April 22, 1970 is an important day in our history. On that day Congress established April 22 as "Earth Day." In a time when pollution seemed to be running rampant and people were misusing Planet Earth, some decided to set aside a day to remember where we live. I realize that for many people then, and now, this day reflects more on "Mother Earth" than God as Creator. But, that shouldn't stop us from presenting Him as such.
Throughout the Bible God's role as Creator is clearly seen. Psalm 24:1-2 says, "The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. " King David was reminding us of God's creative work.
Psalm 24 is part of a trilogy of Psalms. Psalms 22, 23, and 24 form a movement of truth. Psalm 22 presents the truth of the cross, Psalm 23 presents the truth of the crook, and Psalm 24 presents the truth of the crown. Each Psalm reminds us of the importance of Jesus Christ. When David reflects on the crown he wants us to realize that one day Jesus will sit as King over Planet Earth because it is His from creation.
Other Bible writers present the truth of God's creation and ownership of earth. From Moses in Exodus 9:29 and 19:5, to Asaph in Psalm 50:12, to Ethan in Psalm 89:11 to Job in Job 41:11, to even the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:26, the writers of Scripture are clear that God owns and operates His creation. This world is not man's and it did not come about by accident.
In the Garden of Eden God gave to mankind a responsibility to till the ground and to keep the earth. In this command rests mankind's duty to God's creation. Mankind is to cultivate the earth and to guard it. We are merely stewards taking care of Someone else's property. We are only borrowing it.
When I was growing up my mother used to tell me that when I borrowed something I was to return it in better condition, or at least as good of a condition, as when I borrowed it. Since we are just borrowers of this universe it is incumbent upon us to treat it in that manner. Though the songwriter said, "This world is not my home," we actually do live here for awhile. In the time we sojourn here on Planet Earth we should take care to treat it well.
As believers in Jesus Christ, and children of God, may Earth Day 2015 be a day we remember Whose world we live in. We could say it like this, "God Created Earth Day." Now, if I punctuate it like this, "'God Created Earth' Day" it gets it right! God didn't create "Earth Day." Rather, He created Earth and on this day we can celebrate that truth.
How’s your questioning? I know, sometimes we are told that questioning things is a sign of doubt. That can be true. But, other times asking questions is a sign of interest. So, I’ll ask you again, how’s your questioning?
Today I want to remind you that Sunday is coming and we will be remembering the Lord Jesus Christ via our Communion service. We have a Communion service each month on the first Sunday. For many of us we have been doing this for MANY years! So, maybe it has become simply a ritual we put up with. But, this Sunday we will be doing some things that will shake things up. We will have some unfamiliar aspects in the service.
During the Seder meal that the Jews celebrate each year at Passover a series of four questions are asked. These questions are designed to elicit a response to point out the reason the meal is being held. The questions aren’t necessarily being asked for information people don’t know the answers to. Rather, it gives the leader another opportunity to tell the story of Passover, the most important night in the history of Israel.
Sunday we will ask a series of five questions to direct our thoughts to the purpose of Communion. These questions are similar to the questions asked at the Seder meal. They will direct our thoughts away from the service and unto the Lord Himself.
One poet put it this way:
Gathered in Thy name, Lord Jesus
Losing sight of all but Thee,
Oh what joy Thy presence gives us,
Calling up our hearts to Thee.
Notice the wording that points us to Jesus. The poet says that during the Communion service we are be “Losing sight of all but Thee.” As you approach Sunday be asking the Lord to do that for you. You can ask yourself questions about Jesus and His work. The hymn “Lead Me to Calvary” has this chorus, “Lest I forget Gethsemane, lest I forget Thine agony, lest I forget Thy love for me, lead me to Calvary.” Go to Calvary to see past the cross, the pain and the suffering to see Jesus.
Another poet said this,
Amidst us our Beloved stands,
And bids us view His pierced hands;
Points to the wounded feet and side,
Blest emblems of the Crucified.
Come Sunday prepared to celebrate the Lord’s Table with us. What are your questions?
Can we really be at the end of another year? Wasn’t it just a few days ago we were turning our calendars to 2013? It seems like we just got into the habit of writing 2013. Now we must retrain ourselves to write 2014! Wow, how time flies.
So, what did you accomplish in 2013? Was it a “happy” new year? What makes you happy? Happiness and joy are essential to life. Wise King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart does good like a medicine…” Some people try to “medicate” themselves to happiness. What they find is that no medicine can bring lasting happiness. Rather, a joyful heart will keep us looking at life from a healthy perspective. And, as we know, genuine joy and happiness come from a right relationship to the Lord. So, did your happiness in 2013 come from that source? May 2014 by a “happy” new year as you draw closer to the Lord.
Was 2013 “new” for you? Did you get some new things? Maybe this was year to replace your old car with a new one? Or, maybe you swapped out your old refrigerator for new one? Or, maybe you moved into a new home? But, sooner or later, all of these new things simply become old. They will fade and deteriorate. What about you, are you new? Did you just keep doing all the “old” things? Or, did you grow spiritually so that you added new things to your walk with your Saviour? Revelation 21:5 says, “Behold, I make all things new.” Our God is in the business of replacing old, worn out things with new ones. How well did you do in 2013 replacing your old ways with new ways? Reread Ephesians 4:22-24 to be reminded of this process.
