Author: Rick (Page 4 of 36)

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” – Luke 2:12

As we celebrate Christmas, homes and businesses sparkle with lights, trees glisten with ornaments, and perfectly wrapped gifts sit under our Christmas trees. The world around us is busy with celebrations, shopping, and giving – yet the most precious gift ever given was not found in elaborate wrapping paper, adorned with ribbons or bows. It was wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a lowly manger. This gift, given to us by God, was Jesus Christ.

Worldly gifts, no matter how grand or thoughtful, are temporary. They bring momentary joy but often fade, break, or lose their value. By contrast, the heavenly gift of Jesus is eternal. Christ did not come into this world just to decorate us – to make us appear better on the outside. He came to transform us. He was born in humble vulnerability so that we could be raised to eternal life with Him. Paul writes:

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9

Think about it: the King of Heaven left His throne of glory to enter a world of poverty and brokenness. He came to experience our struggles, our pains, and even death itself. Why? So that through His sacrifice, we could exchange our rags of sin for His riches of righteousness.

Imagine someone handing you a beautifully wrapped gift on Christmas morning. You tear off the paper, delighted with the present inside, but then the giver hands you a bill and says, “That will be $50.” Immediately, the joy fades. Why? Because a gift, by its very definition, is free. If we have to pay for it, it ceases to be a gift.

God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is free. There is no price you can pay to earn it. Ephesians 2:8 reminds us:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Yet, tragically, many leave this priceless gift unopened. In our home, when our children were young, we placed an unwrapped gift under the Christmas tree. It represented the free gift of salvation that so many have yet to receive. Each year, we would pray that those we loved would open that gift. Sometimes, we would write names of friends and family members on slips of paper, place them in a bowl, and commit to praying for them throughout the season.

As you look at the dazzling decorations and beautifully wrapped presents this Christmas, remember the humble beginnings of the Savior who came to transform, not decorate. Jesus Christ was born so that you could live eternally with Him. If you have not yet received this free gift, you can do that today. The Bible says:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23

All you need to do is accept it:

•Acknowledge your need for a Savior.

•Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again.

•Claim the promise of eternal life for your own

For those who already know Christ, remember there is no better gift to give others this Christmas than sharing the good news and praying for their salvation. Just as Christ came to transform your life, He desires to transform theirs.

This Christmas, let us celebrate the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ, wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, who came not to make us look better but to be better – children of God, transformed by His grace.

If you haven’t yet opened the gift will you open it  today? If you have opened it, live like you have and display the joy of your salvation.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10

Salvation is one of the most profound gifts of God, and it is freely given to those who believe in Christ. Yet, many believers struggle with the assurance of their salvation because they do not see certain benefits—like peace, joy, and comfort—manifesting in their lives. This often leads to confusion and doubt: “If I don’t experience these things, am I truly saved?”

It is critical to understand that salvation is not based on how we feel or on the benefits we experience. Salvation is based on faith in Jesus Christ alone. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, salvation is a gift from God, not something earned through works or the presence of visible blessings.

The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 beautifully illustrates this truth. The son, despite squandering his inheritance and living among pigs, never ceased to be his father’s son. His identity as a son was secure, even though he was far from experiencing the benefits of his father’s house. When he returned, his father welcomed him with open arms, restoring him to his rightful place.

This story reminds us that our salvation is secure in Christ, even if we are not living in the fullness of the life He desires for us. The benefits of salvation—comfort, peace, joy, and rewards—are available to all believers, but they require us to abide in Christ and walk in obedience. They are not automatic, nor are they conditions for salvation.

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Abundant life is not the same as eternal life; it is the rich, fulfilling experience of walking closely with God. Many believers miss out on this because they do not choose to draw near to Him through prayer, His Word, and obedience.

For example, Philippians 4:6-7 speaks of the peace of God guarding our hearts when we bring everything to Him in prayer with thanksgiving. This peace is a benefit of salvation, but it is accessed by trusting God and surrendering our anxieties to Him. When we neglect these practices, we miss out on the benefits—not because we are not saved, but because we are not living as God intends.

If you struggle with doubt because you don’t see these benefits in your life, remember this: Your salvation is not based on what you experience but on what Christ has done. Return to Him, as the prodigal son did, and He will restore you to the joy of your salvation. Live in His promises, but know that your identity as His child is secure the moment you believe in Him.

