God Became Man

John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Shortly after Thanksgiving I heard Brian Galloway of the Galloway Family give this testimony: “I appreciate this time of year – I really do. It’s a time when we should enter into an attitude of gratitude – we should be eaten up with it every day of our lives, especially at Thanksgiving when we stop and reflect and meditate on the goodness of God. The psalmist said, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that’s within me bless His Holy Name.” And he says, “Forget not all of his benefits.” I’ll tell you, a lot of people take jobs simply on the basis of benefits. Benefits do matter – they sure do. I’m glad I got hooked up in something that’s got good benefits. Hallelujah! You better believe, praise God, there’s benefits in being a child of God - Fringe benefits. I’m glad I’m saved.

And always around Thanksgiving, we start gravitating into the Christmas season. Y’know a lot of people get pooch-mouthed around Christmas. They really do. You can look at the statistics and more people commit suicide around Christmas and New Year’s than any other time of the year. It’s a time of depression. But y’know, I get to thinking about the incarnation. And I want to crawl under the carpet somewhere and just melt when I think about how far God stepped down and entered flesh so that He could become a sacrifice for this sorry, low-down, good-for-nothing heathen. I’m glad I’m saved tonight. I really am. And don’t let the Thanksgiving and the Christmas humdrums get you down. You just think about the goodness of God – and think about God thinking enough of you to become flesh – and even yonder at the right hand of the Majesty on high right now there is a man Christ Jesus that is eternally locked in a body of flesh and He’s there so that He can be touched by the feelings of our infirmities. I appreciate the incarnation so much. I really do.” The Galloway Family then sang this song, God Became Man.

Well it was tax time in Bethlehem
And there were shepherds tending their flocks in the fields.
The star from the east did shine so bright –
Angels’ voices were heard in the quiet –
And all things were in place for the master’s plan.
Then God became man.

And now God understands my every need
And we walk through paths just God and me
And lest I stumble – lest I stray
His Love is there to show me the way.
A hopeless life is now a master plan
‘Cause God became man.

He’s the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,
He’s Messiah as the prophets told.
He’s King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Holy, Holy is His Name.
But on that first Christmas morning
God became man.

Quote – “His is the only birth in history to cause every nation in the world to come to a grinding halt every December 25th.” – Ben Carper

What is Truth?

John 18:38 – “And Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?”

According to George Barna of the Barna Research Group, when asked the question, “Is there absolute truth?” in a recent survey, only 22% of adult respondents answered in the affirmative. In a similar survey by the Los Angeles Times, among born-again adults only 44% responded positively. Among born-again teenagers, only 9% said that there is absolute truth. These are staggering results. But this is not a new problem. In 1970, Johnny Cash released the song “What is Truth?” asking each person to look inside to a see a greater truth. The country had just come through a decade of turmoil with race riots, assassinations and war protests. A growing chasm existed between the youth of the day and current leaders. Cash risked open criticism to reemphasize the message of the youth and a refocusing on a greater truth. He was said to have once infuriated Richard Nixon by performing this anti-authority song during a performance at the White House. Here’s one of the four verses: A young man sittin' on the witness stand / The man with the book says "Raise your hand" / "Repeat after me, I solemnly swear" / The man looked down at his long hair / And although the young man solemnly swore / Nobody seems to hear anymore / And it didn't really matter if the truth was there / It was the cut of his clothes and the length of his hair / And the lonely voice of youth cries / "What is truth?"

This a question for which the answer has been sought for centuries – What is Truth? Pilate asked this of Jesus in response to Christ’s statements in the previous verse, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” Then Pilate asked “What is truth?” He did not even wait for a response, but immediately when back out to speak to the Jews, so it was probably a rhetorical question, or at least one that he thought there was no answer to. Apparently even today, most people think there is no answer to it.

But had Pilate waited for a response, Christ would have probably revealed to him the essence of truth. He had actually been considering that same concept in His prayer in the previous chapter. In John 17:17 Christ prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” The blessed Word of God – the eternal Word of God – the living Word of God – “Thy word is truth.” And just as the Word of God, according to the psalmist, “The truth of the Lord endureth forever (Ps 117:2).” And then “After that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation (Ep 1:13),” “Whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel (Co 1:5),” and “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth (Js 1:18).” So Christ would have revealed to Pilate that the Word of God is truth.

