Tag: Word of God

Posted in Life Inspiration, salvation

It’s not about Homosexuality, Really.

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Much debate has been made concerning Phil Robertson and his statements regarding the sin of homosexuality. It’s brought up some great conversations, and some that were not so great. It’s given a platform for both sides of the debate, which for the record – God’s not in the debate; His Word is law. So as I continued on in my study of the Book of Jude it was obvious to my heart that God had parked me in this spot for a reason in this season.

A few days ago the Phil Robertson conversation occurred in my presence. And being the “Jesus Chick” there was an expectation by some that I should have all the answers. Well let’s just shoot that theory out of the water right now, I don’t have all the answers… but I know where they are. I cannot stand flat footed and quote you one hundred passages of scripture, but I can read you a scripture and then through the Holy Spirit expound on it what I believe it to mean. That’s a gift afforded to anyone who diligently reads and studies the Bible. God said he would make that available to us in James 1:5 ~ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

And so when asked the question “Does it really say in the Bible homosexuality is wrong?” I could confidently say yes. Now where? Well, a few second word search on my Bible app lead me to the correct passages in Leviticus 18:22 – Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.  And Romans 1:27 – And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Phil Robertson didn’t make it up… it’s in there.

But this blog is not about homosexuality, this blog is about creeps in the church. Who, rather than have you understand the truth of the glorious gospel, that Jesus will save anyone, would rather keep strife and contention stirred up between believers and nonbelievers so that the message of Christ gets lost in the battle.

If God says it’s sin, then it is. That’s not up for debate. But the sin of homosexuality is no greater than the sin of lying, adultery, gossip…..woah baby, now I’m hitting too close the church house. Sin separates us from God. So who can be saved? Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And in so doing they believe the Word of God, which we’re told in 1st John 1:1 ~  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

So, in saying that homosexuality is not wrong, you are saying that the Word lies, which is God. Now the question you must ask yourself is can you believe that God lies and be saved? No. Titus 1:2 clearly says In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Be not deceived, saved people sin; every one of us. That’s not up for debate either. 1st John 1:8 ~ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. The difference is in what you believe. I believe that the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of God, and that everything from cover to cover including punctuation is true and with purpose, I am not saved because I’m perfect, I’m saved because God is perfect and He died so that I could have forgiveness of my sins. To be saved, you must believe that God makes no mistake, and when we sin we must turn away from it, not embrace it.

So back to the creeps in the church. Read Jude verse 4-9 and what you’ll discover is from the beginning of the church there were the great debaters. And one of the very things they were debating was homosexuality. Sodom and Gomorrha. This is not a new battle. But it is one that gets our eyes off Jesus.

Jude 4-9

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Read the Word, Study the Word, Believe the Word. Leave the debating to someone else.

Posted in Christmas, Life Inspiration, salvation

The odds you’ll go to Heaven…

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The day after Christmas… people are back to work, kids are sleeping in with the luster of new toys dulling by the minute, diet consideration has begun, Christmas travelers will be heading back home and the New Year approaches at lightning speed. Heavy on my heart this morning, and actually through the Christmas season was the thought “what about the day after Jesus came?”

The saved and unsaved alike have no problem celebrating the birth of Jesus. There are those who complain and gripe that Christians have the audacity to celebrate their own holyday, but I doubt they mind the occasional bargain that comes with the season. But this morning the glitter has now fallen to the floor, the tree is slightly disheveled, mistletoe’s been exchanged for a “good morning dear” and the chatter of Jesus is left to religious fanatics (like me). Life goes back to normal.

Except for those of us who are abnormal.

I can’t get the day after thought off my mind. What if Jesus had returned on Christmas day, and this was the day after. What if while we slept Jesus came back unaware and the unsaved got up this morning to an empty house because they’re spouse and children were called home to be with Jesus. “What an awful thought!” you say? Awful as it is, it is reality. The Phil Robertson naysayers could debate his statements all they wanted with little argument and the Anti-Christ Lawyers Union (the ACLU) could rule the world, since lawyer is an important profession and you can get the best resources for accidents or wrongful death at https://www.georgiainjurylawyer.com/wrongful-death/. Political factions and scientists could and likely will concoct all sorts of reasoning for the disappearance of Christ’s people, and those left behind may believe it, but they’ll find no comfort in their words. But there’s good news!

Jesus hasn’t returned yet!

What’s the odds that He won’t? After all, the Bible says He will.

