ReDiscover Christmas: Hope Sees Beyond
Today’s Devotion is reprinted from “ReDiscover Christmas: Advent Reading Plan” produced by Outreach.com
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. —Romans 8:24-26
Have you ever seen the movie A Christmas Story? You know, the one with Ralphie and his friend who gets his tongue stuck to a frozen flagpole? The 1983 holiday classic centers around Ralphie’s longing for a Red Ryder BB gun. He has built it up as the be-all, end-all of his nine-year-old existence, and there is nothing he wants more. For most of the movie, other people, including a department store Santa, pour cold water on his dream, but he continues to keep hope alive. When Christmas morning comes, it seems Ralphie’s hope is crushed when all the presents are opened and there is no Red Ryder. Spoiler alert: Of course, there is one more hidden gift, and Ralphie’s greatest wish comes true. At that point, Ralphie doesn’t need hope anymore. He can’t hope anymore. His hope is fulfilled. As Paul writes, “Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” Paul is talking about the completion of God’s work within and around us, the fulfilled restoration of our bodies and souls and all of creation. Paul explains that this is reality already, made possible because Jesus has come, and lived, and died, and risen. Now, with help from His Spirit, we wait patiently to see His work fulfilled. This was the promise God gave at the beginning and continued through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the history of the Jewish people. Our hope is fulfilled in Jesus.
Apply: What is your deepest hope this Christmas? What step can you take to experience the strength of God’s Spirit to renew hope and realize His work all around us?
Give Thanks…Give Thankfully
Miss Thanksgiving worship? Here is the link to watch!
THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP
The irony of Black Friday…
Just as you are finishing a day of thanksgiving and reflecting on all the blessings God has given in the past year, focus shifts to the pile of advertisements or emails that call your name to…go buy more stuff!
You would think that after a day of thanksgiving would come a day of contentment…at least an hour or two.
Truth be told, I have gotten up early, stood in line, and been one of the first in a door to get a special on Friday morning. However, it does lead me to pause and ask, “Is the purpose of Thanksgiving to end one year of accumulating stuff with gratitude, only to start another year of accumulating stuff?
Of course it isn’t, but it’s easy to go there.
The purpose of giving thanks isn’t to GET more; the purpose of giving thanks is to GIVE more.
The Apostle Paul inspired by God’s Spirit, puts this into perspective.
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Remember who gave you all you have in the first place…God is the one who “supplies seed to the sower and bread for food.” As the “Common Doxology” says, “Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.” Giving thanks realizes all I have is a gift of God.
Then what happens?
God continues to give…for a purpose.
- To “enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” The goodness of God leads me to do the good God encourages. The generosity of God, not only in material things, but in the spiritual (especially what God has given to me in the grace of Jesus) is the motivation to produce fruits of faith.
- To enable us to be generous on every occasion. God is a giver. He wants his people to be givers as well. Jesus condemned the rich farmer who just wanted to take his bumper crops and build bigger barns and store everything up for himself. His life was taken from him. Jesus concluded that parable with the words, “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).
- To lead others to give thanks to God as well. Just as we have been God’s message to share with others, we have been given a portion of God’s possessions to share with others. When we love others by sharing the blessings we have received, others give thanks…not to us…but to God.
Paul continues in 2 Corinthians 9 of what happens when we give thanks…and give more:
2 Corinthians 9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
So this “Black Friday” remember the greatest gift you received on “Good Friday”. May this “indescribable gift” lead you to give thanks…AND give thankfully!
Apply: Perhaps in your shopping this weekend think of someone who has a need which you can bless with a generous gift, simply to show them the love of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving so generously to me all things physical and spiritual. Enlarge my heart of gratefulness so I can be generous on every occasion. AMEN.
Give Thanks…Always!
Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Thoroughly Equipped”
Week 4 of 4: “Christ Who Rules Over Us!”
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Five Reasons to Give Thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving Day!
The history of this day travels back to the 1600s and the celebration of the Pilgrims after a harsh trip to the new world and a challenging winter that claimed the lives of many of the original group. Finally after a harvest was brought in, they paused to give thanks for the providence of God and the blessings he had provided.
Fast forward over 100 years to October 3, 1789 and a national day of Thanksgiving was declared by our first president, George Washington. Here’s what he wrote:
By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789. Go: Washington
As an American, I am grateful our country still believes it’s important to have a day of Thanksgiving. I pray it is not simply a “thanks for not having to go to work today,” but a genuine day of thanks as our first president encouraged. I also pray that we as a nation seek pardon for our transgressions. Give thanks for ALL the blessings God has given and pray for the favor of the Lord to remain on our land.
As a Christian, I also pause to reflect on all the reasons God has given me to give thanks, not just today, but each and every day. Perhaps a few verses from Colossians 3:15-17 help:
Colossians 3:15-17 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
For what do we have to give thanks? And what enables us to live today and every day “giving thanks to God the Father”? Here are three reasons:
- We have been given the Peace of Christ to rule in our hearts…no matter the external circumstances.
- We have been given the Word of Christ to dwell in our souls…to speak wisdom and guidance to faith and life.
- We have been given the Name of Christ to identify us as a child of God and give us a reason to do everything with gratitude and thanksgiving.