How long was your “year”? You might be saying, “what a ridiculous question.” Of course, we were all given 365 days in 2013. That breaks down to 12 months or 52 weeks or 8,760 hours or 525,600 minutes or 31,536,000 seconds! And, as of January 1, 2014 another set of those numbers will be available. But, just as in 2013, so also in 2014, some of us will not make it to December 31. Our life will have ended some where in those days. Moses says in Psalm 90:12, “Lord teach us to number our days…” This year, will you go through life oblivious to eternity? 2014 is to be another opportunity to prepare ourselves for life after death. Which of us reading these words will not be on the earth at the end of 2014? I don’t know, but I do know some will not be.
As you reflect upon the new year, may the Lord give us a “happy new year” because we receive our joy from a right relationship to Himself, because we are being made new by His grace, and we are willing to reflect upon eternity. Let’s decide now to make 2014 a truly HAPPY NEW YEAR!
What’s in your wallet? Have you heard this commercial lately? If not, you are obviously not watching any TV! Which isn’t a bad thing. But, this phrase was made popular by Alec Baldwin as the spokesman for Capitol One credit card. Now, Samuel L. Jackson is the pitchman. But, in each commercial the final question is, “What’s in your wallet?”
Well, at Christmas time, after all the buying is over, maybe we would conclude that not much is left in our wallets! But, if we pull the Capitol One credit card, there just might be a big balance on our bill come January 1.
Today I want to pose a different question. I’m not as concerned about what’s in your wallet as I am about what’s in your heart. As you navigate through this Christmas season have you even thought much about God’s love for you or your love for God? Do you stop to recognize the motivation behind the coming of Jesus to Earth was His love for the Father and sinners? He was obedient to His Father’s will to be humbled to such a low estate. Please read Philippians 2:5-11 to see how the Apostle Paul presents this humbling.
But, we also must ask ourselves how much do I love God; what is in my heart? Nearly every person associated with the Christmas story demonstrates an unflinching love for God. Zacharias, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, the Magi, and the shepherds, all showed their love for God by their obedience. They gave themselves first to God and then to others.
On Sunday we will hear a beautiful rendition of the Christmas story via music. Come to worship the Lord with us.
Shepherds, aren’t they so cute. Little boys wearing their bathrobes scooting off to the manger to see the Baby Jesus. No Christmas play is quite complete without them. But, do they actually represent the shepherds of old? Not really.
If you look into the social status of shepherds in the first century you will find they were on the same rung as the tax collectors! Now, everyone knows how much we love it when the “IRS man cometh.” Can you recall the hateful things said of tax collectors in the Gospels? Well, shepherds were thought of just as malevolently as the tax collectors.
Shepherds were thought of as dirty, filthy, lonely, uncouth people. They were classed as lying, cheating, and conniving. In fact, in a court of law a shepherd could not testify because everyone just assumed he would lie! Their job was important to the ongoing of the society, but, no one wanted to be one.
Oh how different from the status of shepherds was throughout the Old Testament. Names such as Abraham, Moses and even David evoke wonderful mental pictures. David’s experience as a shepherd prepared him for one of his greatest challenges; battling Goliath. And, King David’s most endearing Psalm came from his experience as well. Psalm 23 is David’s way of pointing out that just as he shepherded his sheep, so the Lord shepherds his people.
Yet, all of that good will changed by the time we reach a bunch of shepherds on a hillside on that first Christmas night. While these lonely, dejected shepherds prepared for another long night, with the fire flickering and the stars twinkling, the sky lit up like noonday. The black darkness of their secluded spot became bright. Then, on top of seeing an unbelievable sight, they heard a voice! Was it an illusion? Was it a dream? Whatever it was couldn’t be real, or could it?
The words they heard were, “Fear not.” Don’t be afraid, are you kidding me? But, then they heard the words the world was longing to hear, the words the Jewish people had been looking forward to for centuries, the Messiah is born. But, this message wasn’t delivered to the “powers that be” in the capitol city of Jerusalem. No, it was deliverd to a bunch of looney, dirty, neglected, and rejected shepherds. Crazy, huh? But, then, God does so many things that are “out of the ordinary.”
But, then, who would feel more “at home” in a barn? Smelly shepherds or squeaky-clean Scribes? I think you know that answer. You see, God really does know what He is doing. And, you and I can trust Him for our lives as well. Let’s thank Him for showing us that we normal people are welcome to come to worship. Be sure to do that during this Christmas season.
Don’t you just love the commercials that ask, “Got milk?” They show a person eating a delicious looking cookie and then looking for a cold glass of milk. Not finding one the person almost chokes on the delicious cookie. The message? Milk is the most import part of eating a cookie!
So it is with life. In our world, a premium has been placed on the acquisition of knowledge. Over the past 100 years or so we have been told that the more education you receive, the smarter you will be. More and more emphasis has been placed upon getting a degree. At one time an 8th grade education was thought sufficient, and a high school diploma was better. Then, it was the high school diploma that was sufficient, but a college degree was better. Now we have come to a place where even a Ph.D degree doesn’t seem to be enough.
Yet, with all the education being “eaten” in our culture, it seems we have less and less of what is really important; wisdom. After spending multiple years to acquire knowledge, we will be very disappointed when we come to realize education isn’t enough. Knowing how or what just isn’t as important as knowing when. Applying our knowledge at the right time is more important than randomly applying our knowledge. Wisdom teaches us that principle.
Yet, even more important than wisdom alone is Godly wisdom. We’ll call that “Wisdom 2.0″ Wisdom 1.0 is the wisdom man dispenses. Yet, it needs updating and replacing. On Sunday we will see in Ephesians 5:15-17 that aspect of walking in our everyday lives that requires God’s wisdom. Read Ephesians 5:1-17 in preparation for our study.
Can you recall the hateful things said of tax collectors in the Gospels? Well, shepherds were thought of just as malevolently as the tax collectors.
