We’re Not to Judge – But Inspecting the Fruit Is Okay

The image of the late comedian, Flip Wilson, sticks in my mind. One of his acts featured a man in flowing black robes accompanied by the tune, “Here comes the judge, here comes the judge. Order in the court, ‘cause here comes the judge.” The talented Sammy Davis Jr. was known for a similar routine on TV’s “Laugh-In” comedy show. Both his and Wilson’s skits were humorous, in part because most of the time there’s not much funny about having to stand before a judge in a courtroom.

I’ve only done this a few times, including serving on a jury and being an eyewitness for a civil case involving a friend. But even then, being in a courtroom before someone authorized to pass judgment is intimidating. Thankfully I haven’t had to do that often.

 

But what about judging outside a courtroom? At one time or another we’ve all acted as self-appointed judges. The other day I was resting after a workout at the gym when a woman walked in covered with tattoos, including a couple on her face. I couldn’t help wondering, “Now why would someone do that?” Yes, I was judging – guilty as charged.

 

Of course, we know that in the Bible, Jesus Christ warned against judging others. He said, “Do not judge, or you will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). There is it: Jesus said we’re not to judge others. However, we sometimes forget why. In the very next verse He said, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 

 

What the Lord was saying is there’s good reason for not passing judgment on others because we tend to overlook our own sins and shortcomings, justifying those while appointing ourselves judge and jury of the actions and behavior of others.

 

Jesus went on to state, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?... You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).

 

As Romans 3:10-12 declares, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…there is no one who does good, not even one.” Those are harsh words. We want to defend ourselves, reasoning, ‘Hey, I do lots of good things.’ Perhaps, but the Scriptures teach even our good deeds are tainted by sin, often prompted by improper motives.

 

God is the one and only Judge, not us. It’s His job alone to commend and to condemn. The Bible repeatedly makes this clear. However, that doesn’t suggest taking an attitude of “Que sera, sera” – whatever will be will be.

 

We don’t have to ignore the wrongdoings of others, or even to condone them. If we know someone is being dishonest, unethical, or immoral, we’re not commanded to turn a blind eye or deaf ear to them. The Scriptures say at times it’s appropriate to correct or rebuke wrongful behavior. But we’re to do it in a biblical manner.

 

In 2 Timothy 3:16 we’re told, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” This admonition is directed primarily to believers, reminding us the Bible, not our own sense of moral rightness and propriety, must be the basis for dealing with someone who’s in the wrong. It’s acceptable to rebuke, correct and teach – giving the truth in love.

 

Jesus gave a three-step process for seeking to restore someone who’s gotten sidetracked. He told His disciples, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, judge between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses’” (Matthew 18:15-16).

 

This approach is traditionally practiced in our American court system, using more than one witness to establish what’s true rather than wrangling with a ‘he said, she said’ scenario.

 

The third step in the correction process, Jesus said, is what’s commonly referred to as church discipline: “If he refuses to listen to them (the witnesses), tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector” (Matthew 18: 17). If someone is insistent on doing wrong and won’t repent, we’re to demonstrate what’s often called “tough love.”

 

This doesn’t mean judging others. But we’re authorized to be “fruit inspectors.” The Lord said, “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit…. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16-20).

 

For instance, just because someone claims to be a Christian, that doesn’t always mean that’s true. As Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

 

A civil court judge reaches verdicts based on evidence. Similarly, no matter what someone claims to believe, if there’s no outward evidence of it, we have reason to question, even be skeptical. John the Baptist made this clear. Speaking to Pharisees and Sadducees, leaders who eagerly performed religious rituals but displayed no evidence of sincere hearts for God, he offered this challenge: “Therefore produce fruits that are consistent with repentance…” (Luke 3:8).

 

We’re not to judge others, particularly because we often don’t apply the same standard of judgment to ourselves. But when we see someone living and acting contrary to biblical standards, it might be necessary to serve as fruit inspectors.

We Don’t Reap What We Sow – We Reap More

Picture someone starting a home garden and planting 20 tomato seeds, then expecting to reap…20 more tomato seeds. Or a farmer, having cultivated his field, planting 1,000 kernels of wheat, anticipating to reap 1,000 more wheat kernels. 

Crazy, right? Because we know that from each seed, they’d rightfully expect to eventually find mature plants growing with an abundance of tomatoes, wheat, corn, or other kinds of produce. The reality is, we don’t reap what we sow. We reap much more than we sow.