Enjoy your day…given thanks today and always!
Prayer: O give thanks to the LORD for he his good, his mercy endures forever. AMEN!
Give Thanks…for Fellow Christians!
Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Thoroughly Equipped”
Week 4 of 4: “Christ Who Rules Over Us!”
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Five Reasons to Give Thanks!
When’s the last time you’ve been to church?
Do you miss it?
I hope you say, “Yes!” CoVid precautions have encouraged us to stay home or given us pause to go out in public. Going to church has been affected as well.
Being able to sit in your PJ’s on a Sunday morning and “attend” church might be becoming the “norm” or at least a comfortable second to coming in person.
Content and teaching can be delivered via the internet. But one thing is missing…a very important aspect of a church family.
The Apostle Paul understood.
Yesterday’s devotion mentioned Paul’s shipwreck on the island of Malta. He and the crew wintered there for three months. Finally, they were able to complete the last part of their journey and arrived in Rome. Read what happens:
Acts 28:11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged.
Here’s a link to see a map of these places. (https://bibleatlas.org/full/three_taverns.htm).
It appears that Paul disembarks the ship in Puteoli. In the port city they find some fellow Christians who invited Luke and Paul to stay with them (remember he’s still under guard). They stayed a week and then traveled north on the Appian Way (a Roman ‘highway’) north to Rome. Word had gotten to the Christians in Rome and so they traveled south and met Paul enroute near the Forum of Appius (same ruler after which the Appian Way was named) and the Three Taverns. (Great place to meet friends…right? Actually it can also be translated the “Three Shops”…let’s go with Taverns!)
The location didn’t matter. The people did.
“At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged.”
In a strange area and land, under guard of a Roman centurion, seeing brothers in the faith of Jesus was exactly what Paul needed. They encouraged him. It doesn’t say how, but perhaps it was one or more of these reasons:
- Perhaps he was encouraged to know others were holding firm in the faith, even while he was in chains.
- Perhaps the brothers shared the reminder that God had a purpose and plan for Paul, even when it might be hard to see.
- Perhaps the Christian friends asked if Paul needed anything and offered to help fill physical needs, as they came up.
We have missed during CoVid the blessings of getting together. The writer to the Hebrews wrote, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 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 10:23-25).
Online worship is a great blessing…however, I miss seeing everyone on a Sunday morning. There is nothing more valuable than seeing and interacting and being encouraged by your brothers and sisters in Christ. Give thanks for these fellow Christians! Look forward to seeing them again soon!
Apply: Who is a brother and sister in Christ that brings you encouragement? Perhaps take time this Thanksgiving week to reach out to them and let them know how valuable their presence and encouragement is to you.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for fellow Christians who know the right time to show up and speak to give my heart encouragement. AMEN.
Give Thanks…Give Witness!
Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Thoroughly Equipped”
Week 4 of 4: “Christ Who Rules Over Us!”
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Five Reasons to Give Thanks!
It’s natural to complain.
It’s easier to focus on what is wrong.
2020 provides many reasons to complain…we could fit right in with others and find multiple reasons to do so.
But giving thanks…for CoVid? For unrest? For loss of jobs? For hardship? For….(you fill in your own).
What do you think the reaction on social media would be if you posted thanksgiving for all the “bad” things of 2020?
If done with genuine gratitude and trust that God can and does work ALL things for the good of those who love him, it might just be a powerful witness.
One such example was the Apostle Paul. Talk about a litany of reasons to complain…he had them. He was persecuted, beaten, left for dead, falsely accused, and more. At the end of Acts another “misfortune” befalls him as he is being transported to Rome to face trial for accusations leveraged in Jerusalem. On the voyage from Jerusalem to Rome, the trip didn’t go as planned. The ship was going to sink. Some were ready to jump ship into the lifeboat…but Paul said “Unless we all stay, no one will survive.” Throughout the night, the sailors wondered what would happen. Before the sun rose, here’s what Paul did:
Acts 27:33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
All 276 sailors heard Paul GIVE THANKS to God. He did it in front of them all! Perhaps it was just for the bread they were going to eat, but I can’t imagine Paul not including thanks for the sailors, the promise of safety, God’s protection and providence…all in the middle of a horrible situation! In the end all 276 on board survived.
The irony of Paul’s prayer is that it was not the “fox hole” prayer. He didn’t cry out in a panic to make a deal with God that if God would save them he would… He simply took the opportunity to thank God for the situation and the provisions they had. He gave thanks.
The simple act of giving thanks to God can be a public witness to your faith and the God in whom you trust.
I read a comment recently (sorry can’t remember where) which quipped, “20/20 is clarity of vision. Perhaps all the challenges of 2020 are God’s way of focusing us clearly on him.”
How true! When we focus on the Lord, we can be confident he is working for our best interest…
…and for that we can give thanks! When you do, it might surprise others. That’s OK, giving thanks becomes your opportunity to witness to others!
Apply: Take time this week to post or speak an “unexpected thanksgiving.” Take something that most others would complain about and find a reason to publically give thanks to God for it.
Prayer: Father thank you for the confidence that no matter what the circumstance I face, you have given me a reason to give thanks. Let this expression of gratitude be a witness to all around that your goodness supersedes our challenges. Amen.