What's Your Response to the King?

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, tell him 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 the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, 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, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 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!"

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." Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'" The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,  'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"

Matthew 21:1-16 

(From a sermon I preached on April 4, 2009)

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is portrayed in many different ways: 

• Lamb of God 

• Bread of Life 

• Good Shepherd 

• Son of Man 

• Living Water 

• Healer 

• Teacher 

• Rabbi 

And many others

In this passage, Jesus is now presented as a king. Not just any king, but the promised one, the one the prophets and poets had written about centuries earlier. Clearly the jubilant crowd expected that Jesus was about to take the throne of David, overthrow the occupying Romans, and restore Israel to its former glorious state as the Promised Land.

This was not the intent of Jesus.

He did not come to establish an earthly kingdom, but rather to usher in a heavenly kingdom. A kingdom not based on nationality or religious heritage, but a kingdom of priests chosen by God to serve before His heavenly throne. Since Jesus knew all this, one might wonder why he allowed the people to hallow and worship Him on the way into Jerusalem that day. Why did He allow them to get their hopes up, knowing that in six short days, He would be hanging on a cross, dying?

There are two main reasons why Jesus allowed this scene to play out.

First, it was necessary to fulfill the prophetic Scripture from Zechariah 9:9 quoted in this passage:

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 

This action of riding a donkey's colt into Jerusalem had profound symbolism, and could not be missed by those familiar with the Messianic prophecies. The donkey is associated with the throne of David (God had forbidden the Israelite kings to amass large quantities of horses – one of the major mistakes Solomon made). In addition, a colt that had not been used for common labor was especially suitable for religious purposes.

The second reason is because Jesus had a right to be worshiped and honored as a King.

Just as he allowed the woman to anoint Him with perfume for His burial, He also allowed the people to elevate Him as King, although prematurely. We know from later Scriptures that it would not be until after His resurrection and ascension into heaven that He would take His rightful place on the throne.

Even though Jesus is portrayed as a king in this passage, we find that not everyone responded to Him the same way. Today I want us to look at the various responses to the Kingship of Jesus, and see if we demonstrate any of these same responses to Him in our own lives. 

The Disciples

The disciples followed Jesus' orders without question, regardless of how off-the-wall or impractical those orders were. One can only imagine all the possible reactions they would encounter by walking up to a stranger's house and taking his animals! The amazing thing is, when we do exactly what God tells us, we don't have to worry about what other people think about us, or that perhaps things won't turn out the way God said they would.

The Villagers

In Mark 11:4-6, we actually read the dialogue that took place between them and the disciples:

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

Even though these people weren't the animals' owners, they were bound by the law to look out for their neighbors' possessions. It was their duty to investigate this strange behavior, kind of like a first-century block watch. By allowing the disciples to take the donkey and her colt, they were accepting full responsibility for their neighbor's property. One can assume they believed that, if the Lord needed them, the Lord would send them back when He was done.

These villagers expressed an attitude that is all too rare in today's churches. They knew that God has a right to ask for anything He wants from us, since everything we have comes from Him anyway. The answer of "the Lord needs it" should be all we need to hand over whatever God asks of us. How many times do we hoard our stuff, knowing that the Lord needs it somewhere else? 

The Travelers Along The Way

They recognized the royal position of Jesus, and perhaps even recognized the prophetic significance of Him riding on a donkey, and honored Him by placing their cloaks and tree branches on the road. Placing their cloaks on the road was a means of paying homage to royalty. Their shouting and singing indicates that they were not ashamed to have Jesus as their king. Since God requires vocal praise, this was entirely appropriate.

This is probably the most complex response to analyze, because it is impossible for us to know exactly what motivated the crowds to celebrate and rejoice the way they did. It could very well be that they were totally aware of the royal position of Jesus, in which case, their actions were justified. But it is more likely that they were excited because of what they expected that Jesus would do for them, by restoring the kingdom of Israel. The word Hosanna literally means "save" but also came to be an expression of praise. There is no way of telling what each person meant when they shouted "Hosanna" that day.

How often do we get excited about Jesus because of what He has done or will do for us, as opposed to getting excited just because of who He is? Do we mouth the right words, but have hidden meanings known only to us?

The Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law

They criticized Jesus for allowing this unbridled display. They were especially indignant because He was allowing the people to place Jesus in the position of the Messiah. These religious experts knew very well the implications of calling Jesus the Son of David. They also knew that the Messiah would overthrow their carefully crafted religious system once he came to power.