This is an important principle to keep in mind because our words and actions have consequences, for good or for bad, and many times those consequences can be far greater than anything we could have ever dreamed – or feared. 

 

We can look at it from both positive and negative perspectives. Years ago, we were hearing a lot about the “pay it forward” movement, popularized by the aptly named film, “Pay It Forward.” The idea was that if you’re the beneficiary of someone’s kindness or generosity, rather than trying to repay that person it might be better to demonstrate kind or generous acts that benefit others. If we can envision a chain of people adopting this practice, it’s easy to understand how the initial act of kindness has been multiplied many times over. 

 

In a similar sense, we can look at Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, to “go and make disciples of all nations.” If one person invests time and energy into another individual, helping him or her to grow spiritually, then they both find other people to disciple, you’ve gone from two people to four. If at some point all four proceed to start discipling four more, the original two has grown to eight. You can do the math from there.

 

In what’s commonly known as Jesus’ “parable of the sower,” the Lord spoke of seeds – the Word of God – being sown. Some of the seeds fell on a path where they were trampled, others on rocks where they could not become rooted, and still others among thorns where growth was choked out. But the seeds that fell on fertile soil, Jesus said, “came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown” (Luke 8:5-8). That’s a good return for the expenditure of time, energy and resources.

 

However, there’s also the downside of reaping more than we’ve sown. Take a simple example: A parent is known for sometimes using profanity, whether out of anger, frustration, or simply from habit. One day little Johnny or Ginny starts using some of the same words. The parent is stunned, especially if they’ve been expressed in a public setting. “Don’t say those words!” mom or dad corrects. But the youngster looks up in confusion, thinking, “But that’s what you say.”

 

Recently I read about a very prominent Christian leader, one I had admired, who confessed of long-term infidelity despite having been married for decades. In admitting and repenting of his sins, he announced he was stepping away from fruitful ministry that God had used to bless countless people. No need to name names or get into specifics, but clearly the seeds of sexual immorality were yielding a dire harvest: Family devastation, the abrupt end of productive service to the Lord and His people, and the grievous impact his transgressions would have on those who had benefited so much from his teachings.

 

Sadly, circumstances like these have been repeated more times than any of us would like to admit. Not one of us is perfect or even close. But some sins and acts of unrighteousness have ramifications far more grave than others. We don’t reap what we sow – we reap far more than what we sow.

 

“Well, that could never happen to me,” we might say defensively. Don’t be so sure. This is why the apostle Paul warned, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

 

This is where the metaphors of physical and spiritual farming part ways. Every farmer knows there’s a specific time for cultivating and sowing, then a season for harvesting. Spiritually speaking, however, we are always in both sowing and harvesting modes. 

 

Exhibiting what Galatians 5:22-23 calls “the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” is always acceptable and recommended. As the passage states, “against such things there is no law.” And we can expect they will yield a rich harvest, the fruit of righteousness in the lives of people we encounter each day.

 

Other “seeds,” however, reap remorseful consequences. The two preceding verses list some of them: “…sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21). It goes on to say, “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Not only that, but the negative impact of their behavior on those around them will be immeasurable.

 

Moral of the story? As Ephesians 5:15-16 warns, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” It’s indisputable that we’ll reap far more than we sow. So, let’s make sure to sow good seed.

God’s ‘Red Carpet’ Is Different from Ours

Now that we’ve entered a new year, soon broadcasts of the annual award shows will begin – the Academy Awards (the Oscars), the Emmys, Tonys, the CMAs, ACMs, PDQs and XYZs. In fact, the Golden Globes is being aired this week. Are you shaking with anticipation? Think what you will of these showcases, some of which have devolved into platforms for political posturing. But they all share one thing in common: The red carpet.

Prior to each event celebrities and entertainment notables, wearing lavish and sometimes garish attire from renowned designers, parade across literal red carpets, reveling in the attention they receive. Representatives from the entertainment media – some of them celebs in their own right – fawn over these lovely and handsome folks, eager to capture their excitement over what another celebratory evening might hold. These are the crème de la crème, the “Who’s Who” of the silver and TV screens, stage, concert halls and arenas.

 

Watching them strut in all their glamour and sartorial splendor, we could easily conclude this is the ultimate in success. We can almost imagine these A-list characters wearing signs on their backs reading, “Betcha wanna be me!”

