His Family Tree Is Love
Father, our day did not encompass everything we thought it might but we did enjoy our day together! As You and I come together this evening, may our time be blessed. May my heart and mind be attentive to You. Amen
Luke 3:23-38 (<<click to read the passage)
As my eyes beheld the content of these verses, my mind went back to the King James Version…or so I thought. As I looked further into it I realized that it was Matthew’s Gospel not Luke’s that used the terminology that I recalled.
Both authors gave a genealogy of Jesus. They vary some in that Matthew’s only goes back to Abraham and Luke’s goes back to Adam. Regardless, in Matthew’s Gospel, the King James renders the phrase “was the father of” as “begat”. It means the same thing it is just older language that our modern ears are not attuned to.
So thinking along those lines we see that it is written, “Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob…” and so on and so on. Then my mind jumped to an old Latin hymn that was written in the 5th century but was then translated into English by John M. Neale in 1854, and Henry W. Baker in 1859. The first line of the hymn is its title and here are the first few lines of the first verse,
Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Matthew and Luke both communicate that Jesus’ human lineage could literally be traced back to the very beginning. But that was flesh giving birth to (begetting?) flesh. While Jesus is fully human and has that lineage He is also fully God and is therefore begotten (birthed), also, of the Father’s love. In John’s (i.e. John the Apostle’s) first epistle (letter), he tells us that “…God is love.” 1 John 4:8 NLT (emphasis mine)
This can be a bit confusing, so I will close with Hebrews 2:14-18 (AMP), it explains it much better than I ever could. Read through it slowly, there is a lot to take in. (Lord Jesus, bless the reading of Your word for it shall not return to us void! Isaiah 55:11)
14 Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives. 16 For, as we all know, He (Christ) does…take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [extending to them His hand of deliverance]. 17 Therefore, it was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins [thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind]. 18 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.
Dec 2nd, 2019, Mon, 8:11 pm
Trust His Timing
As I sat to write this evening this hymn, by John Greenleaf Whittier, came to mind – this my prayer,
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways;
reclothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence, praise.
Luke 3:23 (<<click to read the passage)
Do we rush things too much? Are we putting excessive pressure on kids and young adults? We take great pride in our children being ahead in their age bracket. They walked at this age, talked at that age, could count and read, excelled at athletics or academics and on and on. But is it too much?
I’m not pointing fingers because we felt that way about Massey – my son. I’m not sure we pushed him but we sure encouraged! In fact, as time passed, we really didn’t need to push him – he pushed himself! He is an academic and we are praying this his pursuit of a doctorate in aerospace engineering will soon come to fruition. That is a lot to accomplish in 27 years! We are so proud of him! But did we “encourage” him too much?
We as parents and educators and coaches put so much pressure on our youth to excel. We want them to be the best they can be but let me just lay this right here…
When did the Jesus – Son God – begin His public ministry? Luke tells us that he “was about thirty years old…” Up until that point, to our knowledge, He – the Savior of the world – the Messiah – worked in a family-owned carpenter shop in the small town of Nazareth [“Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?” John 1:46 (NLT)]
We have kids in their early 20’s teaching in schools! Managing large groups of quite often older associates in corporate settings! Laying their lives on the line as they serve in the military and law enforcement!
Is it too much?
God himself did not set out to accomplish the very reason He was born on this old world until He was “about thirty years old…”!
Now maybe it is too much…and maybe it is not.
My Life Application Study Bible puts it this way, “…we need to resist the temptation to jump ahead before receiving the Spirit’s direction. Are you waiting and wondering what your next step should be? Don’t jump ahead – trust God’s timing.”
Jesus could have been chomping at the bit but “he patiently trusted his Father’s timing for his life and ministry.”
In reality, this applies to all of us…not just our youth. Quite often we get so antsy about where we are and fret over where we think we should be – ever hear of a mid-life crisis?
Our challenge for today is to patiently trust your Father’s timing. He sees the big picture. He knows where you are and He knows where He wants you to be. Trust. Him.
Dec 1st, 2019, Sun, 7:52 pm
Family Is a Blessing
We are all so much more blessed than we think we are quite often, Father. As we go through this day – and each and every day – may we ponder on our blessings…and credit them all to You! Amen.
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Alright, I will admit I am most definitely not the world’s most prolific poet but I like doing it occasionally. Many of us have spent time with family today…and sometimes it’s easy…and sometimes it is not. Please bear with me…it really won’t take that long to read. Blessings on your day!
Family is a blessing
alike, both young and old
and some may choose to disagree
but if I may be so bold
I’ve seen too many people,
who lack someone to love
it’s best we look most closely
with guidance from above
Most families are not perfect
I’m sure you will agree
the good and bad, they all are there
and from most we cannot flee
Invest in those close to you
do so and you’ll be glad
there’ll come a day when they’ll be gone
and you’ll not feel so sad
For you took time to say
and be and do it all together
it may have not been easy
but for all you’ll be the better
Most things can be forgotten
but forgiveness and love’s the key
embrace your family with such
and in the end you’ll see
That family is a blessing
from our Father who sits above
with all the umpf that you can muster
we must hug and laugh and love.
Above all, have fervent* and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. 1 Peter 4:8 (AMP)
*This Greek word was used to describe the taut, stretched muscles of a runner winning his race.