Furthermore, since they loved to receive praise and recognition, it was just too much to be overshadowed by this simple carpenter from Galilee. Some commentators claim that Jesus allowed this event in order to push the religious leaders over the edge and into action, so they would start the process that would lead to His crucifixion.

How often do we respond to King Jesus the way these Pharisees did? When He comes on the scene, do we get indignant because He wants to rearrange our religious customs and traditions? Do we get jealous if He takes too much of the spotlight off of us? Or do we get all bent out of shape when others are praising Him in a way that we don't think is appropriate or dignified?

Jesus will be worshiped, whether we like it or not. Luke 19:40 tells us how Jesus responded to those who commanded Him to rebuke the crowd for its exuberance:

"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

If we don't worship Jesus, He will find someone else who will. Jesus will be worshiped.

The Children 
They joined in with the grown-ups and were shouting and praising Jesus as well. Did they understand what they were doing, or what it meant to call Jesus the Son of David? Probably not. More likely, they were simply imitating the behavior of the adults around them.

There are two things to consider here.

First, are we setting an example for the young of our church (either children or those new to the Lord) so that they know the proper way to worship Jesus and give Him the honor that He deserves?

Second, how often do we act like these children and simply do what everyone around us is doing, even if we don't have a clue what the implications might be?

We need to be careful in both of these matters. We need to follow our own convictions and use as much intellect as emotion when it comes to worship. We must always be aware that we are setting an example for somebody.


When the King of Kings comes on the scene, how do we respond?

• Are we like the disciples, faithfully obedient? 

• Are we like the villagers, freely giving God whatever He asks for?

• Are we like the crowds, some worshiping Jesus for who He is, and some for what He can do for them?

• Are we like the Pharisees, who were more concerned with their positions of power and prestige and their religious traditions, than with the reality of God showing up in a worship service?

• Are we like the little children, blindly imitating the actions of others, but not really fully aware of who it is we are worshiping?

As we approach the celebration of our Lord's death, burial and resurrection, may we each examine our response to Jesus Christ, the King and Ruler of our lives, and respond to Him in Spirit and in Truth, giving Him the rightful place of honor in our lives.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

Broken, But Not Dead

"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15:4-6

Shortly after Alvin moved to Phoenix in 2001, he decided that he wanted a lemon tree. Coming from the Midwest, having citrus trees in your yard was a novelty for him. We had orange and grapefruit trees, but no lemon. Since it was Summer, the time for planting citrus was long gone, and his tree would have to wait until the following Spring. Unfortunately, he got sick the following Spring, and the lemon tree was the least of our worries. He passed away on July 2, 2002, just shy of his 28th birthday.

That following Spring, I remembered Alvin's wish for a lemon tree. So I planted one in the front yard outside the big bay window where I could look at it every day. In some small way, it was a memorial to Alvin, a way of continuing the circle of life. It took a few years for the tree to mature and start producing fruit. And produce it did. Every year now, the tree has been loaded with so many lemons I can't give them all away.

For whatever reason, this past winter's crop was especially bountiful. I don't recall ever seeing the lemons as big as they were this time. Sometime during December, when the lemons were still ripening (they are usually ready for picking in January), we had a rather severe rain storm. I came home from work one evening and found a very large limb of the tree had broken and was hanging down by the trunk, still attached. I don't know exactly what caused this, but I suspect it was a combination of the weight of the fruit and the rain, and the heavy winds that were prevalent that day.

I decided the leave the branch intact, to see if it would survive long enough for the lemons to ripen. Sure enough, by mid-January, I was giving away dozens of lemons from that broken limb. After the lemons were all gone, I intended to prune it off, but never got around to it. Since we had such a mild winter, the tree started blossoming before the old crop was even harvested. And wouldn't you know it? That broken limb put forth an abundance of fragrant blossoms and new leafage. As damaged as it is, it has no intention of giving up its life, as long as it's still attached to the trunk of that tree. Here's a photo of that broken limb, three months after the incident:

I thought about the passage from John 15 where Jesus was teaching His disciples about the vine and the branches. He told them that they needed to remain in Him in order to thrive and fulfill the calling that He was giving them. He knew that they would face incredible opposition and storms in the coming days and years, and wanted to prepare them for that.

