JESUS LOVES KIDS!

 

Friday, December 5, 2025

 

JESUS LOVES KIDS!

 

Mark 10:13-14

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

 

          It was customary for parents to bring their children to the rabbis for a blessing but evidently the disciples thought they were protecting Jesus’ time and energy by keeping them away. The idea of Jesus being “much displeased” with this is much stronger in the original language. You can see his brow furrow and his lips grow thin as he tells them to permit the children to come.

 

          He took them up in his arms! The angry brow softened, and the smile returned and broadened as he held the children. Children are simple and honest. They do not hide their true selves, and I think Jesus liked it that way. In fact, Jesus said that everyone should come in this open-faced way.

 

          Children enjoy life! Almost anything can suddenly become a toy including something valuable and breakable. How sad that we gradually lose that ability to imagine and enjoy.

 

After seeing Jesus use a child as an illustration of how to come to Him, we could reverse Spurgeon's statement and say, "An adult, if properly instructed, can as truly believe and be regenerated as a child."

 

Dear Lord, thank you for loving children! Help me to love them too and to pay attention to them for in so doing wisdom can be gained in simplicity. AMEN

REJOICE AND LEAP FOR JOY!

 

Thursday, December 4, 2025

 

REJOICE AND LEAP FOR JOY!

 

 

Luke 6:22-23

22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

 

          Leaping for joy is not our first or natural response to being hated and abused. Either God doesn’t understand our pain, or we don’t understand His perspective. I think the latter might be the best guess. God does not think like we do, and he doesn’t mark time the way that we do. Our frustration at His patience while we endure trials is due totally to our failed understanding. There is little hope of reconciling our thinking without a healthy dose of faith in the unseen.

 

          When, because of our innocent attempts to serve the Lord and to serve people, we become the victims of rejection and harsh abuse, we find ourselves in some rare company. Jesus said: “for in like manner did they unto the prophets.” We do not feel worthy to sit with such a company but that is exactly where Jesus has placed those who suffer on His behalf. Paul suffered the equivalent of being run out of town. This was not the mega-church welcome that many of today’s servants have come to expect.

 

Acts 9:23-25

23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in a basket.

 

          Since Christianity has been driven from the streets and forced to reside inside the walls of churches, that has now become the devil’s battle ground. Pretend Christians and real Christians sit together at worship, and it is inevitable that conflict will be the result. When we try to redefine genuine Christianity to fit a personal model then we exclude anyone that doesn’t fit. It’s painful but it’s common.

 

          Paul urged young Timothy to “endure hardness” as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). The word “endure” speaks nothing of strategy or tactics. It simply points out that spiritual conflict will be cruel and uncomfortable. Brace yourself! Experience, hope and boldness are the products of pain. Read it for yourself in the following verses.

 

Rom 5:3-5

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; [makes us bold and confident] because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 

Dear Lord, it seems we have been lied to when we have been led to believe that Christian service involves large adoring crowds, fancy clothes, and big smiles. We soon learn that we are battling a foe that is hell bent on destroying us. Let us brace ourselves for the conflict and sternly endure the trouble that comes with serving you. Only be our captain! AMEN

 

THE POLITICS OF CHRISTMAS!

 

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

 

THE POLITICS OF CHRISTMAS!

 

Luke 2:1-7

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

          Dr. Charles Stanley said: “At best, government is second best. At worst, government is stifling, stripping away human worth.” When we situate Christmas within its real political climate things turn grey and cold. We feel the fear of travel, the pain of Mary’s pregnancy riding on a donkey, and the uncaring of Bethlehem already bloated with those others who were also forced from their homes.

 

          We still have Sadducees among us. There are those who wear the robes of religion but who are, in fact, nothing more than a political party that does not believe in the supernatural and whose goals are to please those in authority for the purpose of peace and prosperity. They challenge no sin and present no solution for it.

 

          We still have Pharisees. These are the super saints who strain at gnats and swallow camels. They see sin in everything, and their solution is as oppressive as sin’s consequences. The absence of grace is abysmal. Their robes are as black as their heart. Their reward is their own self-aggrandizement.

 

          We still have oppressive governments. The worth of the individual has been stolen and given to the vast pool of takers who are never satisfied with the taking. Government makes promises it cannot fulfill. The little that it does provide costs increasingly more and the discomfort it produces grows to a miserable level.

 

          Into this cold and grey existence comes a baby but not just any baby. This is the very Son of God and God the Son! He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords although He rests in a bed of straw in the only silence and comfort that Joseph could procure. The soft light pours over mother and child while angels sing hallelujah!

 

Matt 4:16

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

 

Dear Lord, the world is still cold, grey, and uncaring. Oh, how we need you to burst forth into our darkness. Shine your light upon us we pray. AMEN

 

SWADDLING CLOTHES!

 

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

 

SWADDLING CLOTHES!

 

Luke 2:7

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

Luke 2:8-12

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 

          For most of my life I have wondered just what swaddling clothes were. No one seemed to know. It was just a part of the lovely Christmas story that seemed to be taken for granted. I thought it might be some crude diaper because all babies do what all babies do! At other times I was convinced swaddling clothes referred to some kind of blanket. In the play/movie “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”, one of the Herndon kids called them “wadded up clothes.” In any case the word “swaddle” did not seem to be a noun but an adjective. Swaddle was something a mother did to or for her baby and not just a thing. Nelson’s Bible Dictionary gives us some insight.

