Have You Noticed Who’s Praying for You?

How do you feel when someone says, “I’m praying for you”? I don’t know about you but hearing that encourages me greatly. (Unless it’s being said in a way that suggests, “God needs to straighten you out, buddy!”) I can use all the prayer support that I can get. 

 

In truth, every one of us needs as much prayer as we can get because we’re imperfect people going through life basically not knowing what we don’t know. Being the recipient of the prayers of others seems like kind of a safety net to protect ourselves from our own mistakes and misjudgments.

Maybe on the other side of eternity the Lord will reveal the people He impressed to pray for me over the years, possibly even some I never met. Perhaps somebody reading this is among them. If so, thank you so much. Because in many ways God has answered prayers that I never would have thought to pray. As Ephesians 3:20 states, “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

 

Yes, it’s a blessing and an honor to think that people are taking us to God’s “throne of grace” (Hebrew 4:16), offering petitions to Him on our behalf. I picture some folks retreating to their “war room,” the quiet place they’ve designated for prayer, with our names on their hearts – and their lips. What a humbling thought to have a prayer team interceding on our behalf.

 

But do you know what’s even better? The Bible tells us that the Lord Himself prays for us! Consider the following:

 

Toward the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus was talking to one of His disciples, fully aware that soon this impetuous, outspoken follower would be denying Him not once, or twice, but three times. The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).

 

I imagine Simon – whom Jesus had renamed Peter – heard this with mixed feelings. How would you like to hear that Satan has asked for permission to sift you like wheat? On the other hand, it must have bolstered Peter’s spirits to know Jesus Himself was praying for him, specifically that his faith would not falter. That he wouldn’t end up as spiritual wreckage.

 

This isn’t an isolated promise made to one individual. In similar fashion, the Scriptures assure us the Lord serves as our intercessor. As Hebrews 7:24-25 declare, “because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” What an amazing assurance!

 

What about the other member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit? We can’t find a clearer statement than Romans 8:26, which says, “In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” 

 

Have you ever experienced a time – or times – when your circumstances seemed so overwhelming you struggled with praying? We’re never instructed not to pray – for ourselves or others. But when uncertainties, anxieties, even fears assail us, seeming so great that we’re at a loss trying to figure out what to ask God for, how good it is to know that “the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

 

If you find yourself at a crossroads, faced with a major decision, or confronting a crisis that seems to have no solution, take heart. God hears your prayers. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). But also know that others are praying for you, whether they’re aware of your particular situation or not.

 

Beyond that, also be assured that the Lord Himself has you on His prayer list, poised to intercede for you in ways you can’t imagine.

 

And if you’re enjoying a relatively calm period in your life, with no major concerns, that’s great. But the next challenge could be right around the corner. When times like that arrive, we can know that along with our own prayers, the Lord has assembled a very special prayer team for us.

No Shortcuts to Proper Training, Physically or Spiritually

You don’t have to be an avid sports fan to appreciate the hard work and dedication required to become an elite athlete. Whether we’re watching football, baseball, basketball, soccer, one of the Olympic events or some other sport, we see competitors displaying feats of skill and physical prowess most of us could never imagine attempting, let alone accomplishing.

 

Right now, another football season is winding down, with only the NFL playoffs and college football championship game remaining. But each year it seems the players’ athleticism rises to another level.

 

How does this happen? Innate talent and physical giftedness are part of it, no doubt. As they say about basketball players, you can’t teach height. Being able to leap more than three feet in the air isn’t something they can teach in gym class. And you’ve either got “fast-twitch” muscles or you don’t. 

 

But natural ability can take a person only so far. Many high school jocks never succeed at the collegiate level, and only an infinitesimal percentage of college stars ever advance to the professional level, much less become superstars.

 

Many things factor into the making of stellar athletes, but one they all share is massive amounts of physical training, something we couch-potato fans never see and rarely appreciate. All we see is how they play on game day, not the behind-the-scenes workouts, practices, conditioning, weight training and other elements designed to maximize their performance. There’s no substitute for this – and no shortcuts.