The same holds true for us. No matter what life throws at us, we can not only survive, but thrive, when we stay connected to the source of life. The winds of opposition and storms of life may hit us hard, and even break us. But if we remain attached to Christ, we can continue to produce the fruit of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul summed it up this way:

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

We may be broken by the trials of this life: the death of a spouse or child, the loss of a job, failing health, the betrayal of a close friend, or any other devastating situation. But as long as we cling to Jesus and remain in fellowship with Him, we have His promise to remain with us. We may be broken, but we're not dead.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

On the Death of My Father

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)

My father passed away early Sunday evening, February 16, 2014. Even as I write these words, it seems somehow surreal to me that he is finally gone. This is the man who seemingly made a career out of cheating death. On numerous occasions throughout his 82 years on this earth, he stared death in the face and laughed. That's what my father did best - he laughed. He had a very hard life, but he always used humor to diffuse tension, put others at ease, or to numb his own pain. Good, bad or indifferent, I inherited that wit of his. I am rarely at a loss for a witty remark or a clever comeback, although there are times when my attempts at humor are not necessarily appreciated (that's another topic for another post). Even on his deathbed, hours before he would take his last breath, my father was still cracking jokes.

My father was largely uneducated, having only completed the 8th grade (I just learned at his funeral that he couldn't complete the 9th grade because his rural school burned down and they never rebuilt it). But he was an incredibly intelligent man. He read everything he could get his hands on, and absorbed information like a sponge. One of his favorite pastimes was working crossword puzzles - the harder the better. He stayed current on a wide variety of topics and was never at a loss for something to talk about. Oddly enough, his natural inclination for intelligence did not translate to a desire to see his children educated. After all, if he was able to get by on 8 years of schooling, surely we had no need for anything after high school.

As smart as my father was, he severely lacked business acumen. In fact, most of his business ventures ended up failing. But somehow he was able to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. What my dad lacked in business smarts, he made up for in sheer determination to be a good provider for his family. I will never really know just how hard he must have worked all those years to make sure we were comfortable. Unfortunately, the trade-off was never having a strong father-son bond with his kids, especially me and my younger brother; my three older brothers were born in rapid succession and had the benefit of a younger, healthier father who still had time to teach them how to ride bikes and hunt and fish and throw a ball. My father was 30 by the time I was born, and the weight of his family responsibilities were already heavy upon him. Most of my childhood memories of my father consist of him sleeping (he worked nights more often than not). My brothers had to teach me how to ride a bike. I never learned how to hunt or fish, and I still can't throw a ball to save my life.

My father loved the Lord, and he and my mother raised us with a healthy respect for the Christian faith. We were raised in an ultra-conservative church (I liken it more to a cult), but my parents leaned more toward the center. They didn't buy into a lot of the church's rules and regulations, but they put on a good show to keep the peace. My parents were far from perfect, and their parenting skills were uneven and unpredictable. But they did the best they could with what they had to work with. They instilled in us the value of hard work, integrity, honesty, and the worth of all people. My parents never exhibited any signs of racism, even though we were entrenched in a very "white" culture. They were equally comfortable around whites and non-whites, something that has stuck with me through the years. I have always embraced racial and ethnic diversity, thanks in part to my parents' ability to be color-blind.

Part of my father's lack of success in business was due partly to naivete and partly to placing too much trust in people who never earned it. More than once he lost everything to unscrupulous men who took advantage of my father's trusting nature. But God is good, and He always provided for our family. In spite of numerous financial setbacks over the years, my father was never tight-fisted. He had a spirit of generosity that permeated everything he did. Even though we never had much, no one ever left our table hungry, and my father literally gave the shirt off is back to anyone who needed it. My father was just as liberal with his time. He was never too busy to invest a minute or two in anyone who crossed his path. At his funeral, I was amazed at the dozens of people who commented how much he had meant to them and how he had touched their lives, just by being a friend. I honestly believe that my father never had an enemy.

As my father aged, and his health began to decline, he finally accepted his own mortality. In the last few years, after yet another brush with death, he started spending a lot of time telling me and my brothers how much he loved us. He started hugging me every time I went to visit him. Sadly, such physical and verbal displays of affection were missing when I was growing up. I am sure that my father knew that he would go to his grave with many regrets, but not telling his family how much he loved and cared for us wasn't going to be one of them.

As I sifted through a lifetime of possessions at my parents' house after the funeral last weekend, I uncovered an abundance of evidence of my father's love and devotion to my mother. They would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary this coming May. My parents always acted as if they merely tolerated each other, but it was just how they interacted (think Archie and Edith Bunker). I honestly believe that my father only hung on to life as long as he did, long after his body refused to cooperate, because of his love and concern for my mother. If he could have done so, he would have outlived my mother just so she would never have to spend a day without him. A love and devotion like that doesn't come along every day.

