Tag: John 14:27

Unto Us a Child is Born

George Frideric Handel composed his musical masterpiece Messiah in just twenty-four days, completing it in September of 1741. It includes 53 movements divided in three parts and usually takes 2 ½- 3 hours to perform. I remember sitting in the audience at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco a few times as a fidgety child. (I liked getting dressed up and going into the city, but my parents failed to mention how long the performance would last.) 

Even if you’ve never heard all 53 movements, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the most memorable portion, the “Hallelujah Chorus,” with lyrics plucked from the book of Revelation:

 “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” (Revelation 19:6, KJV); “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” (Revelation 19:16, KJV); “And he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15, KJV).

While that part of the musical composition always triggers a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes, the one that keeps running through my head this year comes from the section inspired by writings of the prophet Isaiah:

“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.” (Isaiah 9:6, KJV)

I’m struck by how Isaiah depicts characteristics of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) in his prophecy. Other parts of Scripture affirm the qualities he describes:

Wonderful Counselor: “But the Advocate [also translated as Counselor], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26, NIV)

Mighty God and Everlasting Father: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:28-29, NIV)

Prince of Peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV)

Which aspect of our triune God do you need most right now? Perhaps it’s wisdom for navigating tricky relationships with family this holiday season. Maybe it’s strength to find joy in the many tasks at this busy time of year. Or, perhaps, it’s peace you long for amidst the noise of a world that clamors for your attention during a season meant to celebrate the simplicity of the birth of Christ.

As you endeavor to make the holidays memorable and meaningful for those you love, may you find wisdom from our Wonderful Counselor, strength from our Mighty God, hope from our Everlasting Father, and serenity from our Prince of Peace.

And now, I’d love to share a memory from my childhood. Click here and enjoy a moment of Christmas peace listening to “Unto Us a Child is Born” from Handel’s Messiah.

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The Promise of Peace

If you grew up in church, you may remember waving palm fronds or making crafts out of them in Sunday School on Palm Sunday. (And if you didn’t grow up in church, just keep reading.) Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem marks the beginning of the final days before His crucifixion. In the church, it’s known as Holy Week—kicking off on Palm Sunday and culminating on Easter. In case you need your memory refreshed, here’s how Matthew’s gospel tells the story:

“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.’

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 

They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’

‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’

‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’” (Matthew 21:1-11, NIV)

Matthew wrote this to convince Jewish people that Jesus actually was the Messiah. So, he makes a point to show the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 that Jesus fulfills by entering Jerusalem riding on the foal of a donkey. In the ancient Middle Eastern world, leaders rode horses when they were going to war, but donkeys when they came in peace.

The people shouted “Hosanna,” which means “Save now!” It was both a praise and a petition that they were recalling from Psalm 118. The Jewish people were desperate for relief from the oppression of Rome and expected the Messiah to arrive as a political hero and a conquering king. They wanted Him to fix their problems in the present. 

Jesus’ arrival was part of a much bigger plan to offer eternal peace with God, but the people were only looking for a fix to their current circumstances. They cared more about what was happening outside of them than within their own hearts. I think the same can be true of us.

Sometimes we want Jesus to wave a magic wand and make everything better when He’s actually inviting us to participate in something that has eternal significance. In the book of John Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV) Following Jesus brings lasting inner peace that far exceeds the temporary peace we find when circumstances go the way we want.

Here’s how Bible teacher Jennifer Rothschild explains this deeper peace of Jesus: “The Hebrew word for peace (shalom) can also be translated as completeness, soundness, or welfare…We have wholeness, soundness, and welfare from God because we have peace with God through Christ.”

She ties this to God’s promise to the Jews who were re-building the temple in the book of Haggai: “‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2:9, NIV)

The triumphal entry was the official presentation of Jesus as the Messiah—the rightful descendant of King David who had been prophesied throughout the Old Testament. His arrival on Palm Sunday brought the glory and peace of the Lord to the temple that had been proclaimed in the time of Haggai as well as many other parts of Scripture.

The crowd clamored to worship Jesus when He first entered Jerusalem. Sadly, a few days later they called for His crucifixion when He didn’t bring the version of peace they expected. I wonder sometimes, how are we like the crowd on Palm Sunday? Are we more interested in a Jesus who provides quick fixes for our current circumstances? Do we join with the crowd in praising Him, hoping He’ll give us what we want? Are we quick to reject Him when He doesn’t give us the kind of circumstantial peace we think we deserve?