And what, or who, is the personification of that living Word – Christ Himself. Look at John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And verse 14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us … full of grace and truth.” Yes, Christ Himself is the Truth – He says so in John 14:6, “I am the … truth.” And in John 8:31-32, “Then said Jesus unto those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” So it is very important that each of us trust in Christ for salvation – He is the truth – His way is the truth – His Word is the truth. So trust in Him – believe in Him – have faith in Him.

Quote – “Naked truth can walk down Main Street and never blush.” – Bob Jones, Sr.

The Way

John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

I recently heard a radio preacher expounding this verse. He said he was once out in a rural area looking for someone’s home. He wasn’t having any luck finding the place on his own, so he did the unthinkable and stopped at a store and asked directions of a customer coming out the door. “Well,” began the customer, “You go up here to the third road and take a right. Then you go to the seventh mailbox and take a left. Cross three branches and look to your right for a herd of cows – right across from those cows you take another left. Go three gravel roads, not dirt now, and take another left. The house you want will be the fourth house on the right. You got that now?” The radio preacher asked his audience if they had ever experienced directions like that that totally befuddle you as you try to keep them straight in your head. He continued his story saying that he responded that he didn’t know if he could keep all that straight or not. “Well,” the kind-hearted stranger replied, “I’m going that way just follow me.” The preacher then drove his point home to the congregation by asking, “Now, would you prefer to follow directions about the way or would you prefer to follow the way? That stranger became the way for me, and it was surely a lot easier to follow the way than to try to keep straight his directions about the way.”

And that’s what Christ is to us. He is the Way! There is no other way. All roads may lead to Rome, but all roads do not lead to heaven – as some religionists would have you believe. There’s no alternate avenue – Christ says, “It’s my way or the highway.” Matthew 7:13-14 gives us this instruction, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” His is a narrow way – His is a hard way – His is an unpopular way – BUT His is the only way! Any other way leads only to destruction in the pits of hell.

Man, in his egotism and rebellion, has devised many other ways. Humanism, pragmatism, philosophy, religion – they are all man’s inventions to try to make his own way to heaven – they have “hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water (Je 2:13) – they have become “thieves and robbers (Jn 10:8)” who try to steal their way into the way. John Bunyan spoke of these who tried to climb over the wall into the way in his Pilgrim’s Progress. The wise man of the Bible says in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” God must have considered this verse extremely important as He repeats it almost word for word in Proverbs 16:25. John 10:1 tells us, “He that … climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” Man must give up his puny attempts to find another way and come God’s way – through the Lord Jesus Christ.

And in Proverbs 22:6, God instructs us to “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” So we are not only to walk in the way ourselves, but we are to educate our children in the way. We are to teach them from birth about the Lord Jesus Christ and His commands to us. We are to teach them to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Pr 3:5-6).” This promise is made to us – if we’ll teach our children about The Way – guide them in The Way – teach them to follow The Way – then He will keep them in The Way.

Quote - "The grace of God hath power to bring salvation to all men," and if a man is unsaved it is because he wants to work it out; he wants to receive salvation in some other way than God's way; but we are told that "he that climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber." – D. L. Moody

Ye of Little Faith

Matthew 17:20 – “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, … nothing shall be impossible unto you.”


A group of people were waiting for the elevator in a department store. One woman seemed extremely nervous. When the elevator door opened and she was about to enter, she looked down the elevator shaft and drew back in a gesture of panic. “I can’t,” she trembled. “See how deep it is below!” All eyes immediately looked at the open space down the elevator shaft. The practical operator said to her with the kindliest of advice, “If you always look up in an elevator, Ma’am, you’ll have no need to fear.” So often we look down in fear instead of looking up in faith.

Where is your faith? In the book of Matthew, Christ several times rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. We see the first instance in Matthew 6:30 – a lack of faith in the provision of God –“Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not so much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” You know, we have that same problem today. We worry about all the little things that God knows we have need of. And this passage tells us that He will provide if we’ll just trust in Him. Look at verse 33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” That is what we should be concentrating on – fulfilling His will for us – spreading the word of His gospel – telling others about Christ and His salvation – living holy, consecrated lives. If we will do these things, then “all these things shall be added unto you.”