 

Have you ever considered that this is true for spiritual growth and maturity as well? Think of your favorite radio Bible teacher, conference speaker or Christian author. Even if they’ve just recently gained wide public recognition, they didn’t become overnight spiritual successes.

 

Think of Abraham, who received God’s promise that he would become “the father of many nations” (Genesis 17:4-5), even though his son Isaac wasn’t born until he was 100 years old. Or Moses, who after killing an Egyptian in defense of a fellow Hebrew, fled to Midian where he lived for 40 years before the Lord called him to be His instrument in freeing the Israelites from more than four centuries of slavery.

 

The apostle Paul, following his life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ while traveling with the intent to persecute more Christians, spent about 12 years being ‘seasoned’ in Damascus before Barnabas stood up for him and introduced him to Jesus’ disciples in Jerusalem.

 

In each instance, God used extended period of waiting to prepare those men for instrumental roles of leadership. It might not have seemed like it at the time, but they were being trained for what the Lord wanted them to do. This is one reason Paul would later write to his protégé Timothy, “…Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8).

 

Some of us are diligent in pursuing physical training, whether going to the Y or gym regularly or enduring long periods of running to prepare for events like marathons or triathlons. That, as Paul said, “is of some value,” but are we as consistent and determined in the pursuit of godliness through spiritual training?

 

What does this spiritual training look like? It can take many forms, and it varies from one person to the next. But we can’t draw closer to the Lord unless we spend time with Him in the Scriptures, in prayer, and in the company of fellow followers of Jesus.

 

In another of his letters to mentor young Timothy, Paul wrote, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Understanding the Scriptures and knowing how to apply them doesn’t come by osmosis. We need to read, study, meditate, memorize and strive to put what we learn into practice.

 

Many times in the Bible we see the fathers of the faith devoting much time to prayer. Jesus Himself regularly set aside time for praying and communing with God the Father, admittedly one of the sometimes hard to understand aspects of the Trinity. But if Jesus found prayer essential, how can we think otherwise? This is why we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray continually” or “pray without ceasing.” Prayer should be as foundational for our spiritual well-being as breathing is to our physical welfare.

 

And we can’t succeed in the pursuit of godliness on our own. The Lone Ranger might have been a TV icon of the 1950s, but trying to thrive as a ‘lone ranger’ Christian is a sure path to failure. This is why the writer of Hebrews admonished, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Jesus Christ is going to return. The Bible promises this, and God has never failed in His promises. It may be soon, or maybe not. Either way, we must resolve to devote ourselves to spiritual training, just as an athlete must be dedicated to rigorous physical training so he or she can excel on the field or arena of competition. Only in that way can we be confident to excel as “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). 

Finding Value in ‘Refrigerator Verses’

Almost like it was yesterday, I remember memorizing my first Scripture verse. (Actually, it was more than 40 years ago.) I’d been familiar with several Bible passages for years, but the first one I learned word for word, including its ‘address’ – where it’s found in the Bible – was 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Another translation says, “Pray continually.”

 

If you want to have early success in the skill of Scripture memorization, that’s a great verse to start with. The one that precedes it is even shorter – “Rejoice always.” There you go, two verses you can commit to memory, consisting of five words in all.

 

Depending on which Bible translation you use, the only that’s shorter is John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” But that’s not a verse people cite a lot. The ones about always rejoicing and praying continually are simple, yet practical and profound, the perfect starting point for novice verse memorizers.

 

A while back I heard a speaker refer to “refrigerator verses,” brief Bible passages sometimes printed on refrigerator magnets. These can also serve as handy reminders of truths that are foundational for our faith. 

 

Consider one we occasionally see displayed on a sign someone’s holding up in the end zone bleachers at a football game – John 3:16. It might be the most well-known verse of all: “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.” 

 

That one sentence encapsulates the limitless extent of God’s love; what Jesus Christ did on our behalf; and what we must do in response. It’s not as short – more than 20 words – but I’ve known quite a few kindergarten-age youngsters who can recite it by heart.

 

Many other Scripture passages could be good “refrigerator verse” candidates. Maybe a few come to your mind immediately. But someone might ask, “Why bother?”