 

Did you know God has His own “red carpet”? He does, but with decidedly very different qualifications. We find numerous examples in both the Old and New Testaments, most of whom wouldn’t have been voted “most likely to succeed” in their high school yearbooks, let alone candidates for ‘starring roles’ in the Scriptures. For a closeup look at God’s version of the red carpet, we can turn to the 11^thchapter of Hebrews, often referred to as the “Hall of Faith. 

 

It starts with a couple of logical choices, Abel, Adam and Eve’s second son who offered a more faithful sacrifice to God than his vindictive, murderous brother, Cain. There’s also another of the first couple’s sons, Enoch, who “was commended as one who pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5) – to the degree that the Lord took him straight to heaven without experiencing death. 

 

But then we find a parade of virtual nobodies. Noah was happily minding his own business when God commanded him to construct a vessel to protect himself and his family from the global flood that would consume the rest of mankind. We’re told, “when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear [he] built an ark to save his family…and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

 

Next comes Abraham, who obediently left a comfortable lifestyle for an unfamiliar place of the Lord’s choosing because “he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). However, in the process he twice lied about his wife Sarah, claiming she was his sister because he feared foreign kings would kill him because of her beauty. So, he was hardly Mr. Perfect. Nevertheless, “Abe” was singled out because, “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

 

The listing goes on to include Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, all of whom had checkered backstories but again were accorded special recognition solely because of their faith. Or as theologians would call it, “sola fide.” They’re followed by Moses, who flexed his faith muscles countless times while carrying out the dubious assignment of leading to headstrong, prone-to-wander Israelites. Not that he didn’t get sideways with God himself at times, but the Lord wasn’t looking for perfection, just genuine faith.

 

Perhaps most surprising in this ‘role call’ of biblical characters is a prostitute named Rahab. What?! She was the person who shielded the Israelite advance men when they came to scope out Jericho. You know, the city whose walls came tumbling down? “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31).

 

Rahab is one of three women singled out in the earthly genealogy of Jesus Christ found in Matthew 1. Turns out she was the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth and became the father of Obed, who became the father of Jesse, whose son David would become king of Israel. She was David’s great-great-grandma.

 

Others cited in Hebrews 11 include flawed but faith-filled people like Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel, the prophets, mighty warriors and martyrs not identified by name. What’s most important is these were individuals very much like us, commended not because they graced the magazine covers and walked crimson carpets but because they had hearts for God and were willing to be used by Him.

 

Their lives – and deaths – were not in vain. Because as the chapter concludes, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39).

 

In our most dubious, faith-wavering moments, we can find encouragement from these men and women in the Hebrews “hall of faith.” If they could persevere, remaining true to the Lord until the end, there’s no reason we can’t do so as well. 

We might never stroll one of Hollywood’s red carpets, but as the verse above promises, “God has planned something better for us.” He’s preparing a red carpet for us that we can’t even imagine. And it’s not because of our acting, singing, or performing abilities. Anything we’ve done, for that matter. Solely because of our faith in the Lord and what He’s done for us. 

Resolved: Not to Make Any New Year’s Resolutions

Congratulations to me! I’ve succeeded in keeping the one resolution that I made at the start of 2025: I resolved not to make any other resolutions. Success!

 

Most resolutions are like ice cubes in the hot sun. They don’t last long. They’re the paving material for the roads to good intentions and wishful thinking. ‘I’m going to lose weight.’ ‘I’m going to exercise regularly.’ ‘I’m going to get out of debt.’ ‘I’m going to start reading my Bible.’ ‘I’m going to travel more this year.’ ‘I’m going to become a kinder person.’ If you’re a resolutions maker, you can probably add to that list.

 

Unfortunately, when it comes to resolutions, it’s not the thought that counts. They lack staying power, and as soon as you break a resolution that’s it. Game over. ‘I knew I couldn’t do it!’

 

Spending consistent time in the 
Scriptures is a worthwhile goal.

Does that mean we should forsake all efforts to make personal changes and strive for improvement? Not at all. But I’d suggest that instead of all-or-nothing resolutions, set goals instead. Use them as targets to aim toward. Some are reachable very quickly; others require perseverance over the long haul – a year or even longer.

For example: Instead of making a resolution to always eat right and radically change your lifestyle to become fit, set a goal. One that’s reasonable, measurable and attainable. That way, as the adage goes, if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. 