Let me tell you about the odds of Bible Prophecy not coming true:

Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College, Peter Stoner and 600 university students set out to calculate the probability of one man (the Man we know as Jesus) fulfilling the major prophecies concerning the Messiah. After narrowing it down to a humanistic viewpoint of only eight of the Bible prophecies concerning the Messiah they determined that the odds Christ would have fulfilled only eight of those prophetic Biblical statements was 10 to the 17th power.  To illustrate how large the number 10^17  is (a figure with 17 zeros), Stoner gave this illustration:

Suppose that we take 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They’ll cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would’ve had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them in their own wisdom. (http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/radio034.htm)

So according to this mathematical and scientific equation, if Jesus had returned on Christmas day, what are the odds you’d be with Him and your Christian family members? Only you have that answer. But the truth of the matter is we don’t need a mathematics professor to figure out that you have 0% chance if you have not accepted Christ as your Savior.

The Bible says in 1st Thessalonians 4:15-18 ~For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I love that the scripture says “comfort one another with these words.” There is great comfort, not fear, in knowing the love of Jesus; fear comes when you are without Him. So… the question is do you know Him?

https://thejesuschick.com/the-road-to-salvation/

Posted in Christmas, Life Inspiration

Face to Face with God

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Mark Lowry wrote the words to a song titled “Mary Did You Know” in 1984 when his pastor asked him to write the program for the living Christmas tree choir presentation. I’ve heard the song again and again, and each time I have to wonder what it was like to be in Mary’s situation. A young woman, a child by our definition today, pregnant out of wedlock in the eyes of the world, carrying the Messiah in the eyes of God. My mind wonders to what the conversations would have been between her and Joseph those months of waiting for the birth of Jesus. As the child grew inside of Mary, they were afforded the time to get to know one another without intimacy. No doubt they both turned to God on multiple occasions and asked questions that may or may not have been answered. Why? How? When? It was a faith like we have never known, or have we?

After all, do we not carry God Himself with us? I know I have asked questions like:

“Why do You choose to use me, Lord?”

“How will I know if what I’m doing is what You’d have me do, Lord?”

“When Lord will I know Your purpose?”

I’ve asked and answers have come, but not as I wished they would have. I wanted clearly defined resolution, but more often than not I got the absence of wonder. I didn’t get an answer, just the absence of anxiety or stress ~ Peace.

I don’t think Mary could have possibly known what the future of that Baby Boy would be, but she knew that she was a part of it and for her that was enough. She thought on it, deeply, Luke 2:19 says ~ “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” And so this morning I find myself pondering God’s purpose in my life as 2013 winds to a close and I’m asking God to open doors in 2014. His doors, not mine. I’m so very grateful for His knowledge that comes from within at the right time. If I don’t know something now, it means I’m not meant to know now.

2 Corinthians 4:6 ~  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

I believe when Mary stared into the face of baby Jesus, she knew all she needed to know. And although I desire to know more, I have to continue on believing that God will reveal His desires to me in His time, and if I continue to search for the answer to life’s questions in the face of God, in due time I’ll find them.

Psalm 105:4

Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Posted in Christmas, Life Inspiration

Pass the *Songlasses, Winter’s on!

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sunglasses

December 21, the winter solstice came and went with little notice by me. As a matter of fact it was almost 70 degrees in West Virginia that day, feeling more like Easter weather than Christmas and it was not until the Preacher mentioned it in passing yesterday in his sermon that I gave it any thought at all. But this morning it is on my mind, and as I prepare to celebrate the Christmas season I’m reminded of my first Christmas after salvation in 1996, the year if found *“more Light.”

December 21st is the shortest day of the year, marked originally on the Roman Calendar as December 25th as the Solstice. A quick Google search lead me to discover that Solstice comes from Latin – “sol” for “sun” and “sisto” for “stop.” For the winter solstice, the sun will stop moving southward, pause, and then begin to move northward. So the first day of winter occurs when the North Pole is tilted the farthest away from the sun. Winter Solstice is the beginning of “more light.”

Woohoo, that’ll put a shout on you if you compare it to what we celebrate on December 25th! That too was a day of more light, it was nothing seasonal but rather 365 days a year, 24 hours a day as a child of God and in 1996 my soul became filled with that Light and every year since it’s gotten sweeter than gumdrops, I’m still like a kid at Christmas.   What joy it brings to my soul to call to remembrance the discovery of what the birth of Christ meant. There would be no Easter, no salvation, were it not for Christmas.

