The Season of Suffering

“Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”  Hebrews 13:3

Due to a change in the district calendar, our school was not out for vacation this week-before-Christmas for the first time in a long time, so each day, students and teachers alike, watched the clock and waited for the bell.  Time often seemed to almost stand still and the minutes ground by as if in slow motion, but the expectation of release from responsibility and the freedom from deadlines and demands loomed large and kept our hopes alive. Though the countdown seemed sluggish and the passing of the hours nigh until painful, we knew, without doubt, that at a set time on a certain day, we would be liberated to relish in the celebration of Christmas and all that the season means.

While my scenario at school was, in reality, neither as desperate nor dramatic as the above paragraph portrays, the situations of many around the world are much worse. They are in real prisons, suffering real emotional and physical pain—not because of wrong things they have done but due to right things they believe.  They are the thousands upon thousands of Christians who are crammed in cold, dark, lonely cells because of their love for Jesus, and there is no clock counting down to their certain liberation. Their release day is not officially etched on a set calendar but is up to the whim or will of ungodly officials and politicians. 

The arrest of American missionary, Andrew Brunson, in Turkey brings this matter to the forefront on the homefront.  Though I don’t know Andrew personally, I have several friends who do, and we join with those who are hoping and praying for his immediate freedom.  After 23 years of faithful service in Turkey, Andrew was arrested in October and falsely charged with terrorism.  He is jailed at Sakran prison in Izmir, is not being allowed contact with his Turkish lawyer, and is, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, in “grave danger.”  While Andrew’s situation makes headlines because he is an American, it is not a solitary occurrence and only highlights the plight of millions who have no government to intervene for them because it is their own government who is persecuting them. 

More Christians around the world are suffering for their faith than ever before in history.  Last year was the worst since time began for those who believe that the baby in the manger is the resurrected Lord of Lords. Some were disowned by families and sent away from home.  Others were raped, beaten, tortured, or imprisoned, and many paid the ultimate price with their lives.  In 2015, almost one Christian per hour was beheaded, crucified, shot, stabbed, or killed in some other horrific manner because of their trust in Jesus.  And the numbers have increased in 2016.

I say this not to bring a downer to our holidays, but to heighten the reality of our “holy days.”  The one true God has truly come.  He was born as a baby, lived as a man, and crucified on a cross.  His cold, stiff body was buried in a tomb, but He burst out of that grave in glorious victory over sin, death, and the devil as the King of Kings who will rule and reign over the entire universe for ever and ever.  Trust in this Truth has brought agony to many, but the treasure of a relationship with Father through the Son is more precious than life itself.

As we relish in the celebration of Christmas and all that the season means, we must “remember those in prison as if we were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if we ourselves were suffering”(Heb 13:3). For reasons we can’t perceive with our earthly senses, God is allowing this pain to fulfill His purpose, so  pray that during this time He will fill them with such a powerful sense of His presence that they will know Him more than ever as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Though their hands may be in chains, the hearts of those who know the Christ of Christmas will always be free.  True love can never be locked up.

Sound Effects

“For unto us a child is born.” Isaiah 9:6

This past Sunday’s sermon was superb—and so were the sound effects.  I’m sure it wasn’t planned, but three pews back to my right, a baby cooed as if on cue.  The pastor’s declaration from Isaiah 9 of light for those who walk in darkness and delight for ones in distress was underscored by the audible reminder that “the hopes and fears of all the years” were met not in a battle but by a birth.  “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”(Isa 9:6).

The child in my church seemed to sense when the pastor was emphasizing a point and added her own exclamation.  Her noises were not cries or fusses—simply calls to all listening that she was present and pleased to be there.  I smiled every time her little voice reminded us of how God “has spoken in these last days through His Son”(Heb 1:2).

When the service ended and I saw the baby in her mother’s arms, I was struck again at the helpless and dependent manner God chose to show up in on planet Earth.  Someone had to feed Him when He was hungry, change Him when He was dirty, and comfort Him when He cried. He needed to He cuddled and cared for, loved and listened to, cheered for and cheered on. Though it seems impossible that the Divine would wear a diaper, He did.

For our salvation to be secured, Jesus couldn’t arrive as an adult ready to walk to the cross.  He needed to be fully human, along with being fully holy.  He had to begin as an embryo, develop into an infant, become a child, transform into a teenager, and mature into a man.  The baby’s cries on Sunday were a precious illustration of how far Jesus was willing to stoop down to bring us up. 

The miracle of the Incarnation is summed up in one marvelous announcement—“For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!”

To die, He had to live. To live, He had to be born.

Away in a manger.

The Story

The speed of life combined with several evenings away from home caused our family to play Advent calendar catch-up last night.  The dark sky of the nativity seems a bit brighter now with the added stars.  Several sheep join a lone shepherd standing by one side of the stable door, and two wise men peer through the opening on the other.  A weary camel rests on his knees, and an angel floats mid-air, poised to blow a trumpet.  The scene is nice but not complete.  Someone who didn’t know the story would walk by and wonder why the space in the center is so empty and why such an awkward mix of celestial and mortal sorts are gathered at a barn.  Who could appear in such an unassuming spot that would cause the highest of heaven and the lowest of earth to show up in expectation and excitement?

