12-28-13 Anna

³⁶ There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. ³⁸ Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Thoughts: Anna was a prophetess.  There were many examples of a prophetess in the Bible:  Isaiah's wife, Deborah (who was also a judge), Philip's seven daughters.   Anna was a  widow for 84 years (according to the Greek- not the age as in NIV).  If so she was at least 105 in a day when the average person lived until they were 27 (no antibiotics, good food, sanitation).  She was of the tribe of Asher- not a tribe of the priests (Levi) or of the kings (Judah), but the everyday Jew.  Her uniqueness is found in her dedication and zeal. 
    She never left the Temple.  Perhaps she took to heart Psalm 84 "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere."  Today, too many would rather be anywhere but in God's house.  It is part of our rebellious nature- running away from our true Father. 
     She was not distracted with other loves, and her focus was clear and true.  She worshiped all the time.  Being with God was her main desire. In heaven we will want to have a heart like hers.  All other distractions will prove secondary.  This does not mean that we should all seek to be a widow that stays in church all of the time.  But this was her calling.  She found purpose, love, grace there.  Many miss out on this today and just vegetate in front of a computer or TV.  It is almost like we cannot see the stars for all the street lights.  But we are designed to be together with others in God's house. 
     When someone takes God seriously, it shows in their demeanor and patience.  The discerning person would listen to what they had to say. Anna along with Simeon, received Christ into His court- His earthly home- His Father's house. 
      Anna also was not embarrassed of being made fun of.  Her focus was on God and also how to help her people.  She did not mind speaking of the child to everyone she met.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to have more focus on you.  Keep me from being distracted.  Help me to speak of you to all I see.  Let your love overflow from my heart. 

    

12-27-13 Simeon

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2)

Thoughts: Simeon means "he who hears and obeys."  Simeon kept the words of the prophecies of the Messiah's coming near him.  He knew the signs of the times, that the secular world was rising under Rome and the religious world was fading under the rules of the Pharisees.  But Simeon made himself open to hearing God by being just and righteous.
       He was one of the first to recognize "the Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to His Temple" (Malachi 3:1).  He saw in Jesus the salvation not just for Israel but for the Gentiles as well.  Simeon also blessed Joseph and Mary when he was done prophesying that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah.  

Prayer: May I, Lord, like Simeon- recognize you and welcome you. 

12/22/13 Teh Shepherds of Christmas

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:8-20)

Thoughts: The shepherds stood out among others. No other people around Bethlehem got the news that night.  Wise men followed the star later, but God wanted someone to know right then- so He sent his angels to the uneducated, the humble, the cave-dwelling shepherds.  Ironically, a whole town was full of King David's descendants- but they were not told.  Only the lowly shepherd in the cold.  God cares for all people the great and educated but gentile wise men from far away and the poor uneducated Jewish shepherd close at hand.
    Ironically, the shepherds were keeping the sheep in Bethlehem- and you can see the hills of Bethlehem from Jerusalem (about 5 miles away).  Jesus is considered the Lamb of God (John 1:29; Rev. 5:6).  Now Israel is basically the same latitude as South Carolina and mid Georgia.  The average temperature is
    The shepherds heard the news and responded by seeking Him, and then worshiping Him.  But then they also spread the word.  This is an example for us all- to listen, to seek, to worship, and to spread the word.  

Prayer: Help me Lord to humble myself that I might hear, seek, worship, and witness. 

12-12-13 Wise Men

"I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel..."(Numbers 24;17- 1300 B.C. by Balaam)

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Thoughts: The wise men or Magi- were probably astronomers and pre-scientists from the east.  Some think Babylon (modern Iraq) or the Arabian area (like Qutar today).  Early traditions called these magi kings probably because of the kingly gifts offered to the baby King of kings.  Early tradition had three kings- because of the three gifts but we do not know how many came.  The amazing thing is they left their homes and traveled for months looking for the newborn king.  Their commitment and hope was amazing. 

Here are some explanations of "the start"

1) A conjunction of Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter in 7 B.C. 