We can thank God for the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. He will help us walk in the abundant life that he desires for us,  accessing the peace, joy, and comfort that come from living in close fellowship with Him. We can be assured of our salvation and when we doubt, if we remember it is God’s work in us that saves us not our work for Him. We can expect great things from God, but we are to do great things for God. In doing so we will access the great power within us.

“Anyone then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins.”  James 4:17

A Sunday School teacher who was speaking to her class on the topic of sin asked, “Can anyone tell me what the sin of commission is?”

One girl raised her hand. “I know!” she said. “The sin of commission is when you do what you shouldn’t do.”

“That’s right,” the teacher said. “Now can someone tell me what the sin of omission is?”

A boy in the back of the room was anxiously waving his arm, so she called on him. He said, “The sin of omission? Well, those are the sins that you want to do, but you haven’t gotten around to them yet.”

Well, though that might have seemed logical to that young boy, that is not a very accurate description of sins of omission!  If we are honest, most of us know when we are sinning.  According to James we are tempted to sin,  and rather than flee we entertain the sin, which then gives birth to the actual sin, which then gives birth to death.  Pretty simple.  Sin is a little like inviting a bad habit into our life.  At the beginning it is at its weakest, but because it seems weak, we invite it in, nourish it, give it shelter, and when we decide we want to evict it, it has become too strong.  Thus it dwells with us until we strengthen ourselves or we weaken it.  Both propositions are difficult.

Sins of commission are probably easier to spot than sins of omission.  Sins of commission are those things that we do that we should not do.  Sins of omission, on the other hand, are those things that we should do, but do not do.  The sin of omission is the sin of passiveness.  It is inaction when action is called for.  It is silence when speech is needed (a quiet friend can be worse than a loud enemy).  It is not doing those things that God has called us to do.  They are maybe even more dangerous than sins of commission.  I would guess that most people who think they are “worse than some, but better than most” don’t take sins of omission in consideration.  They concentrate on bad things that they don’t do (murder, stealing, adultery, etc.) rather than those good things they don’t do (prayer, reading the Bible, worshipping, serving, etc.).

We tend to think of the Bible as a “can’t do” book. In reality it is a “can do” book which becomes, when we are believers, a “should do” book.  Look at all the should do’s that Jesus gave us in his Word.  The virgins who were excluded from the wedding because they should have put oil in their lamps (Matt. 25:3-11); the servant who should have used the talent he was given (Matt. 25:25-28); the rich man who should have helped his neighbor (Luke 16:19-24); and even Christ’s admonition to those who should have fed, clothed, housed, or cared for the needy. (Matt. 25:41-36).

There once was a farmer who was praying for the neighbor who was short of food.  His five-year-old daughter asked him after the prayer, “Daddy, why are we asking God to give them food when we have food to give?”  This world is full of people with good intentions, but what this world really needs are people of great action.  When Christ left this earth He left us with the Great Commission, but unfortunately we are much more apt to fulfill the Great Omission. Misdeeds are sins of commission and missed deeds are sins of omission.

So let’s do all we can do to do all we can do.  We live in a world of spiritual couch potatoes. Let’s commit ourselves to those things that are not sinful and omit those things that are and we will someday hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Enjoy this final poem by Margaret Sangster (not to be confused with Margaret Sanger):

It isn’t the thing you do; it’s the thing you leave undone,  which gives you a bit of heartache at the setting of the sun.

The tender word forgotten, the letter you did not write, the flower you might have sent, are your haunting ghosts at night.

The stone you might have lifted out of a brother’s way,  the bit of heartsome counsel you were harried too much to say.

The loving touch of the hand, the gentle winsome tone,  that you had no time or tho’t for with troubles of your own.

The little acts of kindness so easily out of mind; those chances to be helpful which everyone may find.

No, it’s not the things you do, it’s the thing you leave undone which gives you the bit of heartache at the setting of the sun.

May we always remember, “The smallest deed is greater than the grandest intention.”  No deed was every done by only thinking about it.  Set out today, to do.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).

I heard a story about a guy whose Christian joy was so apparent that many non-believers assumed that he was on drugs. One of those men approached him and ask him if he could have a little of what that man had. Excited to share his faith, the young boy pulled out his Bible. Somewhat taken aback, but undeterred, the man said, “Oh, what a great idea. Hiding it in the Bible. No one would suspect it was in there.”    Well, I am pretty sure that the man was quite shocked when he found out that there was nothing in the Bible other than the Word of God and it alone was the energizer of this young man. Many people would be surprised to know that hidden inside of every Bible is all it takes for us to have a renewed life that should prompt others to ask if they could have a little of what we have.