 

Think of it this way: Whether we’re aware of it or not, we memorize lots of stuff – phone numbers, birthdates and anniversaries, addresses, the Pledge of Allegiance (at least we used to), song lyrics, times when our favorite shows are on TV.  If we can do all that, why’s it so hard to store some meaningful Bible verses into our memory banks? 

 

In striving to grow in our faith, whether we’re new believers or have been followers of Jesus for decades, wouldn’t it make sense to “hide God’s word in our hearts,” as King David declared in Psalm 119:11?

 

I remember a story about Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators and an enthusiastic advocate of Scripture memory. A frequent traveler, sometimes it wasn’t convenient for him to pull out his Bible, or it wasn’t readily available. Especially in parts of the world hostile to Christianity. However, having “hidden God’s word in his heart,” Trotman could readily recall the passages he’d committed to memory.

 

Many of the verses in my blog posts are ones I have memorized over the years, not only through rote repetition but also by often referring to them when circumstances dictated. For instance, when I find myself fretting over something that’s beyond my control, the admonition of 1 Peter 5:7 might come to mind: “Casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.”

 

If I’m particularly concerned and need more to lower my anxiety level, I also consider Philippians 4:6-7, “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.” Admittedly, that might be a bit long for a refrigerator magnet, but it’s an amazing assurance.

 

I’ll never forget the time a friend of mine, Pete George, who’s now with the Lord, gave the evening message at a conference. During his talk he cited at least 50 Scripture verses, not to show off his keen memory but to undergird the principles he sought to convey. Not once did he glance at his Bible or notes. Those verses had become part of the spiritual fabric of his being. Quoting them was as natural as breathing.

 

Have you ever tried Scripture memory? There are numerous plans available. However, I’ve found the best approach is when you read a particular verse that resonates with you, especially one that seems to address a situation you’re facing, take a few moments to write it down on an index card. (They still have those, right?) Then review it every day, whether you’re in your car (stopped at a light, not while you’re driving); at your desk at work, or even taped to the mirror in your bathroom.

As the apostle Paul exhorted his protégé, Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When we memorize Scripture, we can file those verses in our spiritual filing cabinet and God through His Spirit can enable us to access them when needed. Even without a refrigerator. 

Going From ‘Auld Acquaintances’ to New Opportunities

“So, what’s new?” When’s the last time someone asked you that? It’s a valid conversation starter. But it’s embarrassing if nothing comes to mind.

 

There’s an excitement that usually accompanies the idea of ‘new.’ Think about the experience of getting a new car. If you’re a traveler, being able to go someplace you’ve never been before. A new job, especially if you’ve felt stuck in your old one, can reenergize us. New clothes, a new smartphone, a new house – even a new book – can bring smiles to our faces.

 

Just days into the new year, we still have the opportunity to revel in the new: a new beginning, a fresh start. A phrase in Latin, tabula rasa, means ‘blank slate.’ Do you want a tabula rasa? Even if last year was a good one, we can hope this new year will be even better. In some ways the beginning of a new year seems like receiving a surprise gift – we can’t wait to see what’s inside.

 

Did you know that God is all about beginnings, too? We see it throughout the Bible from its very beginning. Its first sentence reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). How’s that for a splashy beginning? The next verse tells us it had been the original blank slate: “Now the earth was formless and empty.…” 

 

We might compare this to a painter’s blank canvas, or a sculptor’s block of granite that hasn’t yet felt the first tap of a chisel. Just multiply this by billions, even zillions of times. 

 

The Creation account proceeds to tell us about God creating light, separating it from the darkness; skies and seas; the earth, vegetation and all living things; the sun and the stars – the universe in its entirety. Think about it: Even the most creative artist or composer starts with something – things that he or she has learned or held, seen or heard – but the Lord created absolutely everything out of absolute nothingness. It stretches our own imagination to the breaking point.

 

But the opening chapter of Genesis isn’t the only place we read about God’s delight in new beginnings. The gospel of John opens with the words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1:1-2), clearly referring to Jesus Christ. This means Jesus didn’t suddenly appear 2,000 years ago with His incarnation, the event we just celebrated. 

