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.

Whose Stuff Is It Anyway??

“The Teacher asks, ‘Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’”  Mark 14:14

Pretend it’s Thursday afternoon.  The doorbell rings, and a glance out the window confirms a delivery from UPS.  As you turn the knob to greet the guy in brown, two men step up behind him and politely say, “The mayor asks, ‘Where is my study where I may meet with the town council?’”  What’s your first reaction?  Surprise? Honor? Resentment? Most likely a mix of all three. Surprise that out of all the places he could pick, he chose yours. Honor that your home was considered a worthy venue for an important event.  And resentment that he so quickly presumed upon your hospitality and your possessions.  What was it the messenger had said?  “The mayor asks, ‘Where is MY study where I may meet…?’”  It’s not HIS study—it’s YOUR study. You might graciously agree to lend its use, but that room and all the rooms in the house belong to you. You might not say it, but you would think it—“Wasn’t he being just a bit presumptuous?”

But what if instead of the mayor, the one asking was the Master?  And what if you were the man that Passover Thursday who listened to two disciples of Jesus say, “The Teacher asks, ‘Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’”(Mk 14:14)?  Would you feel the same emotions?  For most of us (at least the honest ones), the answer would be, “Yes.”  We would be surprised that out of all the places Jesus could pick, He chose ours.  We would be honored that our home was considered a worthy spot for His special supper, yet, at the same time, we would slightly resent that He was claiming a room in our house to be His own.  We might not say it, but we would think it—“Wasn’t He being just a bit presumptuous?”

The mayor? Yes.  The Master? No.  It’s all His anyway.  Sometimes we forget that and start acting like our stuff is our own, but it’s not.  Multiple verses remind us of this foundational fact.  “The earth is the Lords and everything in it”(Ps 24:1). "The land is mine, and you are but aliens and my tenants" (Lev 25:23). “‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty”(Hag 2:8). "You are not your own; you were bought at a price"(1 Cor 6:19-20).  “The Teacher asks, ‘Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’”(Mk 14:14).  

Everything we consider a possession is really a loan—our time, talents, treasures, even the truth of the Gospel are not resources we created by ourselves and, therefore, should not be spent mainly on ourselves. By God’s great mercy, we are not required to pay these blessings back, but we are expected to pay them forward—passing along the good we have received from God to others.  

That Passover day in Jerusalem, when Jesus wanted to do something special in someone’s life (His disciples), He helped Himself to the resources of another (the homeowner) to make it happen.  What a privilege it is when God helps Himself to us and our stuff to work His will across the street or around the world.

God has the right to presume upon our possessions at any time in any way.  By His grace and for His glory, it’s all His, and so are we.