Today is actually my oldest daughter’s birthday, but as a family we’re celebrating Christmas because of the multiple places my children have to go to celebrate with various families. And tonight as my children gather around the tree, as has been the tradition since that first season of “more light” in 1996, I’ll read the Christmas story. But to a new generation. Five little people will sit at my feet and basically wish I’d shut up so they can open their presents. But hopefully one day soon each will discover their own season of “more light,” because Noni (that’s me) shared with them the joy of that first Christmas day.

Tears flood my soul today when I read Luke 2:11 –  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

My Savior. Born of a virgin in a lowly manger so that lowly me could live in His mansion someday.

No wonder the angels sang Glory!

Posted in Christmas, Life Inspiration

Peace on Earth. Really?

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It’s 7:00 am and I’m just now rousting myself up. Good grief! I spent yesterday from the wee hours of the morning until long after I should have been in bed, preparing gifts for Christmas, either shopping, stuffing or wrapping! Crazy! My house looks like Christmas exploded. I love giving gifts! I love to see the joy on the faces of those I love as they get something that their heart desired.  I love it more when they didn’t even desire it and got it anyway. I’m a spoiled brat by my husband who at Christmas seems to make up for every dumb thing he did that got on my nerves the other 364 days of the year. I spend way too much, have a great many regrets and then ask God to forgive me. But then… He did set the example on giving. The difference is He has deeper pockets, His own permission, and wisdom that I don’t even come close to having!

I know Christmas isn’t about the gifts, it’s about the Gift. That is wisdom I’m afforded and I’m so grateful this morning. I love the story of a six foot plus, “hoss of a man,” West Virginia Sheriff who was tougher than nails. He got saved several years ago shortly before Christmas and there were no gifts beneath his tree that year as there had been in prior years of being unsaved. But that year he bought a manger scene and lined all the characters under the tree. Then laid down prostrate in the floor and worshipped the King for the greatest gift he’d ever been given, peace on earth. That is a true story!

Peace on earth for a Sheriff! What a novel idea.

The Apostle Paul, who I guess was a Religious Sheriff of sorts in his day would have probably reacted to Christmas very much the same. He wrote to the Philippians in Philippians 4:9 ~ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Paul got peace because he knew of the inner turmoil that came from trying to live up to the expectations of religion and the world. It’s impossible! But with God there is nothing impossible and the change in him was apparent!

When the angels delivered the message of the Christ child they delivered with it a message of peace in Luke 2:14 ~ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And yet Christ Himself said in Luke 12:51 ~ Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

That sounds confusing unless you’re saved, because we know that the world is a mess, there is no peace to be found but rather conflict and dissension on every side.

But not within.

Within the heart of a child of God is peace that passes all understanding.

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

My prayer for you and your family is that the gift of peace reigns in your home this Christmas.

Posted in Christmas, Life Inspiration

What’s on your page?

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blank page

Often time my writing begins before I’m out of bed in the morning. As soon as my eyes open thoughts begin to flood my mind, praise His Holy Name! when those thoughts are on His goodness, but other times, try as I might the world won’t seem to get out of the way; and when I do get up I’m staring at a blank page praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit. This morning I was not staring at a blank page, I was thinking about the blank page between the final Words in Malachi 4, verse 5-6 ~ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. And the first Words in Matthew 1 ~ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ.

400 years separate those two pages. That’s a long time to look at a blank page and hear nothing from God. I panic if it’s just been a few days. But for generation after generation they sat in silence waiting, waiting, waiting… and then many of them missed it. He didn’t come as they thought He should, He came as He said He would. There’s a lesson in that for me this morning as I wait ~ I’m without excuse for direction. God’s presence is clearly felt in my life and I may choose to ignore it but I cannot say He is silent. Sometimes I think I mistake His silence for His patience with me. If I’d be still a little sooner, stop running day in and day out I’d hear, see, and experience the Lord in greater, deeper ways.

Christmas season goes by me in a whirrrrrrrr! I just about miss it every year as I run to and fro, from event to event, meetings, rehearsals, shopping, dinners, all in celebration of what I’m missing. My page is not blank, it’s not read. But thinking back on those 400 years of silence, I’m not sure how they survived. Yes, I get caught up in the mundaneness of the day, but because of His faithfulness I still hear Him. He speaks to be in snippets throughout the day, He is so patient with me.

So… what’s on our page today?

For me I hope it’s a little more focused on Christ.