Next, remember when Jesus and the disciples were on the restless sea and Christ in Matthew 8:26 rebuked the disciples – “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” he said to them. This was a lack of faith in the protection of God. John 10:29 tells us that we are smack dab in the center of the hand of God, and in that place of protection, nothing can harm us. How many times have we seen David in the Psalms praise God for His divine protection? We have the same God watching over us that David had. We have the same God watching over us that Paul and Silas had when they sang praises to Him from the prison cell and God delivered them. We have the same God watching over us that Peter and John had when God delivered them from prison. We have the same God watching over us that John had on the Isle of Patmos. We have His divine protection.

Next, we see in Matthew 14:31, the disciples had a lack of faith in the preeminence of God. In this instance, Peter actually showed tremendous faith in God by asking Christ to allow him to come to Him on the water. He got out of the boat and began to walk on the water towards Christ. What power – what faith – what courage – and then he began to doubt. He was out there – he was walking on the water – he was defying the law of gravity – but as he saw the boisterous sea and the waves crashing about him, he forgot that the one who was master of all the waves is the one he should trust in. He began to consider his circumstances – oh, how those circumstances will swallow you up! He forgot that God was preeminent over all circumstances – He began to sink – He cried out to the Lord – “Lord, save me.” Christ reached out and lifted him above his circumstances and then rebuked him for his lack of faith – “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” He was reminding him of His preeminence over every circumstance.

Then lastly, we see the disciples’ lack of faith in the providence of God in Matthew 16:8, “O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread.” They had forgotten to bring bread with them across the sea and were worried that Christ was rebuking them for it. He was teaching them about the leaven of the Pharisees – their wickedness – their hypocrisy – their false doctrines. But they thought he was rebuking them for not bringing bread – He who blessed five loaves and had twelve baskets full to spare – He whose providence was in control of every situation. Yet they doubted that providence. So I ask again – where is your faith?

Quote – “When the outward look is dark, try the upward look.” - Unknown

Coming Again

Matthew 16:27 – “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

The hymnwriter said it – “Jesus is coming to earth again; what if it were today?” It’s a promise that Jesus made – John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again.” It’s a promise that the angels made – Acts 1:11, “Ye men of Galilee … this same Jesus … shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” It’s a promise that the Holy Spirit made through the apostles – James 5:8, “For the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven.” – Revelation 19:14, “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses.”

When He came the first time, He came as Saviour – next time He comes as Sovereign. When He came the first time, He came quietly – next time He comes openly before all nations. When He came the first time, He came as a servant – next time He comes as a King. When He came the first time, He came to die – next time He comes to reign. When He came the first time, He came in humility – next time He comes in exaltation. When He came the first time, He came as a babe in a manger – next time He comes for His bride. When He came the first time, only a few knees bowed to Him – next time He comes every knee shall bow. When He came the first time, He came in weakness – next time He comes in power and great glory.

Coming Again

Christ is coming to earth again,
As sure as He did long ago.
First He came as a helpless babe
And laid in a manger low,
Worshiped by shepherds and common folk,
Surrounded by things of no worth,
Cattle and donkeys and sheep and such,
To welcome the dear Saviour’s birth.

Then Christ did live a sinless life
Here in this sinful place.
Yet man in his sin despised Him so –
They cursed Him and spat in His face.
They hung Him upon a criminal’s cross
And laughed and mocked His dear name.
But these were the ones He came to save –
He loved them all the same.

But Christ is coming to earth again,
And that day the Tide will turn,
When men of time will face the wrath
Of the One they chose to spurn.
And He who came as Saviour first,
In that day as Judge will come,
And those who trust His saving grace
Will go to a heavenly home.
© 2006 Paul Stultz

Quote – “I clearly see in Scripture that the Lord Jesus Christ will come—so far I go, and take my stand—that he will come personally to reign upon this earth.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Nothing But The Blood

1 John 1:7 – “And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Dave Griffith reports the following story on his website. One night in a church service, a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry, the pastor's son stood to speak.