 

SWADDLING BAND

A long, narrow strip of cloth used to wrap a newborn baby. To swaddle a child was to wrap an infant in strips of cloth, much like narrow bandages. This was believed to ensure the correct early development of the limbs. Thus, swaddling was a mark of parental love and care, while the need for swaddling symbolized the humble, dependent position of the newborn child.

(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

 

          In all the crowd of strangers in Bethlehem how would the startled shepherds recognize the newborn Savior? The angel of the Lord gave two clues to the baby’s true identity. First, he would be tightly wrapped in strips of cloth. This was a common practice of new mothers who loved their children. Second, he would be lying in a manger. Mary and Joseph provided what they could for their son and his first cradle may have been a feeding trough carved into a block of limestone for such is the scene under the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. But Mary had torn strips of cloth either hastily or ahead of time and wrapped her baby snuggly. It was an act of mother love.

 

          Away In a Manger

 

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

 

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

 

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,

And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

 

Dear Jesus, swaddle me today and restrict my movements in love. Let me rest in Thee, dependent upon Thee for all my care. AMEN

 

GOD CONTAINED IN A BABY!

 

Monday, December 1, 2025

 

GOD CONTAINED IN A BABY!

 

Phil 2:5-7

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 

          Scholars agree that the phrase “made himself of no reputation” indicates that Jesus divested himself of certain attributes and prerogatives of deity so that he might take on the form of a servant. This process has troubled theologians for many years and will not be finally explained here. The Greek verb used is ekenosen and so the process, among scholars, has come to be known as Kenosis. It would be wrong to assume that Jesus abandoned deity in favor of manhood, but it is clear that certain adjustments had to be made in order to squeeze the godhead into a baby’s frame. This is part of the wonder of Christmas.

 

          Various aspects of the life of Christ clearly proves that deity did indeed reside in the body of a man. Jesus’ miracles prove his deity. Nicodemus, in John 3, said: “no man can do these miracles except God be with him.” He was very close to the truth. Not only was God with Jesus but God had taken up residence in man. Perhaps the most revealing account of deity in humanity was what we call the transfiguration. Both Matthew and Mark give a written account of it.

 

Mark 9:2-6

2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

 

          A baby is a wonderful thing, and Christmas is the wonder of God in a baby’s frame but we must leave the cradle and proceed to the cross in order to fully understand the purpose of the incarnation. God came down and became obedient to the death of the cross so that he might taste death for every man.

 

Heb 2:9-10

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

 

Dear Jesus, we are in awe of your majesty and glory contained in a baby’s frame. It is too marvelous for us to fully understand. How can we fault Peter’s confusion at the transfiguration when our own minds fail to comprehend such wonder? Thank you for your humiliation on our behalf. AMEN

 

THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY!

 

Saturday, November 29, 2025

 

THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY!

 

1 Cor 13:11-12

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 

It is believed that mirrors made of metal-backed glass was first produced in Lebanon in the first century AD. The Romans also made crude mirrors from blown glass with lead backings, but the grinding and silvering of glass are modern inventions. Some believe that Paul is not referring to a mirror at all but rather a crude telescope by which one might see beyond the normal range of human vision. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a telescope that could not only improve our vision of things far away but of things in the future?

 

In the strictest sense, Paul was talking about the infancy of revealed truth. The Bible, as we now know it, was, at that time, incomplete and quite scattered among many smaller writings. Scholars had not yet assembled them and sorted them for accuracy and inspiration. There was no Canon! Paul’s understanding was like looking through a distorted glass. Oh, what Paul wouldn’t have given for a copy of one of our Bibles!

 

We are approaching the ending of one year and the beginning of another. We see things without clarity. Our view is distorted by the influence of others. Truth, as it is reported, seems to be a matter of interpretation and opinion. Often, we must choose sides. We see through the glass darkly. The word “darkly” is the Greek words en ‎‎ainigmati‎ which means "In a riddle."

 

Eccl 10:14

14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

 

Dear Lord, our eyes fail, and we see distorted images of truth twisted by circumstance and the influence of others who would change truth into something else. Our future is clouded but hopeful because we have a sure Shepherd who knows the way. AMEN

 

GIVING THANKS

 

Thursday, November 27, 2025

 

GIVING THANKS

 

Psa. 116:12-14

12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

 

Psa_4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

 

What can I give to a God who owns everything? The verse above suggests two very lovely gifts for any occasion.

 

1. THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!

 

The Hebrew for “righteousness” is tsedeq and means that which is morally and legally right. This is not the righteousness we get FROM God but the moral and legal righteousness we give TO God. It means that God wants me to make right decisions, have right attitudes and that my heart should be right as well.

 

The Psalmist recognizes “doing right” to be a sacrifice, literally “a slaughter.” It indicates that doing right is not natural for fallen man. It requires something from man and limits at least his freedom to do wrong.

 

The whole idea is to slaughter my “right” to self-expression and self-motivation and to do those things that are well pleasing to God. It may require extra effort on my part, or it may require me to lose something I value. I willingly sacrifice those things as part of my gift to God.

 

2. THE GIFT OF TRUST!

 

The word batach which is the basis for “put your trust in the Lord” is not as easily understood. It means to confide in, to flee for refuge, and to rest without suspecting danger. It means to rely so fully in the Lord’s guardianship that I can sleep through a storm. It is, after all, the same kind of trust Jesus placed in the Father.

 

Mark 4:37-40

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

 

Dear Lord, on this Thanksgiving Day, I offer you two gifts that are not easy for me to give up. First, I offer the gift of doing right. Next, I offer my complete trust and confidence in you no matter that the storm that may rage around me. AMEN