2) A comet- the Chinese reported one in 5 B.C. 

3) A supernova- a temporary but brilliant star (probably in the Amdromeda galaxy).  Eusebius and the Protoevangelum of James (2nd century) point toward a surprisingly brilliant and unpredicted star.  Robert McIver points to Chinese and Korean astronomers pointing to a supernova about the time of Christ. He also points to Roman drawing of a supernova in about this time.  

Regardless, the Magi were convinced, and acted on their conviction.  They were not afraid to tell King Herod of a possible challenger to his throne.  They were not afraid to leave their home to travel afar.  We should seek their conviction and action. 

Prayer:  May I seek you and find you, Lord, this Christmas.  

      

12-10-13 Herod the First Grinch who Would have Stopped Christmas

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18)

Thoughts: Herod was the first Grinch who wanted to stop or steal Christmas.  He wanted to kill any challenger to his temporary throne.  Jesus, however, was not out for Herod's temporary throne.  He bypassed that entirely to claim a bigger prize- the Prince of Peace.
     Herod killed his own son and wife because they threatened him.  So he tried to kill Jesus.  Many scholars think the reference to the dragon trying to eat the woman and her son in Revelation (12:1-6) is a reference to Herod's trying to kill Jesus when he was a baby.
      There are always people who want to silence the message of hope, the person of Christ coming to earth.  A few weeks ago The American Humanist Society threatened a lawsuit against a school in South Carolina and a school in Colorado who were going to provide Operation Christmas Child boxes for needy children in another land- who would normally get nothing for Christmas. These boxes contain health items like soap, toothpaste and tooth brushes, as well as toys and drawing material.  The threat of the lawsuit stopped the children from sending Christmas boxes.  But when the Humanists were asked what they personally were doing to replace the boxes for needy kids they were unable to give an answer (See interview transcript here).  It is one thing to criticize or destroy the Christian message- but the better question is what do you replace that message with?  The message of no hope, no joy, no one to call on for help, no reason to be good is a message of death and meaninglessness.  That kind of thought is akin to Herod's kingship- all about this world's power and glory.  Jesus comes as a helpless baby- who just by his existence gives hope and peace.  

Prayer: Help me not to be a person of destruction and criticism, but a person who builds others up, Lord.  

11/30/13- Christmas (Advent) Characters

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.  

(1 Corinthians 10:6-13)

 Thoughts:  Today we are beginning a new series on Advent characters.  I am not talking about the secular Christmas characters whose mythology often clouds the truth and reality of God's great love.  Characters like Frosty the Snowman, the Abominable Snowman, The Grinch, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and more (maybe even the semi-Christian Santa) are everywhere this time of year.  Christmas characters are also found in traditional Christmas movies- like Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" or George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) in "It's a Wonderful Life" or Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) in "Home Alone" or Ebeneezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and now a slew of video game characters, or others.  In our culture these relatively new characters are sometimes better known than the real life characters of the original Christmas story- like Herod, Joseph, Mary, who were the shepherds and who were the wise men.   So I hope to explore some of the obvious ones as well as explore some of those not- so obvious with a little bit of educational license. 

      The New Testament tells us that the Old Testament was written in part for examples and warnings for us.  I pray that we will look at those who have gone before us and learn from them positively, or negatively avoiding their pitfalls. 

       Today we are learning the importance of those who actually (not fictionally) go before us.  If you were admitted to the hospital and the nurse came in to talk to you, the nurse would ask, “Do you have any diabetes in your family?  Has anyone in your family ever had heart trouble? Any high blood pressure?”  Today we understand that we can indeed learn from those who have gone before us, for they affect us.”  Those who have lived before us also effect our faith.  If their faith was strong, it is a lift to us.  If their faith is weak, it is harder for us to overcome their weakness.  So much of the Bible is simply biography and interpretation of biography as a way for us to learn or be inspired.  

Prayer; Lord, help me to learn from the real lives of others to be encouraged and inspired this year in advent.  

(Matthias Stom Adoration of the Shepherds 1635-40- from Wikimedia)