As some of you have noticed my blogging has been sporadic this week… Too many irons in the fire. I can feel it spiritually as well. Time to get focused. Just 5 days until we celebrate the birth of Jesus and I want my heart ready! Maybe you could share with me how you’re preparing your heart this season… what has God written on your page today? Post it below!

Posted in Christmas, Life Inspiration

That Good Thing

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Good Thing

Every Christmas season the desire to “do good” abounds most every where; someone wants to see a smile on the face of a child or a family receive a gift of hope. Even the “grinchiest” of Grinch’s find their heart enlarged when they discover “that Good Thing.” And then there are those who continue to walk in blind rebellion and refuse to discover that “Good Thing” but would rather believe it is they that are good. My heart is saddened and I fear for those who created the Christmas campaign for Atheists, spending thousands of dollars (if not millions, I really have no idea) to convince the world that Christ is a myth and “reason” not “The Reason” of Christmas should be celebrated. It is my prayer that actress Julia Sweeney who arrogantly and using the name of God in vain, proclaimed on a billboard in Times Square of New York City that “There is no God,” will discover the goodness of God before she finds herself kneeling before the One she said did not exist.

It is only the goodness of God that allows us to breathe one more breath and that God does not annihilate us from the face of the earth when yet another billboard taunts our faith with the remark “8712 inches per hour = nonsense, what other biblical nonsense is there?” referring to the rain in Noah’s day. It’s a good thing God is good, else the first bucket of the next load would be dumped on their house with no ark in sight. That is why we read in Matthew 19:16-17 ~ “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” With the arrogance and ignorance of mankind there would be no hope of Heaven without the goodness of God Who knows us, and loves us anyway. He, Who from the beginning of time knew of our weakness to keep the law and made a means for redemption which was that “Good Thing”  prophesied in Jeremiah 33:14 ~ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

That Good Thing promised was the Messiah! The same Who now dwells within the child of God and as Paul reminded Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:13-14 when he said ~ Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Paul knew how hard it would be to keep hold of sound doctrine in a world that is anything but good. They may not have had billboards in biblical times but they had their version of Julia Sweeney. I’m so thankful this Christmas for saints of God who risk and give their lives to share the gospel of that Good Thing. Hallelujah for that Good Thing that have to look forward to because of that Baby in the manger, the Man of Galilee, the Savior on the Cross of Calvary.

Hebrews 9:11-12

 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

 

Posted in Christmas, Church attendance, Holiday Humor, Life Inspiration

10 Reasons Why People Don’t Attend Church – The unlit tree

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As I drove through our small town yesterday the Christmas tree in the town square was flashing to the beat of Christmas music and the whole atmosphere in our normally economically depressed city was transformed to a happier place. The people in our quaint town are wonderful, the politics… not so much, but we’ll not park there. The population of our entire county is roughly 7600, depending upon how many people are out of town Christmas shopping, (I’m kidding). But we are rural America at its finest and sometimes worst. I would venture a guess at the number of those 7600 who attend church as less than 1,000. I actually believe it’s far less than that, but according to an article on churchleaders.com approximately 20% of Americans attend church regularly, which would make Calhoun’s estimate at 1500. I have to wonder what they define as regularly. If by annually, then maybe. Well, that’s not very nice is it? You’ll have to forgive my cynicism, perhaps I should go back to town and check my Christmas spirit, but church attendance is a biggy on my list of Christian do’s and don’ts.

It’s like having an unlit Christmas tree. Pointless.

I’ve heard most every argument on why you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian, and while that’s true, because there are many who absolutely cannot get to church and they are indeed children of God; my argument is if you can go and don’t you’re the unlit tree.

Here’s the top 10 reason people don’t go to church from AmericanPreachers.com:

Reason 1 – The church is full of judgmental people.

Are there judgmental people in every church? Probably! And let me give you my theory on why. If they’re in a church that’s preaching the gospel of Christ as it should be preached, that preacher stands before them as the brightest Christmas tree in the building and what that does is illuminate wrong living. So rather than dealing with their own err it’s easier to point out someone else’s making their own sin seem less in their eyes. Go anyway.

Reason 2 – Church is boring

You’re either in the wrong the church, or you’re there with the wrong attitude. Go anyway. The church is not for your entertainment, it’s for your edification. If you don’t like the menu in a restaurant, you find a new place to eat, you don’t starve to death! Amen?

Reason 3 – The Church is “exclusive.”

Scratch off denominationalism here. When searching for the right church for you, regardless of what name brand it is, one thing better be there “A welcome sign.” A church is your Father’s house; and if you’re not made to feel welcome, there’s a good chance you’re not home.