Simple faith in Jesus leads to lasting peace. This doesn’t mean life will be perfect or easy. In fact, not long before His crucifixion, Jesus explained “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV) When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we find deep peace that doesn’t depend on our circumstances but on lasting hope found in Him.

God’s glory exists all around us and His peace dwells within everyone who follows Him. Where do you need to take heart, look beyond the world, and embrace the deeper peace of Jesus today?

Take a deep breath and enjoy a five minute worship moment listening to “Peace” by Bethel Music. Click here to listen.

Jennifer Rothschild, Take Courage: A Study of Haggai, Lifeway Press 2020, 145-6.

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Thanksgiving Bonus

Studying the prayers of people in Scripture over the past few months has shown us the importance of slowing down to thank God. In our culture, we’re prone to filling up those moments meant for pausing with way too much activity. Thanksgiving is almost here but, before you start shopping, cooking, baking, hosting, or eating, take some time to put on the brakes and do what the holiday was designed for: giving thanks. 

While I have many things that I’m thankful for this year, I want to turn my attention to just a few. Will you join me in drawing near to God and thanking Him for some of these rich blessings?

1. The Gift of God’s Faithfulness: “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24, NIV) In April of 2020, God blessed me with the opportunity to write Extraordinary Prayer. At the time I agreed to do it, I had plenty of time to write due to the COVID lockdown. However, three months later, my mom was diagnosed with cancer and put on hospice. Before I finished writing it, she went home to heaven. Words can’t express my gratefulness to God for enabling me to balance caring for my mom with writing the study and bringing it to completion. And on top of that, He’s given me tremendous joy as I’ve taught through different sessions and studied it with others this fall.

2. The Hope of Eternity with God: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17, NIV) These verses have become so familiar that we may have lost sight of their significance. I’m thankful that God showed us mercy by sending His son to pay the price for our sins so that we can be with Him forever. It’s comforting knowing God’s plan isn’t to condemn us, but to save us. Attending to two funerals recently and having both my parents deceased makes me even more aware of how fleeting our time on earth is. I’m truly grateful that this life isn’t the end of the story.

3. The Gift of the Holy Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be  in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you… But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:16-18, 26, NIV) I’m grateful for God’s continual presence in my life through the gift of the Holy Spirit. What a comfort it is knowing I have a counselor and guide who gives me access to God’s power at all times. Although my earthly parents are now in heaven, I thank God that He doesn’t leave me as an orphan.

4. The Gift of Peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV) In a world filled with chaos and discord, I’m grateful for peace that isn’t dependent upon circumstances. Because God is faithful and trustworthy, I can have peace that defies logic. I am confident of His goodness and know that He wants only what is good for me. So even when I don’t understand why He’s allowing hardships or difficulties, I can find peace in Him. That’s a rare gift in our world today.

5. The Gift of Christian Fellowship: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6, NIV) What an incredible gift and blessing it is to walk beside others in faith. Over the past year I’ve experienced numerous hard, sad, difficult moments, but I’ve also received an abundance of love, support, and encouragement from godly friends and family. In addition to that, I’ve had the joy of serving with some incredible people who have sharpened my faith and helped me to continue growing in my walk with Jesus. God surrounded me with amazing support as I wrote Extraordinary Prayer. If you have a copy of the book, you can see many of their names written in the acknowledgements.

What fills you with gratitude right now? Don’t let the bustle of the holiday cause you to miss what it’s really all about. Take five minutes and tell God how you feel. Let Rend Collective’s “Counting Every Blessing” put words to your prayer. Click here to listen.

A Different Kind of Christmas

Tears welled up in my eyes as I rounded the corner onto my street and spied my front porch. Two small Christmas trees with twinkling lights stood on either side of the door, replacing fall pumpkins that had been there when I left. Pulling into the driveway, I felt physically and emotionally depleted. The previous five days had been consumed with sifting through the contents of my childhood home–44 years worth of our family’s belongings. Decorating for Christmas had been the last thing on my mind.

Losing my mom to cancer in October has created a significant life shift for me. After dealing with the initial shock and grief of her passing, my siblings and I focused our energy on planning a family graveside service and an online celebration of her life. Once those events passed, the dread of dealing with her affairs and belongings became a reality. So, as my neighbors hung lights on their houses and brought trees inside to decorate, I began meeting my sister daily to clean out our mom’s house. The project drained me and required all of the time and energy I would normally focus on preparing for Christmas.  I didn’t realize how depleted I was until the end of that first week when I arrived home and saw the Christmas trees outside our door. My husband had ushered in the holiday cheer I couldn’t seem to find on my own. The sight of the twinkling trees brought comfort and tears of gratitude in the midst of heavy grief. 