He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this: "My fiancée’s past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?" The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are ALL in a lot of trouble. Ask yourself; "What can wash away my sins;" nothing but the blood of Jesus....end of case!!!

Remember the words to this great hymn? “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” These wonderful lyrics, penned by Robert Lowry and first published in 1876, give us the great truth that there is nothing that can answer our sin question but the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is indeed a fact of Scripture that men can be redeemed, but not without the blood of Christ – Hebrews 9:22, “And with out shedding of blood is no remission.” Men can be justified, but not without the blood of Christ – Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Men can be sanctified, but not without the blood of Christ – Hebrews 13:12, “That he might sanctify the people with his own blood.”

Since His miraculous conception and birth in the stable of Bethlehem, Christ set His face “like a flint” to fulfill His purpose at Calvary. “The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again (Lk 24:7).” This is the reason He was born – this is the reason He was called – this was the reason He ministered. He came to shed His blood. John proclaimed it by the River Jordan, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (Jn 2:29).” And He was faithful to the end – He fulfilled His purpose – He died on Calvary – He shed His precious blood. “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

Quote – “The blood of Jesus runs like a scarlet cord throughout all the books of the Bible.” – Unknown

This Man - The Man Christ Jesus

John 7:46 – “The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”

In A.D. 381, Gregory of Nazianzus described Christ thus: He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life. Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water. Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest. Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King. Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons. Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears. Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world. Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death.

Yes, this man is the focal point of all history – His birth split history fore and aft – His death initiated the church that bears His Name. This man is every bit God, but was born into flesh – He ruled heaven, but was “made a little lower than the angels” – He spoke the worlds into existence, but wept at the death of a friend. This man – the man Christ Jesus – our eternal Lamb – the Lord of glory – the Altogether Lovely One – became so marred as to not be recognized as a man. Let’s take a closer look at “this man.”

Luke 15:2 – “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” This the charge the Pharisees made against Him – oh, what a charge – He receiveth sinners. Praise God! He receiveth sinners. And I am one of them. I’m just an old sinner saved by grace. If He came only to receive good people – righteous people – spiritual people, I would be lost forever. For in me there was no goodness at all. But he receiveth sinners – Hallelujah!

Luke 23:44 – “I find no fault in this man.” This was the conclusion Pilate made about Him – oh, what a conclusion – no fault in Him. That did not stop Pilate from condemning Him to death. But he was perfect – sinless – faultless – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin (2 Co 5:21)” – “And in him is no sin (1 Jn 3:5).”

John 18:17 – “Art thou one of this man’s disciples?” This is the question that was asked of Peter – and Peter answered, “I am not.” What would your answer be? He was kissed by a friend – taken by a mob – judged by religious leaders – lied on by strangers – mocked by a king – beaten by soldiers – denied by his closest friend. He is still going through the same treatment today. What would your answer be? “Art thou one of this man’s disciples?”

Hebrews 3:3 – “For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” Yes, Christ is worthy – “Worthy is the Lamb (Rev 5:12).” Moses was but a servant, but Christ is the Son. If the servant is worthy of honor, then how much more the Son. Christ is worthy of all praise – all honor – all worship. Do you honor men more than Christ? Or do you give Christ the praise?

Hebrews 7:24 – “But this man … hath an unchangeable priesthood.” The next verse says, “He ever liveth to make intercession for [us].” He is our Holy Priest – He makes intercession for us – He is our Advocate – He is our Saviour. The book of Hebrews tells us that Christ’s priesthood is better than that of Levi’s. They were but men – they would die – but He is God, and He “ever liveth.” In verse 21, God said, “Thou art a priest for ever.”

Hebrews 8:3 – “It is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.” He begins this verse by saying, “Every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices.” That was the priest’s job – to offer sacrifices to God – to make intercession between God and man. And what better sacrifice could He make than Himself – He is the Lamb – He was born to die – “God will provide himself a lamb (Ge 22:8).” He was the ultimate sacrifice – the end of all sacrifices – the last of a long line of lambs.