Reason 4 – The Church is homophobic

The bible under no uncertain terms says that homosexuality is a sin. It also says that lying, coveting, stealing, idol worship, disrespect and adultery is a sin. And there are those in every church in America. Find a church that loves people, let God deliver the message. If you truly want a relationship with the Creator, you need to position yourself in a place where His message is delivered, and that’s church, and that’s Bible. Go anyway.

Reason 5 – I don’t like organized religion

I don’t either. I like structured freedom for the Holy Spirit. Huh? Let’s face reality, there has to be some sort of organization else there’s chaos. Someone has to be in charge. So, you find the right Pastor and follow him, and then let the Holy Spirit lead. If he’s a God lead Pastor there will be freedom to worship in that place and the experience will be awesome! Go!

Reason 6 – Churches are full of hypocrites

Truth. And you’ll be one too. There isn’t anyone I know that lives a life like Christ, therefore we all are hypocrites. When we call ourselves Christians, by definition we are saying we live like Christ. No, we don’t, but we do the best we can and love each other regardless. Go anyway.

Reason 7 – The church just wants your money

Not true. But it does take money to operate a church. You have to look at it from the survival aspect: you buy food because you need it to survive, you pay for a car because it transports you from one place to another, you buy clothing because it covers you and keeps you warm, you buy things you like because they bring you pleasure. That’s what church does, only in a way that lasts an eternity.

Reason 8 – Life is better without religion

Yes. But church attendance isn’t about religion, it’s about relationship. In the very core of our being is a desire to have a relationship with the Creator and family. Church provides you both. And even if your family is dysfunctional, messed up or nonexistent, God will fill the voids in your life through His people in His place. That’s church. Go anyway.

Reason 9 – Christians live on another planet and wear brown sweaters

I so laughed when I read that, because it’s so true, until you get saved. I used to think that people who went to church every Sunday, and prayed at the altar and talked about God were just people without anything else to do, and then I became one of them. I then realized I had been missing out on the greatest experience in life – Non circumstantial living. Regardless of circumstance, God is good, I am loved, and He understands.

Reason 10 – I don’t have time

Refer to reason 6 and Commandment 9 of the big 10. You lie. In the words of my former Pastor, “You do what you want to do.” If you want a relationship with God you’ll make the time. And then a funny thing happens, you’ll discover you had far more time than imagined because God will open up doors for you to  fellowship with Him that you could never have imagined.

John 1:4-5 says “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

If the light of Christ is not shining in you and through you, your tree’s not lit.

Get the point?

Posted in Christmas, Life Inspiration

And God said, “No you won’t”

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Numbers 24:17

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

I love Bible prophecy, especially that which shows Satan getting his just dues. It doubly sweetens it when God uses Satan’s very own words to further the gospel of Christ! In Isaiah 14:13 God sites Satan’s plan for overthrowing the Kingdom of Heaven. “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:”

And God said, “No you won’t.” That of course was a Shari Quote of verse 15 that reads “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

And so on the night that Christ was born, what do we find making its way into the Christmas story? A star!

Matthew 2:1-2 ~ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

And for generation after generation, every time the story of the coming of the Messiah is told there is also the story of the star that lead the Shepherd’s and Wise men to Christ. The very thing that Satan said he would exalt himself above, God uses to proclaim His Son’s birth and the salvation of earth. The star that Satan would use to lure men into idol worship, God used to light the path to the greatest story ever told.

In Deuteronomy 4:19 God warned ~ And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

As if to say to Satan, what you believe yourself to have dominion over, I’ll show you Who is in control; and as the Magi were possibly doing something they shouldn’t be doing (looking for signs in the stars) God reveals Himself and they begin their journey for the Creator of the Star. Oh my goodness, how awesome is that! We too forget sometimes Who it is that is in control and that God will use even our mistakes to light the path to His purpose. The wise men followed that star to the Messiah and from their story we find four things that should be in the heart of every believer

Matthew 2:10-13  ~ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Joy – It should be evident. (Theirs was great, so should ours be)

Worship – it should be experienced. (They fell down! In awe of His presence)

Giving – it should be earnest. (They were the takers, now they were the givers)

Changed direction – it should be everlasting. (They went another way. There should be some notable changes of direction in our lives when we meet Christ)

I pray this Christmas each time you see a star you’ll be reminded of Christ and experience the great joy that comes in knowing Him!