Later, as we decorated the tree inside, the contrasting events of the week overwhelmed me, and the tears started flowing again. Soon, I was crying too hard to hang ornaments. Abandoning the tree, I sank onto the couch, laid my head on my husband’s chest and sobbed. It had been tricky balancing my grief, sorting the belongings in my childhood home, and launching into the Christmas season without my mom. In the background, I was also lamenting how COVID-19 would change the holidays by preventing gatherings with other family members and friends.

Grieving is hard and tiring work. And even if you didn’t lose a loved one this year, it’s likely you’re mourning a loss related to 2020’s pandemic and all of the ripple effects it has caused. So, it may not feel like there’s much to celebrate this Christmas. And yet, as much as we love the gatherings, gifts, decorations, and celebrations, they aren’t the heart of the season. They’re just the signposts of it. At the center of the Christmas is Jesus, God in the flesh who came to dwell among us.

This year is going to look different for many of us. For me, it will be my first Christmas Eve and Christmas day without my mom or extended family at the table with us. And it will also be the first time in 27 years that my husband and I don’t travel to see the other side of our family, thanks to COVID-19.  We have a lot to grieve, but we still have hope. It all goes back to that baby born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. 

Throughout this month I’ve been reading a daily advent devotional that is keeping me tethered to truth. Each entry includes Scriptures from the Old and New Testaments that highlight specific aspects of Jesus. The book focuses on the prophecies Christ fulfilled and the blessings we receive because of Him. It’s reminding me there’s still hope and joy for us, even in 2020. So, whether you’re enjoying all the trappings of the season or hurting deeply this Christmas, Jesus’ birth deserves celebrating. Here are a few truths that have especially encouraged me recently:

-Jesus brings light into our world that no darkness can overcome (not even a pandemic or a loss you’re experiencing): “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

-Jesus came to seek those who have no purpose or direction: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

-Jesus became a man and died for us, so we can be cleansed from sin and have access to God Almighty: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

-Jesus came to defeat the devil: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” (1 John 3:8b)

-Jesus came to bring us victory over death: “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-26)

-Jesus came to show us perfect love: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17, NIV)

-Jesus assures us future glory despite our present suffering: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us… What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:18 & 31-32)

-Jesus gives us peace unlike any peace the world offers. Because of Him, we have nothing to fear: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

This year some of the jollier Christmas songs aren’t resonating with me very well. But when I heard “Behold Him” by Francesca Battistelli, I discovered one that captures my feelings perfectly. I hope it encourages you today too.

*The devotional I’ve been reading is Advent 2020 Jesus Christ is Born created by shereadstruth.com.

*All Scriptures quoted from the New International Version.

Listening for God’s Voice

Regardless of our age or station in life, all of us make choices about what we listen to and what we ignore. For those who love God and follow Jesus, it’s important to consider what input we choose to receive daily. How do we make ourselves available to hear from God? How do we learn to discern when He is speaking to us? Why do some people seem to hear from Him often and others not at all?

Pulling into a parking space, I stopped the car and turned to look at my two little boys in the back seat. They’d been listening to a story on a CD and I was surprised to find one of them hunched down with his ear next to the speaker in the car door.  Over the following weeks, my concern grew as I noticed many times when my son didn’t respond to me when I was talking to him. Finally, I made an appointment to have his hearing tested.

At the end of the visit, the doctor came in to report his findings. I braced myself for the news until I saw him smirk. “Your son doesn’t have a hearing problem, he has a listening problem.” My fear was quickly replaced by frustration. It turns out his hearing was perfect, he just listened selectively. Apparently, the stories playing in the car were worthy of his full attention, so he leaned close to the speaker to filter out all other noises. Conversely, there were times that I talked to him that didn’t seem as interesting or important, so he just didn’t listen. A mix of relief and exasperation filled my mind as we left the doctor’s office.

As I think about that story years later, I realize that all people have a “listening problem,” whether their hearing is perfect or not. Regardless of our age or station in life, all of us make choices about what we listen to and what we ignore. For those who love God and follow Jesus, it’s important to consider what input we choose to receive daily. How do we make ourselves available to hear from God? How do we learn to discern when He is speaking to us? Why do some people seem to hear from Him often and others not at all?