 

Years ago, a friend showed me the value of setting goals for different areas of life. Such as physical, mental, financial, relational, vocational, and spiritual. At the time my family had considerable debt, so we established a workable strategy and goals for digging ourselves out. As Proverbs 22:7 observes, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” It took time but we eventually were able to extricate ourselves from financial servitude.

 

I’ve consistently set goals for other areas of my life, but perhaps most important has been the spiritual. What kinds of goals can you set for that? Reading through the Bible in one year is one I’ve been able to achieve a number of times. If you set a resolution, “I’m going to read the Bible every day,” and miss even once you might conclude, ‘Why even try?’ However, if you set it as a goal, even if you miss a day or two you can always catch up when you have more time. There are a variety of schedules can be useful for doing that.

 

Why bother reading through the Bible? The first of the Psalms speaks about this: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2). If we don’t determine to focus on God and His Word, our minds are sure to find something else to focus on.

 

Scripture memory has proved to be another very helpful goal, seeking to memorize Bible passages that had special meaning for me. King David wrote, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word…. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9-11).

 

We find a similar principle in Joshua 1:8, which God spoke to Joshua as he was preparing to succeed Moses as leader of the Israelites: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” We live in a world that bombards us with messages contrary to what the Lord teaches us through the Scriptures. Memorizing and meditating on the Word of God helps us to cultivate thinking that aligns with His will for us.

 

A much broader spiritual goal might be to know the Lord better and, in the process to become more and more like Him. For this reason, years ago I adopted the first portion of Philippians 3:10 as presented in the Amplified Bible for my own purpose or mission statement. In effect, the apostle Paul was making this his life goal: “That I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly.”

 

Obviously, this isn’t something to be accomplished through a one-time resolution; it’s a lifelong goal. As Paul stated just two verses later, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).

As we proceed into another new year, filled with uncertainties, challenges, opportunities, and unexpected twists and turns, I hope you choose to set some definitive goals – perhaps very different from mine – that will enable you to grow and flourish in becoming and doing whatever the Lord puts before you. Happy New Year!  

Only One Surefire Source for Finding Peace

The story is told about the little boy who dumped a package of Jolly Green Giant vegetables into a blender. “What are you doing, Billy?” his mother asked. “I want to see whirled peas!” Most of us might have little interest in whirled peas, but wouldn’t we all like to experience world peace?

Televised beauty pageants seem to have lost much of their popularity, but I remember when contestants would be interviewed and asked, “If chosen Miss So-and-So, what would you like to achieve during your reign?” Some would smile prettily and respond, “World peace!” Good luck with that!

 

Sadly, history has shown us true world peace is more elusive than the mythical pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Throughout time humankind has either been starting wars, in the midst of wars, or trying to conclude wars. Why so much war? There are many reasons: Territorial disputes; access to waterways and natural resources; conflicts over cultures, ideological and religious antagonism; greed; quests for power and dominance; just plain bloodthirst.

 

But that’s the absence of peace on a global scale. What about on a personal level? We find peace to be fleeting there as well. Family conflict, work challenges, financial hardships, physical illness and ailments, aging, and the reality of living in a chaotic world all can disrupt our sense of peace. As a result, we find ourselves dealing with constant worry, sleepless nights, anxiety, and a variety of other ways distress can manifest itself.

 

In search of peace, people try a smorgasbord of hoped-for remedies: Mystical meditation, medication or substance abuse, positive thinking strategies, soothing music, many forms of distraction, even denial. ‘I just won’t think about it!’

 

Yes, it can be difficult to find peace in environments of constant turmoil, but there’s one source we can depend on, a peaceful refuge from the raging sea: Jesus Christ. That was declared in one of the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

 

We have just celebrated the birth of Christ once more, reflecting on the world-changing meaning and impact of that singular event. From the beginning, peace was central to His message. After John the Baptist was born his father Zechariah, a temple priest, became filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied. He said Jesus’ purpose included, “to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79).

 

Then one night while a group of shepherds was watching over their flocks of sheep, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests'” (Luke 2:13-14).

 

Why then do we still have so much strife and conflict in our world, if Jesus came to bring peace? 

 

Because the peace He can provide is not a peace that involves treaties and truces and the ceasing of human hostilities. He didn’t come to put an end to earthly, temporal problems. Jesus gives His followers peace that transcends the trials and tribulations that are unavoidable in this life.