Hebrews 10:12 – “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hallelujah, what a saviour who could take a poor lost sinner, lift him from the miry clay and set him free. I will ever sing the story, shouting glory, glory, glory, Hallelujah, Jesus ransomed me!

Quote – “I would propose that the subject of the ministry of this house, as long as this platform shall stand, and as long as this house shall be frequented by worshipers, shall be the person of Jesus Christ.” – C.H. Spurgeon, first words in the pulpit of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London.

Christ Our Treasure

2 Corinthians 4:7 – “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

John MacArthur tells of a story he saw in the May 17, 1987 edition of the Atlanta Journal & Constitution. He says a rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owns a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunts for rocks, then sells them to collectors or jewelry makers. He knows enough about rocks to decide which to pick up and sell, but he's no expert. He leaves the appraising of his rocks to other people. As much as he enjoys the work, it doesn't always pay the bills. He occasionally moonlights, cutting wood to help put bread on the table. While on a dig twenty years ago, Rob found a rock he described as "purdy and big." He tried unsuccessfully to sell the specimen, and according to the Constitution, kept the rock under his bed or in his closet. He guessed the blue chunk could bring as much as $500 dollars, but he would have taken less if something urgent came up like paying his power bill. That's how close Rob came to hawking for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be the largest, most valuable sapphire ever found. The blue rock that Rob had abandoned to the darkness of a closet two decades ago -- now known as "The Star of David" sapphire -- weighs nearly a pound, and could easily sell for $2.75 million.

“Christ in you, the hope of glory,” the apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 1:27. He dwells within each and every child of God. Just as that chunk of blue rock had within it an invaluable gemstone, we have within each of us a treasure much more precious than diamonds or rubies – more precious than gold or silver – more precious than sapphires or platinum. The Lord Jesus Christ is our treasure. Rev. John Cromarty described Him thus: My friends in Christ, behold the treasure. The treasure is Christ, the way, the truth and the life. The treasure is Christ, the resurrection and the life. The treasure is Christ, the light of the world. The treasure is Christ, our prophet, priest and king. The treasure is Christ, merciful, gracious and who receives sinners.

And this treasure abides in earthen vessels – that’s you – that’s me –that’s us. We who are frail bodies of dust inbreathed with the living breath of God – indwelt with the living glory of God – are the tabernacles in which the precious Son of God has taken His abode. Psalm 103:14 tells us, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” In Isaiah 64:8, God tells us that we are clay in the hand of the potter, “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Jeremiah speaks of the relationship between the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18, as does the Apostle Paul in Romans 9. Such is the condition of these vessels of clay – these creatures of dust. Job tells man’s condition in Job 7:5 where he says, “My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.” And yet God chose these clods of dust in which to place His treasure.

Man who is weak and powerless can do nothing in himself. I heard one preacher say, “Man is a biz zero with the rim rubbed out.” That’s how much nothing we are. Yet God, in His infinite love and mercy and wisdom and grace chose to hide His treasure in these weak, earthen vessels. He tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “For my strength is made perfect in weakness.” And Paul declares in the next verse, “For when I am weak, then am I strong.” And this treasure – the Lord Jesus Christ – the riches of His grace – the salvation we have in Him – this pearl of great price – this treasure hid in the field – our Saviour and King – the blessed Spirit of God dwells within each one who has accepted His gracious gift. He is the treasure and we the earthen vessels.

Quote – “The heavenly treasure now we have In a vile house of clay! Yet He shall to the utmost save, And keep it to that day.” – Potto

Simple Child-Like Faith

Mark 10:15 – “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”

The Chicago Daily News captions a picture of small children entering a "tiny-tot play lot" through a low gateway shaped like a keyhole. Admittance to the lot, given to the youngsters of Oak and Sedgwick Streets by Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Dewey, depends on the ability of the child to walk upright through the low gate. Size too, determines whether or not a person enters Heaven. When His disciples asked the Lord Jesus who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, he "called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt 18:13).”