To go to another quick illustration, there once was a young man who expected a new car for graduation.  In fact, he was so confident that he would receive one, he had already picked it out.  Surprisingly, on his graduation, his father presented him with a beautiful Bible. The boy was so disappointed, that it greatly effected his relationship with his father and he completely withdrew from him in time.

Years later his father died and the son was expected to share a couple of his father’s favorite verses on behalf of the family and he pulled out the still brand-new Bible his father had given him.  For the first time, he opened the Bible. There inside the Bible was an envelope. He opened it and found a cashier’s check dated the same day as his graduation and made out for the exact amount of the car he wanted.

If he had taken time to open the Bible, he would have discovered that what he really wanted was there all along. Instead, he missed out on all that his father had done for him.  That is the way it is for us as well.  The Bible contains everything we have ever wanted or will ever want.  Our Father has lovingly left it there for us to discover.  He does not withhold His gifts from us, but neither will He force His gifts upon us. The Bible contains something much more valuable than a cashier’s check for a car. It contains a cashier’s check for eternal life and presents joys that have been paid in full by our Lord Jesus Christ.  We need not earn it.  It is a free gift and all we have to do is open the Word, read the Word, accept the Word, and accept our check!

David wrote: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). What more could we want than that?  A perfect book to give us all we need. If we open the book today, or wait for ten years, the gifts it contains do not change.  We just have less time to enjoy them.

The young man in the story above severed his relationship with his father because he failed to realize how much his father loved him.  He remained his father, but they did not enjoy a father-son relationship.  If we want to know how much our Father in Heaven loves us, and if we want to have close fellowship with Him, maybe we should open His Word and see His heart.

Ultimately, our daily Christian walk depends upon how much of the Bible we get into our hearts and how much it affects our lives on a regular basis. Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples.” If we are going to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, then we need to get into the Word of God, and the Word of God needs to get into us. Discover the check.  It is a big one!  

 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life.”  John 3:16

Of all the stars in the sky, the North Star has been the most useful to the mariner. Today’s text is a North Star of salvation, because is it has guided more souls to a life in Christ than any other Scripture. It is among promises what the North Star is among the constellations.

It has long been one of the most memorized verses in the Christian faith, but for us who know it well, it would surprise us that there are millions, even in our own country, who are oblivious to its existence.  In 2009 Tim Tebow, a well-known Christian quarterback, wore the verse reference on his eye-black in the national championship game and the verse was googled over 90 million times after the game. Two years later when he piloted an overtime win against Pittsburg it was the most googled term the next day.  As much as we believe this is a “Christian” nation, there are still millions of people who are unfamiliar with even this foundational verse of the Christian faith.  But even if millions are not, the millions of us who are familiar with the verse should know its importance to the fellowship of faith.

Like the North Star, the words in the verse shine with incredible brilliance. In the first half we have the essence of God’s deep abiding love and in the second half we are told how we can receive that love.  This verse is divided into three sections each of which explain God’s part and then our part in spending eternity with Him.

“For God so love the world,” gives a short description of fact.  The word “for” indicates that because He loved us He was going to do something to illustrate that love. “That He gave His only begotten Son,” was that illustration of love.  The word “that” marks the gift. He could give no more than the life of Christ on our behalf.  “So that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life,” then describes our part in God’s wonderful plan of salvation.  The word “so” directs us to believe on Him to receive the offer of eternal life.

J. Vernon McGee tells the story of a boarding house fire in Houston, Texas many years ago. A woman broke through the lines and ran into the house. It collapsed, and she burned to death. The headlines read: “Poor Wretch Dies: Suicide.” Later the newspaper printed an apology. Why? When workman were digging around in the rubble, they found in a back room, a little iron bed, and in that little iron bed was a baby, her baby. She entered that burning building to save her baby. She wasn’t a suicide. She loved that baby so much that her own life became inconsequential. Rescue was foremost in her mind.  In much the same way, the Lord loves us and he is a willing rescuer.  He wants life for us and if it cost Him His own life  it was the price He was willing to pay.

So John 3:16 is the North Star directing us to safety. Because He loves us, He did this (gave his son) and because we need Him, we need to do this (receive His Son).  This verse stands out brilliantly to guide us in the darkest time of our journey. Brilliant against a black sky as it lights the way for us to safety.  The safety of everlasting life.