Nov 28th, 2019, Thurs, 7:18 pm
Now Thank We All Our God
Father, it has been a wonderful day! Thank You for waking me and walking by my side throughout this day. Thank You for the blessings of my beautiful wife! Thank You for the ability to get so much done, at home and for church, as well. All praise to my heavenly Father!
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Thankful. Grateful. Am I? I sure try to be. But I am also sure that I should be continually grateful for all of my many blessings, not just occasionally but continually.
Coming into this past Sunday, I was emailing back and forth with the lady who leads music at my one church. She expressed that Thanksgiving hymns were amongst her favorites. I agreed and said that I felt that they fell in the same comfort zone as Christmas carols…homey and warm.
So, since this has been a long busy day and that when this post is read it will be Thanksgiving Day – at least in the United States – I have decided to share a bit of history behind one of our well-loved Thanksgiving hymns. I found this information online on a blog called Aleteia.
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German pastor Martin Rinkart served in the walled town of Eilenberg during the horrors of the Thirty Years War of 1618-1648. Eilenberg became an overcrowded refuge for the surrounding area. The fugitives suffered from epidemic and famine. At the beginning of 1637, the year of the Great Pestilence, there were four ministers in Eilenberg. But one abandoned his post for healthier areas and could not be persuaded to return. Pastor Rinkhart officiated at the funerals of the other two.
As the only pastor left, he often conducted funeral services for as many as 40 to 50 persons a day–some 4,480 in all. In May of that year, his own wife died. By the end of the year, the refugees had to be buried in trenches without services.
In the face of overwhelming pressure, constant risk and horrendous conditions, Rinkart never stopped ministering to the people of his city. He gave away nearly everything he owned to the poor and needy, though he could barely clothe and feed his own children. He mortgaged his own future income to provide for his family and his community.
At one point toward the end of the war, the Swedish army surrounded the city and demanded an enormous ransom from the impoverished and starving citizens. Knowing his people didn’t have the money, Rinkart pleaded with the Swedes to lower the amount, only to be rejected.
It’s reported that Rinkart returned to the city, fell on his knees and said, “Come, my children, we can find no hearing, no mercy with men, let us take refuge with God.” He then began to pray so fervently that the Swedish general was moved to lower his price to less than five percent of the original sum.
After nearly thirty years of ceaseless struggles, it began to look like peace was within grasp. Wanting to give his children a song to sing to God in thanks at the dinner table, Rinkart sat down and composed what would become one of the most well-known Thanksgiving hymns of all time — “Now Thank We All Our God.” In fact, it’s been said that aside from Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” no other song is sung more often in Lutheran churches today than Rinkart’s simple tune.
Yet, while living in a world dominated by death, Rinkart wrote this timeless prayer of thanksgiving for his children—a reminder to be grateful to God for all things, at all times:
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
Nov 27th, 2019, Wed, 7:45 pm
Perspective on Poverty
(Take a look at this picture again and make sure you’re seeing what you’re seeing.)
I can hardly believe it! Today is the last day of school before Thanksgiving break! Father, may my mind continually go to You and how greatly You have blessed me, for You truly deserve the praise!
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Driving my route this morning, I saw a sight that saddened my heart. There is a home – if you can call it that – it is a very old trailer with a ramshackle addition attached to the front and dumped in the yard are all kinds of things – shelves, a couch – just a pile of this and that…things that belong (or maybe belonged) to someone. I don’t know who they are. I saw a gentleman mowing part of the area at the beginning of the school year but I’m not sure if he lived there or the equally high-quality residence next door.
To my knowledge, they are both rentals and the kind of rentals that are usually occupied by those who are having a difficult time. They may not have a steady income, addictions to drugs or alcohol might factor in.
They could be single parents struggling to make ends come in close proximity to each other -that the ends would meet, would possibly be only in their dreams.
It might be a grandmother, who out of necessity, has taken her grandchildren in, rather than turning them over to Children’s Services. Parents have checked out of their lives…or maybe checked in to the local jail or rehab center.
Now I am not being judgmental in the least. My community, and for that matter just about every community, has people who are hanging on by a thread. Those who happen to be more fortunate may look down upon them. I would agree that some have gotten themselves into the mess in which they find themselves. Others have had their situations thrust upon them and are just doing the best they can. Regardless, neither one should be condemned.
Even in the Law that God gave to Moses, His followers were called to reach out to the poor and needy,
7 “If there is a poor man among you…you shall not be heartless, nor close-fisted with your poor brother; 8 but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend to him whatever he needs… 10 You shall freely and generously give to him, and your heart shall not be resentful when you give to him, because for this [generous] thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. 11 For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land.’ Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 10-11 (AMP)
And a New Testament passage is fitting as well,
But whoever has the world’s goods (adequate resources), and sees his brother in need, but has no compassion for him, how does the love of God live in him? 1 John 3:17 (AMP)
Now reading that, Lord Jesus, am I doing what I should be doing? Am I thinking what I should be thinking? Am I sitting all high and mighty and lumping everyone into the same pot and writing them off as individuals who have made their beds and proclaiming it that now they must sleep in them? Lord, please soften my perspective. Actually, would you please override my perspective and insert Yours? Amen.
Nov 26th, 2019, Tues, 1:25 pm