This is an important concept in the Scriptures – we must exhibit simple child-like faith in order to be saved. Many times we adults – educated beyond our wisdom – cynical beyond our years – proud beyond our raising – we tend to make salvation much more difficult than it is. Now, I’m no advocator of “easy believism” – I believe that faith is a definite act – and with that act comes a command for repentance – but it is a faith that has no bearing on any work of our own. The work was done at Calvary, and all we have to do is believe and accept the finished work. But it is not a difficult thing. Simply “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31).” No ceremonies – no rites – no chants – no vain repetitions – no bugles – no drums – no marching bands – no dogma – no catechisms – no works – no nothing, but “believe and be saved.”

In fact, there is nothing that we can do to even deserve salvation – Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” Through an implicit faith in Christ as the supreme sacrifice for sin, any man who wholeheartedly accepts Christ through believing and repenting will be saved. It’s all about His wonderful mercy and grace – through child-like faith.

Just why do you suppose we must “become as little children” to be born-again? We could look as several possibilities:
Children are pure in mind and heart. Psalms 131:2 “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.” As children pass from childhood to adolescence, their minds become sullied by the educators of this world, and they lose their purity. Their hearts become entangled in affairs of this world, and they lose their purity. Their emotions become distorted by the prince of this world, and they lose their purity.

Children are innocent in worldly ways. 1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brethren, … in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” Children have no guiltiness – they are innocent. They have no malice – they are innocent. They have no accountability – they are innocent. As they increase in understanding, they also increase in accountability. Their innocence becomes ruined by cynicism.

Children are free of preconceived notions. 1 Peter 2:1-2, “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word.” They don’t carry all the mental and emotional baggage that adults do. It’s a fact that worldly experience brings about worldly thoughts and ideas.

Quote – “Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that He will!” – Paul W. Brubaker

Remember Thy Creator

Ecclesiastes 12:1 – “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.”

The Christmas season is waning – and so with it is the “warm fuzzy feeling” that men have in their hearts for one another. Gifts have been exchanged – and returned. Workers prepare to return to their jobs, from which they’ve had a few days respite. And everyone readies themselves to get back to their hum-drum rat-race they call a life and wait for the next holiday that will get them off work for a day or two. But as we slip back into what we call normalcy, let us remember that Christmas doesn’t have to die down in our souls. We can continue to let the love of God and the peace that He gives live in our hearts all throughout the year. Keep the fires of Christmas burning in our lives as we continue to touch all those around us.

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,” the worldly wise preacher tells us. For some of us, youth has long since gone. For others, we are smack dab in the middle of youth. And for yet others, even youth is just beginning. Whether you consider yourself young or old, remember your Creator in all you do. There are several ways that you can remember your Creator.

First, if you haven’t done so, surrender your heart to Him. God loves you and wants you to accept His free gift of salvation. God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9).” “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 6:23).” “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:17).” Accepting His free gift will bring salvation to your longing soul.

Next, surrender your life to Him. The Apostle Paul tells each of us in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” If you'll give Him your body as well as your soul, then He can use you to do His Will and glorify Him with your life.

Then, surrender your will to Him. Paul continues in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” If you’ll give Him your mind, then He can mold your will into that which He can use to please Him in all things.

Last, surrender your all to Him. Romans 6:13 says, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” If you’ll follow the instruction in this verse, you’ll refuse to give yourself to sin – you’ll give your whole self unto God – and you’ll give your entire being to be used of God.

What is a yielded life? 'Tis one at God's command,
For him to mould, to form, to use
Or do with it as he may choose
Resistless in his hand.

What is a yielded life? A life whose only will
When into blest subjection brought
In every deed and aim and thought
Seeks just to do his will.

What is a yielded life? A life which love has won,
And in surrender, full, complete,
Lays all with gladness at the feet
Of God's most holy Son.
-- W. A. G.

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Luke 2:11 – "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Once again, friend, we know that the exact date of Christ’s birth is not known – or even the time of year for that matter. And some would tell you that it is wrong to worship the birth of our Lord or to celebrate Christmas at all or to celebrate it at the time that we do. But one thing is clear – Christ was born into this earth, in human form, leaving the glory of heaven for the sole purpose of dying on Calvary’s cross, thus providing salvation for man’s fallen race.