 

Just days before His betrayal, mock trial, scourging and crucifixion, Jesus knew His disciples would be distraught to see their leader treated so unjustly. He spoke to reassure them that despite what was about to happen, they need not despair. He said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

 

Much of the book of Isaiah is filled with gloom and doom, foretelling God’s acts of wrath and judgment. And yet, in the midst of the harsh warnings, the prophet offers this assurance: “[The Lord] will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). It’s like listening to the evening news, filled with reports of wars, dire health scares, murder and mayhem, and then hearing God tell us, “Don’t fret. It’s okay. I’ve got this.”

 

We find a related passage in the New Testament where we’re admonished, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

 

Elvis Presley in 1957 popularized “Peace in the Valley.” Speaking of unwavering confidence in the Lord, the hymn includes this simple refrain: 

“There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me.”

The little baby who more than 2,000 years ago was proclaimed the Prince of Peace and was promised to be the one to guide our feet into the path of peace, can bring an inner peace to each of us that confounds human reasoning. All we have to do is trust in the Lord and ask Him for it. 

The Strangest Christmas Gift Ever

What’s the strangest or most unusual Christmas gift you ever received? Most presents we get are welcomed, sometimes surprises we hadn’t even thought to request. But once in a while we open a gift that’s either inappropriate, embarrassing, or something we’d never buy for ourselves.

 

I can’t remember receiving a lot of these over the years, but did have an aunt who seemed to think, “I know he’ll never expect this!” And she was right. One year when I was a teenager, she sent three pairs of thin, stretchy socks – white, yellow and red. At that stage in my life, I wore socks of one color only – black. So, the Christmas socks she sent were as useful as a screen door in a submarine.

 

Michelangelo's "Pieta" on display
at St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican.

Reading the Christmas story in the Bible, we find Mary and Joseph welcoming a very unexpected cadre of guests – wise men, or Magi, from the East. (That didn’t mean Boston or New York City or Pittsburgh.) They were mystics likely from either the Persian or Babylonian empires who had pondered the ancient prophecies of a coming Messiah. Their calculations had told them when and where this promised king would be born, so they set out to find him and worship him.

Tradition says there were three of them. But there might have been more, along with a sizable entourage to accompany them on their long, arduous journey. Whether it was “We Three Kings,” as the familiar carol claims, or not is inconsequential. What does matter is the gifts – three in all – they brought for the youngster who fulfilled the revered prophecies. Matthew 2:11 informs us, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

 

The first two gifts made sense: Gold, signified royalty, which the new king was without a doubt. And frankincense, since the Messiah would be serving in a high priestly role. Frankincense was an aromatic resin used in incense and perfume, along with having medicinal uses. During ritual sacrifices, fragrant incense was often part of the ceremony.

 

So, both the gold and frankincense would surely have been welcomed by the young parents of Jesus. The third gift, however, must have caught them off-guard to say the least.

 

Imagine you’re expecting a baby and someone hosts a shower for you. Friends come with a variety of gifts – blankets, clothes, disposable diapers, infant toys, a mobile, sippy cups, stuffed animals. Everyone’s smiling at the cute gifts. Then you open a gift that turns those smiles upside-down. Inside the shiny, colorfully wrapped package is…embalming fluid. How would you react? Confused? Angry? Horrified?

 

This is exactly what myrrh was – a product used in the embalming process. Specifically, it was a gummy resin from a small, thorny tree in the Middle East. Since myrrh had a strong smell, it was used in perfume. But most commonly, some societies also used it as an embalming substance.

 

What kind of present is that for a young child, two years old or younger? To our way of thinking, such a gift would be strange, a real head-scratcher. We’re celebrating a new life, not a death. But remember, the Magi were acting according to prophecies of old, some of which spoke of a suffering Messiah. To them, myrrh would be very fitting.

 

We don’t know how well the wise men grasped the significance of the myrrh. But 2,000 years later, the reason is clear. Because Jesus Christ came not only to teach and provide an example of how to live a righteous life but also to die – serving as the once-and-for-all-time payment to cover the penalty of our sins. 

 

Hebrews 9:12 tells us Christ’s death on the cross ended the need for animal sacrifices the Israelites had practiced for many centuries to atone for people’s sins: “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”

 

One day we all will die. But unlike the rest of us, Jesus’ primary mission as God in the flesh was to die. To be our Savior. He paid a price we could not pay to satisfy the debt He did not owe – our debt – making it possible for us to gain a right relationship with the Lord and offer us life eternal.