There are many other things I could say about my father, some too private to share, others that need more time to process. As I stated during his funeral while reading from his obituary, you can't sum up a person's life in a few paragraphs. Last August, I wrote a post about honoring our parents. Tonight, this is my tribute to my father. In spite of his faults and shortcomings, he was a pretty good dad.

Rest in peace, Dad. You earned it.

Your son,

David

Watch Your Mouth! (Part 2)

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)

Last June, I published a blog titled, Watch Your Mouth!, in which I discussed the ramifications of the controversy surrounding Paula Dean and some of the allegations made about things that she said. Today, I want to expand on this topic about the power of our words.

I watched an interesting movie last night, A Thousand Words, starring Eddie Murphy. The story revolves around the main character, Jack (played by Murphy), who is fast and careless with his words, regardless of who gets hurt in the process. Through a series of events, his karma gives him a tree which loses a leaf for every word that he speaks. With only a thousand words/leaves left before the tree dies (and Jack dies with it), Jack has to figure out how to use his remaining words to patch up relationships with his family and make peace with his past.

While the movie is primarily a comedy (it is Eddie Murphy, after all), it has a very poignant message which is brought about in the resolution to the story. Words matter; they have great power and should be used with great care. One of my favorite Bible passages is quoted above - short but packed with a powerful punch. Our words are capable of bringing about great healing or great damage. In my 30+ year career, I have rarely encountered trouble because of the quality of my work. When I am called on the carpet, invariably it is because of my mouth. As much as I try to temper my words and place a guard over my mouth, sooner or later I will blurt out something that is either sarcastic, blunt, or just plain inappropriate. In the process, not only do I hurt others, but I hurt myself as well. By speaking careless words, I end up developing a reputation as someone who is not easy to work with - a reputation not easily undone.

When people first get to know me, they are sometimes unsettled by how quiet I tend to be. After all, I am a classic introvert. Sometimes my quietness is seen as being aloof or uninterested, but mostly it's because I'm not one of those people who loves to hear the sound of their own voice. I would much rather listen to you talk about yourself than talk about myself. And don't even try to get me started on small talk. I HATE small talk. I'd rather not say anything at all than to talk about meaningless stuff just to fill the silence.

On the other hand, if you get me started on a topic about which I am deeply passionate, you may not be able to get a word in edgewise, let alone get me to shut up. But even then, I only speak because I believe I have something important to say. This is where I end up in trouble at times, because I tend to be too passionate about my work. I tend to take things personally if I feel they reflect on my abilities or the quality of my product, even if they have nothing to do with me. So I am trying very hard to step back and be more conscious of the triggers that push my buttons and tempt me to speak careless words.

Those who know me well know that I am usually a man of few words (I definitely take after my father in that regard). So when I do speak, it's usually because I have something important to say. Of course, this places an additional burden on me, because I know that people will weigh carefully what I say. So I must try to be extra careful in not only what I say, but how I say it. It is a sad truth that, the better we know someone, the easier it is for us to know exactly how to injure them with our words. When I know all of your weaknesses, your hot buttons, your insecurities, every word in my vocabulary can be turned into a well-honed dagger, ready to pierce your heart and soul. Likewise, my words can be used to provide comfort, encouragement and solace, creating a safe place for you to be yourself.

In the movie, Jack learns the value of his words and the lasting effect they have on the people he loves, and gets a second chance to get it right. We may not always get that second chance. Choose your words carefully. I know I will.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

My Resolutions for 2014

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1-12)

I thought I would take a different approach to my New Year's post this year. In years past, I've used a perennial favorite, which was embedded in last year's post. But this year, I wanted to do something new, more organic, more practical. I was also thinking about the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached, and how these simple principles should permeate the believer's life. So here are my resolutions for 2014:

1.    I resolve to be poor in spirit, not full of myself, spiritually over-confident, or morally superior. I recognize that I am spiritually incomplete and inadequate, and that I am lacking in the qualities and characteristics that allow me to transcend the depravity of a fallen world. I am nothing in comparison with the God of the Universe, and all that I have to offer God is broken, dirty and repulsive. Thus, I will allow God to work within me to provide what I lack.

2.    I resolve to mourn, grieved by the things that grieve the Spirit of God. I will be moved with compassion for the downtrodden, the forsaken, the disadvantaged, the hurting people who desperately need comfort in a cold and unfeeling world.