 

The second member of the Trinity was right there in the very beginning of time, actively participating in the Creation. We know this because John 1:3 declares, “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” Another of the apostle John’s writings offers this perspective: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life” (1 John 1:1).

 

So, the excitement and enthusiasm many of us feel about the start of a new year is shared by the Lord, to a much greater, more profound extent. Because the Scriptures tell us His greatest work, His most important ‘fresh start,’ is what He accomplishes in human hearts like yours and mine.

 

Two of my favorite verses affirm this. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we find this amazing promise: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” In God’s divine plan, far more than a new year, His focus is on creating a new you. Galatians 2:20 expands on this, stating, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  In Christ we can have new life.

 

For those who have been convicted of their brokenness, realizing it’s impossible to overcome on our own what the Bible calls our “sinful nature,” the Lord offers victory once and for all, by being “born again,” as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3.

 

But what about those of us who have experienced new life, but for whatever reason have grown stale or find ourselves in spiritual doldrums? Kind of like the church at Ephesus, described in Revelation 2:4 as having “lost your first love.” Do we need to become born again…again?

The Scriptures instruct us that along with new beginnings, God is eager to offer us re-beginnings, spiritual renewal that everyone needs from time to time. We see this in Isaiah 40:31 which asserts that, “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

 

If this is where we find ourselves, in desperate need of renewal, some initiative on our part is necessary. Romans 12:2 admonishes, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 

As we train our thoughts to focus on the Lord and His truth, then we can trust He will answer for us the prayer of King David: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me…. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:10-12).

 

Whether we need a totally new beginning or a fresh start for this new year, Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides – is posed to respond.

Resolutions, Goals, and Plans of Mice and Men

How can it be that another calendar year is nearly over? Valentine’s Day was just yesterday, wasn’t it?

 

This image from a Jacquie Lawson 
E-card captures old sentiments.

People exhibit a variety of reactions concerning the end of one year and the start of another. For some, it’s ‘Good riddance!’ The old year can’t end soon enough. For others, it’s a fond farewell, cherishing the achievements and memories created along the way. What the words of the traditional year-ender, “Auld Lang Syne,” mean depends on what kind of year you’ve had: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?”

Nevertheless, 2025 will be upon us before we know it. The brilliant shining ball at Times Square will have dropped, and ready or not, we’ll venture in the new year filled with hopes, expectations, and perhaps some uncertainty.

 

One way of trying to limit that uncertainty is to prepare for the coming year. Some of us formulate resolutions, others set specific and measurable goals, while others engage in detailed planning. As I’ve noted in the past, I’m not an advocate of resolutions because they’re so easily broken and then forgotten. 

 

According to some studies, the average lifespan of most resolutions is about two weeks. Quitting smoking, losing weight, limiting screen time, and exercising more all sound like great ideas. Until the time comes for implementing those resolutions. Most of us, once we fail, promptly quit. ‘I knew I couldn’t do it. Why bother?’

 

I prefer setting goals, since they allow for failure along the way. If I resolve to read through the Bible over the course of the year and miss a day or two, I can always catch up later. If I determine to save a certain amount of money each month but unanticipated expenses come up, there’s always next month.

 

The reality of it is, no matter how committed we are to our resolutions and/or goals, there’s always the unexpected. At times, very unexpected. In his classic poem, “To a Mouse,” Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote (in modern English), “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” To put it another way, life happens when we’re making other plans.

 

So, what’s the point of goal-setting and planning? Should we just ‘let life happen,’ adopting a fatalistic view of life? I don’t think so. Instead, it’s wise to recognize that while life can and does take surprising twists and turns, we can trust in our God who’s never caught by surprise or unprepared.

 

The Scriptures offer great wisdom about the planning process and the importance of letting the Lord be part of that process. The book of Proverbs alone gives numerous insights. My personal favorite is Proverbs 3:5-6, which I consider my life’s verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” I’ve lost count of the times I had my ideas, God had His ideas, and His proved to be much better than mine.