“For unto you is born . . . a Saviour” – just as the prophets foretold:

Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Micah 5:2 – “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

We celebrate Christmas – not to celebrate a specific date – not to celebrate a specific night – not to celebrate a specific place or time – we celebrate Christmas to praise God for His incarnation in human flesh and “save his people from their sins (Matt 1:21).” The time of the year is not important – the day of the month is not important – the season of the sun is not important – what is important is that we celebrate the Son for the salvation He has provided for all mankind.

Christ’s advent is a fact of Scripture and a fact of history. His coming so affected the history of mankind that He split time fore and aft. His coming was so important that wars have been fought in His Name. His coming was so crucial that martyrs have died with His Name on their lips. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).”

So the date may be all wrong, but Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Happy birthday, Jesus – I know we say it all wrong –
With Christmas trees and ringing bells and now and then a song,
And it’s quite plain that we don’t say it nearly enough,
But with all the worldly distractions, it makes it a little tough.

But happy birthday, Jesus – I’m glad your so forgiving,
Cause if we had to trust ourselves, life wouldn’t be worth living.
We’d surely make a mess of things – just look at how things are.
Even with you in our lives, we botch things up by far.

But happy birthday, Jesus – It’s a time of giving gifts,
A time of peace with fellow men – of healing up old rifts,
A time when hearts are full of joy, fond memories recall,
For ‘tis the time when God gave us the greatest gift of all.

So happy birthday, Jesus – Help us trust in you
To make us love each other more and to your Word be true.
Help us make a difference on this old sin-cursed earth
And help us start this very day as we celebrate your birth.
© 2006 Paul Stultz

No Room For Christ

Luke 2:7 – “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Now, we’re pretty sure that the events of this account did not occur in December as tradition has reported it. Experts disagree as to whether they occurred in the spring or the fall of the year, but it is a fact of Scripture and of history that they did occur. That innkeeper so many years ago did not know that the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, the Christ was about to be born on that chilly night. If he had known, he probably would have made room for the couple. But the fact is, he turned the pair away and forced them to seek alternate arrangements.

And just as the innkeeper turned Him away then, so the Pharisees and religionists of the day also decided that He did not fit into the mold that they had created for the Messiah. They didn’t want a humble-born Christ – they wanted a king. They didn’t want a meek and lowly Saviour – they wanted a triumphant conqueror. They didn’t want a personal Lord – they wanted a commander to overthrow their Roman masters. So they rejected Him and crucified Him. “His blood be on us, and on our children,” they said in Matthew 27:25. And they still bear the guilt of that decision.

Not only does Israel still reject Him on a national level, but most of the world reject Him on a personal level. We find ourselves too busy, or too educated, or too sophisticated to put faith in Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour. Those of us who do, still push Him to the back of our busy schedules. We don’t walk with Him daily as He desires – we don’t spend time with Him in personal devotions – we don’t tell others about Him. Let us not turn Him out; let us instead welcome Him in and fellowship with Him daily.

No Room For Christ

“No room in the inn,” is what they were told
On the night they reached Bethlehem.
“But there must be a place, My wife’s hungry and cold,”
Joseph pleaded with expression grim.
“I’ve a stable below,” the innkeeper said,
“To get out of the night’s chilly air.
It’s not very much, but there’s hay for a bed.
You’ll be welcome to stay in there.”
So the One who was come from Heaven above
In a stable was caused to be born.
He came down to earth to show God’s great love,
Was humbled that first Christmas morn.

“No room in our world,” is what He was told
By the religionists of Jesus’ day.
“You’re not our messiah – You don’t fit our mold.
So we’ve got to send you away.”
They gave Him over to Gentiles to be crucified,
To hang Him upon a cross.
Yet He forgave them as He suffered and died.
They did not even realize their loss.
The One who could save them from all of their sin
They rejected and cast Him away.
The One who had come their souls to win
They crucified that fateful day.

“No room in our lives,” is what He’s still told,
For Jesus we have no time.
We busy ourselves seeking silver and gold.
To us wealth and fame is sublime.”
So once again Christ is shut outside
By a world so full of sin,
While in your heart He wants to abide.
Why don’t you let Him come in?
Why don’t you give Him first place in your life
And let Him within you dwell?
He will release you from all sin and strife
And deliver your soul from hell.
© 2006 Paul Stultz

Remember this thought -- “The world is that system of society which has in it no place for God.”

