Today we look at how Jesus' closest earthly friend introduces Him. An introduction is important, because in many ways it gives the audience or person an idea of who the person is before they begin to speak. Sometimes an introduction falls flat as the speaker does not measure up to the hype. Other times, the introduction is forgotten quickly because the speaker surpasses any introduction that could be given. It is one thing to introduce a speaker of words... it is another thing to introduce a Savior who is the Word. The coming of God to earth as a man is called the Incarnation: the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form; the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ. Here's is John the disciple's introduction of Jesus... and His incarnation. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man named John who was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning Him and exclaimed, “This was the One of whom I said, ‘The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’”) Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness, for the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son — the One who is at the Father’s side — He has revealed Him. (John 1:1-18) This introduction tells us that Jesus... is God, has always existed, is the Creator of the world, is the source of life and light that cannot be extinguished, is the path of belief leading to eternal life, gives light to everyone, was rejected by many... even His own people, gives family rights to those who believe, became human, gives grace, reveals truth, and shows us the Father. Ladies and gentlemen... I give you... Jesus Christ. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. Here are two wise sayings that are very relevant and connected. A wise man is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool is easily angered and is careless. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man who schemes is hated. (Proverbs 14:16-17) An older generation would say that we need to be level-headed, or cool-headed. In fact, in the New Testament, Paul wrote to a pastor named Titus and told him how people ought to act... Older men are to be level headed, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that God’s message will not be slandered. (Titus 2:2-5) It is important for us to be even-keeled and not given to craziness. We should do this for the sake of others, for our own sake, and for the sake of the Gospel. God doesn't need loose cannons... He needs disciplined soldiers. Today you will have plenty of chances to go off. Please.. do not go off. Stay on. Stay on course. Stay on the path. Stay online. Stay on focus. Let the world go crazy, but be cautious, true, steady, level-headed, cool, reverent, sensible, sound, sober, pure, self-controlled, submissive, and kind. If we spend our time doing these things, we won't have time to go crazy on anyone. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. One of the beautiful things about social media is the blessing I receive from other believers who are serving God. I have Christian friends all around the world who post encouraging things. This is especially wonderful as I wake up on Sunday, a day most believers set aside to gather and worship. So when I awoke this morning to the following Facebook inbox message from a pastor, my Sunday was rocked a little bit... "Hey...brother.How are you?I am sorry becuse many day no communication.[My] government facebook off in [my country].We are well. Thanks my brother you all time pray for my family.God bless you." Me: "The government shut down facebook?" Friend: "govermment open the facebook 12-11~2015." Me: "Why was it shut down?" Friend: "I don't know." Me: "Is your country a Muslim country?" Friend: "Yes my brothe.___________ is Muslim country and 90%people Muslim.__________ govermment is Muslim. Me: "OK. I am sorry for that." Friend: "Muslim is not good." My friend then asked my wife and I to come to his country to minister. Ironically, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg posted on Facebook recently that "Facebook will fight to protect Muslim's rights." Hmmm... I will be freely driving my car to a public location and enjoying a Christian church service in no fear today. It does not even cross my mind that I won't be allowed to access the internet and post inspiring thoughts about our service. But my friend was blocked access to Facebook by his Islamic government. I will enjoy my freedom to worship and express myself today. But I pray for all who are oppressed by demonic regimes and religions today. Peace has come to earth, but the earth is not coming to peace. Today, let us obey the writer of Hebrews... "Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily." (Hebrews 13:3) [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. Yesterday one of my active Facebook friends, and busy colleague in ministry posted this as his status... "What would your funeral be like if all they did was read your Facebook statuses for the eulogy?" A eulogy is defined as 'a commendatory oration or writing especially in honor of one deceased'. A eulogy is usually given by someone who knew the person who died very well. It is meant to recap their life and character... in a positive way. I've done a few funerals, and even those with a mostly sketchy life usually have someone get up to say something nice about them. But my friend's questions is piercing. It goes along with another thought I've encountered over the years. "You are writing your eulogy every day." This is especially poignant. Now, if you are writing your eulogy every day, and your Facebook or other social media updates are a reflection of your every day, what would that look like at your funeral? What if someone read your status updates at your funeral... curse