifice He has given, our society has tried to take Christ out of the story. Instead of focusing on Christ and the reason for His birth, they focus on Santa, reindeer, snow men, elves, etc. Some have even taken Christ’s name out of the holiday by calling it “X-mas” day.

During this Christmas season, as we celebrate the joy, excitement and great news of the birth of Christ, let’s not forgot that it’s not just about Christ’s birth, but about the reason he became one of us. For all the joy and excitement of our Savior’s birth, His death and resurrection has given us the greatest gift of all, eternal life.

John 3:16 tells us

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal

life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the

world, but to save the world through Him”.

Our prayer for everyone this Christmas season is that we commit ourselves to living a life that better aligns with God’s will and that with His help, we may become better witnesses and better servants for Him.

Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust

in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the

Holy Spirit.”