If you know the answer, pause and praise God for His grace in your life because millions upon millions around the world have never heard His name.  They don’t know that shepherds hurried from the field to find the Savior in a manger.  They don’t know that His mother was a virgin, and that the baby boy was God on earth. They don’t know that the brightness of a guiding light showed some really smart guys where true Wisdom lies.  They don’t know that the infant was the Infinite, that His name is Jesus, and that the His crude cradle was the gateway to a bloodstained cross and empty tomb. They don’t know that the Word became a man and moved into the neighborhood and that because He came and lived and died and went and is coming again, those believe in Him “will never die but will have eternal life”(John 3:16).

This Christmas, let the Advent calendar on your wall or the Nativity set on your table be a call to praise and a call to prayer--praise for the One who let you hear the old, old story and prayer for those who have never heard.

Make sure the ones who don’t know aren’t ones that you know.

We’ve a story to tell to the nations—and the neighbors.

Never Stop Staring

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2
 

A friend of mine birthed a baby boy on Sunday—a 9 pound, 2 ounce, chubby, cuddly, near-‘bout-perfect human being.  Because we don’t live in the same town, I haven’t seen him yet in person, but thanks to technology, the pictures keep coming—and almost all of them are the same.  A parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or friend is holding that sweet baby and staring.  In only a few of the shots is the full face of the adult visible because their eyes are focused on the infant.  The photo isn’t about them but him.  They just happen to be the ones privileged at the moment to have him in their arms.

If the story sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The virgin Mary had a baby boy—a cuddly, crying, absolutely perfect human being, and since none of us lived during that time, we haven’t seen Him in person yet, but, thanks to the timeless Word, the pictures keep coming—and almost all of them are the same.  An amazed Mary and Joseph stare at the miracle in the manger.  Breathless shepherds gawk at God wrapped in strips of cloth.  Wondering Wise Men gaze on the greatest gift ever given.  We are told little about them but much about Him because all eyes are focused on the infant.  They just happen to be the ones privileged at the moment to be in His presence.

But the album doesn’t end in Bethlehem. Every turning page brings a scene of someone else seeing Jesus. John the Baptist cries out that he is looking at the Lamb of God.  Nicodemus sneaks a visit at night and leaves seeing the Light.  Fishermen abandon their nets when they notice Jesus waving them His way. Zaccheus climbs a tree to catch a glimpse and gets a guest. Bartimaeus shouts out for sight, and his first look is at His Lord.  The centurion watches Christ die and declares Him divine.  And at the sound of her name, Mary Magdalene’s weeping eyes look straight into those of the resurrected King.

No one who truly sees Jesus stays the same, and while our sight of the Savior isn’t physical (yet), the eyes of our hearts have been opened to view Him through faith.  “Though you have not seen him, you love him.  And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls”(1 Pet 1:8-9).  Because of this great grace, each moment of every day, especially these days as we contemplate the marvel of the incarnation, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”(Heb. 12:2).

No matter where you look, no thing or no one will ever be more beautiful than Jesus.

Never stop staring.

Gifts For God

“No man should appear before the Lord empty-handed.”  Deuteronomy 16:16

The Christmas season is upon us, but my morning Bible reading has me in the middle of Deuteronomy.  Every word of God’s Word is wonderful, but details of a kosher diet (vultures and owls are out; goats and grasshoppers are in) and the architectural design of a roof (build a safety wall in case of a fall) aren’t helping me move into the holiday mode.  However, a few days ago, tucked away in the instructions about annual feasts, I found this timely treasure. “No man should appear before the Lord empty-handed.  Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you”(Duet 16:16-17).

Since I’m trying to avoid the rush and have been making my list and checking it more than twice, gifts have recently been on my mind, but I must admit that nowhere among the names did I write “the Lord.”  This verse reminded me that as I think about what to share with family and friends, giving back a little to the One who has blessed me with a lot is more than just a good idea.  It’s what transforms ordinary observances into joyful celebrations.   

The Israelites were commanded to come three times a year to the place God would choose.  And when they came, they were to bring a gift to God.  “No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed.”  Their barns would be full of God’s blessings, and their offerings were to be a reflection of His gracious bounty.  

Ours should be as well, for never has a barn been more full of God’s blessings than that night in Bethlehem when God’s grace showed up in skin.  All who were part of that first Christmas gave something. None appeared empty-handed.  Mary offered surrender.  “I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be to me as you have said”(Lk 1:38).  Joseph gave obedience. “He did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife”(Matt 1:24). The hosts of heaven showed up with praise. “Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest’”(Lk 2:13-14).  The shepherds brought excitement. “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see…so they hurried off”(Lk 2:16).   The wise men presented worship.  “And they bowed down and worshiped him”(Matt 2:11).  And the One who came gave His life.

This Christmas, put the Lord at the top of your list, and consider what you can give back in response to His bountiful blessings.

Our hands won’t be empty when our hearts are full.