words, crude jokes, sexual innuendo and all? Would that be a nice event? What if there was a screen running a stream of the photos and 'funny' videos you post? Yes... including the ones of you nearly baring it all. Would everyone sit there and say, "My... she was such a fine human being and wonderful woman", or would they say, "Yikes... I should probably shield my eyes"? Would they say, "Now that is a fine example of a young man" or would they say, "I hope my kids weren't influenced by him"? We may want them to edit or pick and choose which content goes up on the screen. We would want them to share the best reflection of us. But it isn't their job to edit my/your life. It is my job to edit my life. It is your job to edit your life. Here and now. I've had family members at funerals ask me to avoid certain topics. I've had others say, "You don't have to make him a saint. Everyone here knows his life." And I guess that is the point... everyone knows your life... except for those secret areas. But people can even figure those out. Even if we edited your Facebook/Twitter feed for your funeral, all of your friends would know better. Here is a real life example of a woman whose funeral was preached during her life, and her life changed her funeral... In the city of Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was always doing good works and acts of charity. In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:36-42) So this lady lived such a stellar open life that when she died, the people were not embarrassed by her activity... but actually were so positively impacted by her life that they couldn't imagine living without her. Is that me? Is that you? As people watch our news feed, do they think, "I don't want to ever lose this kind of a person in my life"? Or are they thinking, "Hmmm... I hate to delete friends, but I can't handle this cussing and drama... and I don't want to see that much of their body. I love them, but I can't have this in my news feed or life." The Bible speaks of the death of another woman, named Jezebel. The back story is... Jezebel was an evil, mean, and loose woman. Yes... We call such women today 'Jezebel' because of this woman. When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, so she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from the window. As Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Do you come in peace, Zimri, killer of your master?” He looked up toward the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him, and he said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down, and some of her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses, and Jehu rode over her. Then he went in, ate and drank, and said, “Take care of this cursed woman and bury her, since she’s a king’s daughter.” But when they went out to bury her, they did not find anything but her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. So they went back and told him, and he said, “This fulfills the Lord’s word that He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the plot of land at Jezreel, the dogs will eat Jezebel’s flesh. Jezebel’s corpse will be like manure on the surface of the field in the plot of land at Jezreel so that no one will be able to say: This is Jezebel.’” (2 Kings 9:30-37) Have you ever met a girl named Jezebel? No... because her reputation would be shot before she exited the maternity ward. Each person's life leaves an impression beyond their breathing. We can't make people like us, but we can live lives that are exemplary... and beyond that, pure. You can't determine what someone chooses to believe about you, but you do determine what they have to choose from. Another phrase that goes with this concept is, "Live your life in such a way that the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral." Everyone will see through a eulogy... right into your life. Are you good with that? In the end, one of the wise saying in Scripture says it best... "A good name is to be chosen over great wealth." (Proverbs 22:1) Today you get to edit your life, and in doing so, you edit your funeral. No one is perfect. But even those with a checkered past can become a solid person with high character. Don't count on a preacher to clean up your story so people won't cringe during your eulogy. You are living your eulogy now. Make it a great one. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. God became man... what an incredible truth. And we have eyewitnesses who have passed the story along to us. Here is one account of the things leading up to the greatest story ever told. It is called the Incarnation: the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form; the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ. This account is related to us by Luke, and it actually happened... "In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s slave,”said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her. In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: “You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed! How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!” And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever. (Luke 1:26-56) Both Mary and Elizabeth were the last people who expected to have children... especially the most significant children in history. But that is how God works. God is not just working in your life... He is working in the lives of others. God is not just working in the lives of others... He is working in your life. God is very busy. Do not be afraid of His work. Enjoy it, and celebrate His work in the lives of others. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. |
AuthorMy name is David, and I want to know God more, and help other people find Him. Archives
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