Month: December 2013

Many today who have no reason to rejoice are preparing to do so.  They are excited about the promise of a new year, but outside of Jesus Christ, the new year holds little hope.  One thing all humanity can expect while in this fallen world is evil.  We can expect it today, and it will be there tomorrow.  That’s not much to look forward to in the new year, is it?  In that awareness, Jesus instructs us to “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Mat 6:34)

In this world, we can expect pain, crisis, and death in the new year.  Why?  Because “the wages of sin is death”! (Rom 6:23) Even to believers, the Lord promises that in “the world ye shall have tribulation”. (Joh 16:33) That may seem like a pretty bleak outlook on life, but it is simply reality in a world held captive by sin.  Would you rather have the hollow hope that a man-made New Year’s resolution brings, or do you want something more substantial today, something more certain?  Both of the previously quoted verses provide true reasons for rejoicing today and forever!  Yes, the wages of sin is death, BUT “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”!  Yes, Jesus says that in the world ye will have tribulation, BUT “be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”!

When the disciples came back excited about their earthly accomplishments in casting out devils, the Lord corrected their reason for rejoicing.  “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luk 17:20) Outside of Christ today, there is no reason for celebration.  But in Christ…well, that’s a different story!  May our reason for rejoicing this day not be the awareness of a “new year” but rather the awareness of our “new birth”!

Love in Christ,

Jamie

…and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do.” So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” And the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done—indeed too much.
(Exo 36:5-7)

What a wonderful problem!  Moses had called for the people to bring an offering to the Lord of items that could be used in the construction of the tabernacle.  God had given very specific requirements as to the materials that were to be used for the tabernacle and the things in it.  When Moses called for this offering, it wasn’t an offering like others described in the law of God.  Some offerings were very specific as to who should offer, what they should offer, and when they should offer it, but not so when it came to these provisions for the tabernacle’s construction.  In this instance, the instruction was, “Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD…” (Exo 35:5)

As the supplies for the tabernacle began to pour in, it became evident very quickly that there was a problem, but it wasn’t the type of problem we’re accustomed to having.  How many churches today have hounded the people week after week to give more in support of whatever project they were trying to fund?  No one needed to be poked and prodded to give.  In Exo 35:21 we read, “Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.”  God had stirred the heart of this people so that the problem was not that they brought too little.  They had brought too much!

Much is made of giving this time of year, and much is given.  People rush to and fro to catch the latest sale and find the perfect gift for their loved ones.  But, what about the One we are called to love above all else?  Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Mat 22:37) I pray we are far more concerned about what we give Him than what we give one another.  In fact, the love that prompts our giving to each other must flow from our first and foremost love for Him.  Only then can we perform properly the commandment Christ gives next, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mat 22:39)

God has given each of us unique opportunities to serve Him by serving others.  That service is especially important when it comes to the Lord’s people, for what we do to the least of His brethren, we do to Him. (Mat 25:40) “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal 6:10) We may do the bare minimum in certain areas of our life, but may we never skimp in what the Lord has called us to do.  God has gifted each member of His church with certain abilities to uniquely serve each other.  In this calling, may the accusation never be that we do too little.  May the only rebuke we ever hear be the same one that Israel heard in our text: “That’s enough.  You’re doing too much!”

Jamie