The Fulness of God's Time

Galatians 4:4 – “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.”

Many years ago, Dr. Sightler said, “Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?” It wasn’t original to him – he attributed it to Bill Harvey, who probably heard it from someone else. But do you think God was sitting up in the heavens one day and just decided to send a Saviour? I don’t think so. In fact back in the very beginning God knew that it would be necessary to send His Son as our Saviour. And then when man sinned in the Garden of Eden, He told the serpent, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel (Gen 3:15).” The plan was laid.

This was a hard and fast promise of the Scriptures, and for centuries the Jews looked for that “seed of the woman,” their Messiah, that would come and set things right. All the prophets prophesied of Him, the Psalmists sang of Him, the Jewish historians and theologians wrote of Him. Jeremiah called Him “that prophet.” When John the Baptist came on the scene, the Pharisees asked him if he was “that prophet,” to which he replied “No, I’m just a voice.”

So millennia went by – but no Messiah. The time wasn’t right. God knew exactly the right time to send His Son. Look at the conditions of the world when Christ came. The Roman Empire controlled the world, and Caesar Augustus declared a census and a tax, so every one had to go to the city of their lineage. Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth – they had to get to Bethlehem somehow, because according to the prophet Micah, the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

And the “good news” of salvation would have to be spread throughout the empire by the first missionaries. The Greek Empire had Hellenized the world – Greek was the universal language. The Roman Empire had unified the world – one empire, one coinage, one language, one government, no customs at the borders, brick roads connected the countries of the empire. All this aided the spreading of the gospel from country to country. The “fulness of the time was come.”

The Fulness of God’s Time

When the fulness of the time was come,
God sent His Son to die.
He sent Him through the woman’s seed –
He sent Him from on high.
This promise to Eve was told of God,
When from His glory they fell.
He said He would send a Saviour here
His precious love to tell.

He gave the Law in ages past
Because of sin so vile.
The wicked serpent caused the fall –
God’s creature did defile.
He caused us to transgress God’s Will.
The Law revealed our sin
And made us live on borrowed time,
Till He our souls could win.

At Calv’ry’s cross the deed was done –
Christ died to save my soul –
That I might be the child of God
And I could be made whole,
And when I put my trust in Him,
His Spirit came to dwell.
He gave to me His wondrous grace –
My soul He saved from hell.
© 2006 Paul Stultz

The Work of Righteousness

Isaiah 32:17 – “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

Righteousness – the conscious act of doing right. To some it’s a chore – to others it comes with ease – but to all it carries with it the promises of a holy and righteous God. To Israel, God promised peace in the land, good crops, plenteous rainfall. He promised the blessings of God to be poured out upon their righteous heads. Isaiah continues in verse 18, “And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” He promises them physical blessings for spiritual righteousness.

To the Christian, God says to “hunger and thirst after righteousness (Mt 5:6).” He tells us to “yield your members as instruments of righteousness (Rom 6:13).” He instructs us to put on “the armour of righteousness (2 Cor 6:7)” and “the breastplate of righteousness (Eph 6:14).” He tells us to “follow after righteousness (1 Tim 6:11)” and reminds us that the Word of God gives us “instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16).” He even encourages us in that chastening leads to “the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Heb 12:11).”

One message is very clear, whether to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament or to the saints of the church in the New Testament. God will bless righteousness with “peace… and … quietness and assurance for ever.”

Serenity

I pillow my head at the end of each day
Without a shred of fear –
No worry about the end of my way –
No need to shed a tear.
The peace that only God can give
Dwells within my soul.
It helps me in this world to live –
It helps to make me whole.

The cares of life are hard to bear –
They cause an awful strain.
The threat of war, financial care,
And daily loss and pain.
But in spite of all of these,
He fills my heart with peace.
I try to live my Lord to please –
He gives me sweet release.

The Spirit of the Living God
Within my heart does dwell.
He guides me on this earthly sod
And causes me to tell
Of all His wondrous love and care,
The grace He does bestow,
From worldly fears my soul does spare
And makes me peace to know.

© 2006 Paul Stultz