3.    I resolve to be meek, not self-assertive or promoting my own self-interests. I will strive to foster a character of gentleness and humility. I don’t have to always be right, or be first. I will put people before principles.

4.    I resolve to be hungry and thirsty for righteousness, not following worthless rules and regulations that only have the appearance of righteousness, but fostering a life of right-living fashioned after the character of God as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. I will seek to deepen my fellowship with God through His Holy Spirit through prayer, study and worship.

5.    I resolve to be merciful, setting aside my self-proclaimed right to be judge, jury and executioner of those who wrong me. I will be constantly mindful of the mercy that God extends to me on a daily basis, and extend the same level of mercy to those around me.

6.    I resolve to be pure in heart, being daily refined by the working of the Holy Spirit as He purges the impurities from my life. I will regularly reflect upon the holiness of God to see where I fall short, and submit myself to his refining fire, so that all who see me see the reflection of God.

7.    I resolve to be a peacemaker, embracing the true character of a child of God. I will attempt to be an agent of reconciliation and bridge-building in all of my associations. Rather than focusing on those things which divide us, I will accentuate those things which unite us, even when it means swallowing my pride or relinquishing my right to be “right”.

8.    I resolve to allow myself to be persecuted because of righteousness, not engaging in futile arguments with those whose values do not align with mine. I will not lash out at those who ridicule my beliefs or my relationship with Jesus Christ, but will love them to the best of my ability, knowing that my reward is not of this world. I will strive to do nothing that will bring reproach or shame upon the name of my Savior or to push away those who are seeking a relationship with Him.

Jesus taught His disciples that they would be blessed (literally "happy") if they aspired to these principles. I invite you to join me in seeking His blessing in this coming year by resolving to live a more beautiful life.

Have a safe, happy and prosperous New Year!

Pastor David

The People of Christmas, Part 4

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:8-20)

(As a departure from the traditional Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, several years ago I did an Advent devotional series on the People of Christmas - The Prophets, Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds. I will be sharing these devotions over these four Sundays leading up to Christmas.)

 

The Shepherds 

Like most of the other characters of the Christmas story, we don’t know much about the shepherds. We do know that shepherds were at the bottom of the social pecking order. They spent much of their time out in the fields surrounded by lots of smelly sheep, so they probably didn’t have the best hygiene, not to mention highly developed social skills. They were also probably not terribly well-educated either.

If it had been left to us, we probably would have made a few casting changes for the “Big Announcement” regarding the birth of the Messiah. We might have selected a few choice religious scholars who were well familiar with the prophecies of Scriptures and would surely recognize the signs announced by the angels. Perhaps we would have thrown in a few wealthy civic leaders who would ensure that the new King of the Jews had a great PR campaign. But we’re not God.

God chose the lowliest and most unlikely of people to be the first to receive the good news that a Savior was born. Perhaps it was to show the world that God was not impressed by social status, education, or credentials. Perhaps it was because the Messiah was sent to save the lost sheep of Israel. Or perhaps, it was because they shepherds were just simple enough to actually believe what the angels told them.

They didn’t sit around have a deep theological discussion as to whether the message they heard was accurate, or if it aligned with Scripture, or whether it was some sort of spiritual metaphor. In fact, the only thing they discussed was how quickly they could get to Bethlehem to see this amazing event they had been told about.

Once they had seen the baby for themselves, they didn’t hesitate to tell everyone they met about the incredible events they had witnessed. They didn’t stop to consider that they were ignorant, uneducated, smelly shepherds. They didn’t worry that they might not be qualified to spread such weighty news. I’m pretty sure they also really didn’t care if people thought they were a little wacko – spending too many lonely nights with those sheep, no doubt!

How about us? Are we so quick to tell others about this amazing person named Jesus, who came into the world to save us from our sins? Do we get tongue-tied, nervous and sweaty when we think about having to witness to people we don’t know? Are we afraid that we might not be qualified enough or have the right answers? Or are we simple enough just to take God at His word and excited enough to tell everyone about Jesus, regardless of what they might think about us?

Christmas is the perfect time of year for us to be able to inject Jesus into our conversations and introduce people to the man behind the holiday. After all, it’s all about His birthday, right?

Prayer:

God of all creation, thank you that you didn’t send the Christmas angels to important people of great standing and stature, but rather You chose to reach down to simple people like us. Give us the courage and conviction to tell everyone we meet about the real reason for our Christmas celebration. Amen.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David