 

Another verse urges us, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3). That doesn’t mean God is obligated to bless everything we decide to do. What it does mean is if we determine to make our plans in light of our devotion to the Lord, He will guide us in the planning process.

 

A brief passage from another Old Testament book affirms this. Psalm 37:4-6 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” When our delight in God and commitment to Him are paramount, He will ensure that our desires align with His own.

 

We could cite many other Bible passages, but three more from Proverbs are particularly helpful for those of us who are planners. Both point to God’s sovereignty – that ultimately He works everything according to His will and purposes.

 

Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Then we read, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). And third, “A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24).

 

We can regard these assurances from a negative perspective, as if to say, “Who does God think He is to decide what I’m going to do?” However, trusting in God’s omniscience – being all-knowing – can give us much peace and confidence that even if our plans are faulty or misdirected, the Lord is fully able to counter our foolish limitations and redirect our plans in ways we couldn’t have dreamed or expected.

 

As we read in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!”

 

If we can keep these promises in mind as we make our resolutions, set our goals or develop our plans, we’ll find things going much better than we could have hoped. Happy planning – and Happy New Year!

How’s Your ‘Face Time’ With God Going?

Among the great technological advances we’ve enjoyed in recent years is seeing people we’re talking to by phone. First came Skype in the early 2000s, enabling people to view and talk with folks even across thousands of miles. ‘What an wonder!’ we thought back then.

 

Newer innovations in more recent years rendered Skype practically obsolete. Due to COVID-19 shelter-in-place edicts, the business and professional world had to find innovative ways to continue face-to-face communications. Zoom was a primary beneficiary. Launched in 2013, it became a go-to means for clusters of workers to meet virtually for extended periods of time.

 

Meanwhile, FaceTime enhanced interactions with friends and family members via smartphone. What a marvel to be able to communicate face-to-face with people even in other parts of the world.

 

Don’t you sometimes wish we could face to face with God, using heavenly ‘FaceTime’ methodology? Before shaking our heads thinking that’s impossible, maybe we need to reconsider.

 

It’s true that when Moses was talking with God on Mt. Sinai and asked, “Now show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18), the Lord essentially replied, “Nope.” Instead, He instructed Moses to stand in the cleft of a rock and covered the Israelite leader’s eyes with His hand: “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you…. But you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live…I will remove My hand and you will see My back, but My face must not be seen” (Exodus 33:19-23).

 

Reading that we might conclude, ‘That means we can’t ‘FaceTime’ with God.’ And yet, it is possible to “see” Him in many other ways. As devotional writer Arthur Jackson stated recently in Our Daily Bread, “The ability to see the person we’re talking to on the phone is relatively new, but face time with God – prayer with a conscious awareness of being in His presence – is not.” 

 

In the Scriptures we do find occasions when people experienced a physical manifestation of God. Case in point, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, forced into a blazing furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar. They had refused to worship the king’s gods or his golden image.

 

Daniel 3:25 tells us immediately afterward the king peered into the fire and saw not three men, but four: “Look? I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Apparently Daniel’s friends did enjoy some fiery face-time with the Lord.

 

And through the ages God at times has chosen to appear to people through dreams and visions. But even if He doesn’t bless us with experiences of that sort, we can see Him in other ways. I think of King David’s plea in Psalm 27:7-9, “Hear my voice when I call, O Lord, be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of You, ‘Seek His face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my helper.”

 

Indeed, we can see God through the Scriptures, which reveal everything we need to know about Him. Even if not everything we want to know. Professional writers talk in terms of “verbal imagery” – creating pictures with words. The Bible is filled with such artistry, not only with physical descriptions but also detailed accounts of the Lord’s character, His principles and truths, and ways He has worked in and through circumstances of every kind.

 

In Exodus 34:29 we read that after Moses’ request to see God’s glory, He descended the mountain unaware “that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord” (Exodus 34:29). Have you ever talked with someone who seemed to radiate the love of God; somehow you felt closer to the Lord when you were in their presence? I have. I believe that’s one way of seeing Him face to face.

