As Certain as Death

"...and had revealed to him that he would not die until..."

I like certainty.  I can handle a bit of randomness and spontaneity, but in general, I function just fine when things are certain.  However, when it comes to following Jesus, faith is required in daily living and a lot of time, it means there will be a lot of uncertainty.  I guess that is why this verse in Luke 2 stands out to me.  Would it be cool to be Simeon receiving a clear truth that will come to pass since everyone dies?

Spielbrick Films via photopin cc

Thinking back and re-reading the passage in context, I'm not too sure it was entirely cool. God is telling Simeon that he won't die until he sees the Promised One out of a prophecy from hundreds of years ago. Everyone in the culture is looking forward to this One who will fulfill the prophecy. It sounds much like stuff stories are made out of, like our present day Harry Potter, The Matrix or Star Wars. How hard would it have been to wait on this guy to show up?

The nature of knowing God's will and praying/waiting for it to happen is complicated and different for each person. It may require extreme patience or impossible things to happen before the prayer is answered. But I think the outcome is the same if we are faithful to God's process.  Simeon got to see Jesus in his lifetime and I'm sure what God is bringing to pass in your life will be true as well.

Questions that we wrestled through at our small group tonight:  What has God told you that He will totally come through on? Are you finding it hard to believing Him to bring it to pass? 

Jesus Changed My Life

How? The best way to describe it would be to list what I would be like if I did not follow Jesus. 

• I probably would be more selfish.  I can honestly say that Jesus changed and continues to change how I view myself and treat others.  If I did not give my life to Jesus, I would only think of me and at the expense of my wife, my daughter, my friends, and, really, everyone I know. 
• I would not be compassionate.  Jesus has caused me to care for people who I do not know in addition to people who I know.  This has led me to be involved in serving the needy in my hometown, to sponsor two children in India through Compassion, to be working with people to help the world to discover Jesus, and to learn more about the needs of the world.
• I would be a bitter man and have an anger management problem.  With following Jesus, I have learned to forgive (meaning I let go of my right to respond with what whoever caused hurt or damage to me).

There are a lot more things that would be different.  For those who know me, if I did not know Jesus, what kind of person do you think I would be right now and why?  

Merry Christmas

Photo courtesy of hellosputnik

Christmas is the best of times and the worst of times for people.  "Best of times" because family and friends get together and traditions are borne and followed.  "Worst of times" because of the memory of lost ones or events that have passed that don't result and family and friends getting together.

But Christmas isn't only about family and friends - it is about acknowledging and remembering that we are not alone in this world and that we are pursued by Love and offered Grace and a Relationship with Jesus Christ.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I admit this is a hard thing to do during this season.  I worry about getting gifts for people and navigating the different things to do and events to attend.  I admit it is a struggle to celebrate why Christmas is recognized and marked as a holiday in the first place - the birth of Christ, but I hope and pray that I will not let the distractions blot that out.

Merry Christmas to you and your family and may it be a time to reflect upon Jesus Christ and why He came.

David's Mighty Men

Wouldn't it be great to have a novel based upon the exploits of the Mighty Men of David?  This probably has been done already, and from my limited experience in book stores, probably written and marketed in the romantic vein.  I'm not talking about that kind of book.

I'm talking about a book more in the epic fantasy vein that follows the reign of David and the development and exploits of him, the Three and the Thirty.  I would buy a well written book or book series based on this.

Things I'm learning from David's life

I have been going through 1 and 2 Samuel lately and today I finished 2 Samuel.  Things I am learning from David:

God is honoured when we honour His choice of leadership
Even though David was chosen to be the next king, David showed respect and dignity to Saul on a continual basis, even when Saul was against God and was trying to take David's life. 

God is honoured when we worship Him from our heart and not based on other people's expectations
David danced with only a linen cloth in front of the Lord in front of all of the people.  He was not hindered by other people's expectations on how he should act, not even when his wife opposed his actions. 

There is always consequences to sin and disobedience to God
Although David was a man after God's own heart, he did sin and the consequences were serious.  From death in his family to pestilence to the whole country, David's action affected others.