First and foremost, the Bible is our primary source for understanding how the Lord speaks. It is the guidebook for learning how to tune our hearts to hear His voice. God’s Word speaks to us directly and is also meant to be the filter through which we examine everything else in our lives. Scanning my Bible’s concordance for passages on hearing, listening, and obeying, I found ample information in both the Old and New Testaments. Here are a few of the many things I learned from Jesus’ teaching on these topics:

Jesus’ Followers Know Him and Recognize His Voice:“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)

Jesus’ Followers Obey His Teaching: “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.’” (John 14:23-24)

Jesus’ Followers Rely on the Holy Spirit for Guidance: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

Jesus’ Followers Experience Peace by Listening to Him:“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

In the next few weeks, I look forward to unpacking Priscilla Shirer’s updated version of Discerning the Voice of God to learn more about these concepts. I loved the original rendition of this study when I did it in 2009. Little did I know what trials and challenges I’d face shortly after completing it. Knowing how to discern God’s voice and to follow His leading have reassured me more times than I can count over the years since then. I hope you’ll join me as I continue to explore and deepen my understanding on this weighty topic.

For some musical inspiration, listen to Crowder’s song “Red Letters” and be struck by the power God’s words have to change our lives when we lean in and truly listen. (For those who are unfamiliar with the term “red letters,” some Bibles use red print to signify direct quotes from Jesus in the New Testament.)

Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks, Lifeway Press, 2018.

Faith and Fear Make Bad Roommates

We’re in that transitional season between spring and summer. Many college kids, including my son, have wrapped up finals and are returning home for a few months. I love bumping into students I know around town and hearing about their experiences during the first year away. Usually, one of the questions I ask them is, “How was your roommate?” The answer to that question gives a brief sketch of the triumphs and troubles they experienced out on their own.

Most of us can vividly remember a roommate or two from an earlier season in life. If my memory serves me correctly, I had ten different ones between the time I graduated from high school and got married. Some became amazing friends with whom I still have relationships. Others provided me with opportunities to practice patience and to give grace. (That’s putting a positive spin on some of the less than ideal roommates I had–I’m sure a few of them could tell stories about me too.) Having a few challenging roommate experiences is a rite of passage as we move towards adulthood, isn’t it?

For most of us, the constantly changing living situations of early adulthood eventually fade as we establish more permanent residences. But even if we’ve lived with the same person for many years, there are still “roommates” that rotate in and out of our lives. Only now, most of them reside in our minds and hearts and influence our thought patterns. Many of them create significant internal conflict as they battle for space in our souls. Two prominent ones are faith and fear.

Here’s how Bible teacher Beth Moore describes these competing metaphorical roommates: “Biblically speaking, fear and faith fight for the same space. Each is territorial….think in terms of your soul being a house and Fear and Faith are knocking at your door. Each desires to occupy expansive square footage in the house of your soul…Any square foot or inch where Fear abides in your life is the precise ground Faith exists to occupy. Fear and faith cannot be roommates. They will not coexist. The one assigned authority automatically elbows the other off the space.” (Beth Moore The Quest pages 33-34)

For many of us, fearful thinking is our natural default mode. It requires intentional effort to trust God and cling to our faith in Him when life throws us curve balls. “If you can find your fear, you can always know where to send your faith. No, faith is not as easy to come by as fear, but it is colossally easier to live with. What faith costs you in tenacity, fear up-charges you in misery.” (Beth Moore, The Quest, p. 34)

I recognized the truth of Beth’s words recently when my husband and I were on a walk discussing a difficult situation in our family. The conversation turned to speculating about how the future would unfold with the challenges we were facing. The scenarios we began painting were not pretty and I soon found myself gripped with fear. At that moment, the Holy Spirit pulled me back into the present and reminded me of His faithfulness. My husband and I don’t know what will transpire, but we can trust that God will be with us no matter how it unfolds. Fear had to be ushered out so that faith could take center stage again.

More than anyone else, Jesus understands the battle between faith and fear. Mark 4:35-41 tells the story of Jesus and His disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee when a furious squall threatens to swamp their boat. After the frightened disciples awaken Him from a nap and He calms the storm, Jesus says, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40, NIV) That question makes me squirm uncomfortably when I think of the different “storms” I’m facing that cause fear to wash over me.

Maybe Jesus’ question convicts you too. The point isn’t to make us feel bad, but to show us that fear and faith are opposites that can’t share mental space in our lives. We need to strive to let faith occupy more real estate in our minds than fear. That’s why I cling to Jesus’ reassuring words, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV)

The lyrics to “Cast My Cares” by Finding Favour have been playing regularly in my mind over the past few weeks. As you listen, let the words reassure you and remind you to focus on God’s faithfulness instead of your fears.

Beth Moore, The Quest: An Excursion Toward intimacy with God, Lifeway Press, 2017.