 

Sometimes in reading the Bible the words seem so powerful, so vivid it’s almost as if He were speaking to us directly and audibly. That’s been my experience on more than a few occasions. And fervent prayers and petitions can draw us near to the Lord in ways beyond words.

 

The problem is we’re not always as serious about seeking God as we’d like to think. David’s words in Psalm 63:1 serve as a strong reminder to be a continual seeker and diligent learner. He wrote, “O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

 

Talk about creating a picture with words! This envisions a man alone in the middle of a desert, desperate with thirst, his body aching from the conditions of a “dry and weary land where there is no water.” Everyday life can feel like that, can’t it?

Would you like to ‘FaceTime’ with God? Open the Bible with the prayer, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18). Feed on what He says to you through it, drink deeply, so that as the apostle Peter said, “times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). These can be just as powerful, just as fulfilling, as if you were sitting at the feet of Jesus Himself. 

Can’t Have Christmas Without a Cross

When we think of Christmas, many images immediately come to mind: Santa Claus. Flying reindeer. Christmas trees. Brightly wrapped and ribboned gifts around the tree. The traditional Nativity scene featuring Mary, Joseph, the Christ Child, shepherds, barnyard animals, maybe some Magi (aka wisemen). 

Increasingly, for me a cross must be included among these images – because if it weren’t for the cross of Christ, there would be no Christmas. No need for it.

 

If I were a painter, or even a sketch artist, I’d figure out a way to present a shadow of a cross cast across the makeshift crib in which the infant lay. Even if it seems a bit crass, especially in light of romanticized imagery of the humble surroundings for Jesus’ birth, His foremost purpose in taking on human form wasn’t not to teach, provide a living example, or perform miracles. It was to die.

 

The Gospel of John clearly presents the good news that was initiated with the birth of the Son of God. We’re told, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Another gospel, Matthew, expands upon that truth: “‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel’ – which means, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).

 

But a baby’s arrival the usual human way was just the start of what we understand by the term “God incarnate” – God in the flesh. If that’s all it amounted to, He could have simply arranged for snapshots to be taken that we could share and enjoy. Just as the birth of any child marks its emergence into the physical world, the birth of Jesus represented just the start of what’s been called by some, “the greatest story ever told.”

 

In John 3:16 we read the famous declaration, “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.” However, this love – and this gift – meant much more than the Lord being able to understand human existence. 

 

Because in another New Testament book we’re told, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This did not come as a surprise to God. In fact, it was part of His divine plan from time immemorial. 

 

We find this prophecy from thousands of years earlier: “But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). From the very beginning of time, humankind has had a tremendous problem – a sin problem. One for which we had no remedy. 

 

Romans 3:23 presents the bad news, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Our sins have separated us from God, and we have no capability for doing anything about that. But a subsequent verse, Romans 6:23, tells us there’s hope: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Returning to the Gospel of John, we discover more about this gift. It says, “Yet to all who received Him [God’s gift], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Any gift, regardless of its worth, must be received to be of any benefit. The same is true for this greatest of all gifts. It is available to all who will both receive and believe.

 

Imagine showing up for the family Christmas gathering and while gifts are being exchanged, someone folds his or her arms and smugly says, “I don’t want it.” The gift had been thoughtfully planned; effort was extended to acquire it; the cost was fully considered. It was perfect. Yet the chosen recipient refused to accept it, not even bothering to see what it was.

 

This, sadly, is what many people do with the offered gift of salvation, forgiveness, redemption and eternal life. They may glance fondly at the quaint and serene Nativity scene, but refuse to consider the cross and its immeasurable cost to God. That is the tragedy of all tragedies.

 

Perhaps this Christmas, as we gather in our churches to sing “Away in a Manger,” it would be fitting also to sing the words of “The Old Rugged Cross.” Because without it, the babe in a manger in a small, inconspicuous town in ancient Judea wouldn’t even be a footnote in history. 

 

But there was a cross. The Cross. Because of it we have this promise: “And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). Christ was born – and He died – so that we might live. Live for Him. That’s why we can truly have a merry and joyous Christmas!