 

This time of year, Nativity sets and Christmas stories present peaceful, sentimental images of the baby Jesus with His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, surrounded by docile farm animals, curious shepherds, glowing angels, and the Magi. Happy, heart-warming scenes. However, from the moment of His birth, a grim shadow was cast, that of a wooden cross upon which the Lord Jesus one day would be crucified.

 

That day the gold and frankincense were of no value. What was needed was myrrh, for anointing His broken, bleeding body. We’re told after Jesus’ death was confirmed, Pontius Pilate allowed Joseph of Arimathea to take the body for burial. Accompanying him was Nicodemus, a high-ranking Pharisee and secret Christ follower who “brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs” (John 19:39-40).

 

At that moment, Jesus’ death might have seemed like the greatest tragedy in the history of the world. But we know the Good News: Three days later He was resurrected, conquering death and the power of sin. In The New Living Translation, Romans 6:10 declares, “When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God.” Because of that, we too can live for God’s glory. 

 

It’s good to reflect on the three gifts of the Magi: gold for the King eternal; frankincense for our great High Priest; and the strangest Christmas gift of all, myrrh for the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for our sins, rose from the dead, and now offers life everlasting for all who place their faith in Him. 

Our Personal, Perpetual Pursuit of Joy

“Joy to the world, the Lord has come!” These are the hope-filled words of the hymn, an old favorite we often hear this time of year in church, Christmas programs on TV, on radio stations and streaming services. It literally has spanned the centuries, written by Isaac Watts in 1719. In music jargon, it’s ‘an oldie but a goodie.’ 

In case you’ve decided to boycott holiday programming to avoid other seasonal classics like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and “All I Want for Christmas Is a Hippopotamus,” here’s a refresher: 

Joy to the world; the Lord is come;

Let Earth receive her King; 

Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,

And heav’n and nature sing…

 

Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns;

Our mortal songs employ, 

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,

Repeat the sounding joy….

 

Don’t you just love joy? The mere sound of the word, “joy,” brings a smile to many faces. The experience of joy in one’s life also is an oldie but a goodie. Sadly, it’s not something everyone is familiar with. While some folks wear a perpetual smile, apparently unfazed by life’s inevitable ups and downs, for others a frown is a more realistic expression, reflecting inward troubles and turmoil.

 

Where can we find this joy? It’s not a commodity we can take off the shelves at some big-box store or purchase from Amazon. As precious as it is, it can also be as elusive.

 

For starters, we need to understand the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is basically determined by happenings, meaning it can depart just as quickly as it arrives. For instance, a lot of people are looking forward to a Christmas bonus from their employers. Their happiness will be predicated upon how large the bonus is – or whether they receive one at all.

 

Joy, on the other hand, has an internal source, an inward sense of peace and contentment regardless of whether things turn out as we had hoped or not. You might not be happy about not receiving a promotion, or pay raise, or year-end bonus that you had hoped for, but you can still experience joy in knowing your personal well-being isn’t dependent on such things.

 

This is where faith in God comes in. In Isaiah 49:13 the Lord said, speaking through the prophet, “Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into some, O mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.” If you’re in need of comfort or feeling afflicted, it’s obvious that things haven’t been going well. There’s not a lot to feel happy about. But having faith in God, trusting He’s fully aware of the circumstances and able to work through them for His – and our –  best, we can experience joy.

 

Later in the same prophetic book we read God’s declaration, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways…. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”Knowing this, and because our confidence is not in our own capacities but in the Lord, He then adds, “You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:8-12).

 

The Scriptures tell us Jesus Christ is our ultimate source of joy. After speaking to His closest disciples about their deeply personal, eternal relationship with Him, Jesus said, “I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). He wasn’t promising them unending happiness – far from it. 

 

They soon would be having to endure great sorrow, intense opposition and persecution. Of the original 12, only one – John – would not have to face a violent death. But through Christ they could experience joy independent of external factors, along with a sense of purpose: “You did not chooser Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bar fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name” (John 15:16).

 

This wasn’t a promise limited to His closest followers. The apostle Paul, converted from persecutor to an ardent preacher of the Gospel, also experienced this unshakable joy. As a result, he could write things like, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Also, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Paul also had to endure great suffering and many trials, but they could not destroy the joy he had in Christ. 

We all hope to enjoy happy times this Christmas, exchanging gifts and spending time with beloved family members and friends. But beyond the happiness – and even in the midst of sad moments we might also experience – may you also find much joy. As the apostle Peter wrote, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8).