Tag: gospel

  • River Rescue – thoughts on the gospel

    Search and Rescue team doing river rescue

    The news headline read “Missing Fisherman Found After Six  Days.” 

    The story went on to tell of a fisherman who had fallen into a deep ravine, broken his arm and his legs, and survived on insects and water until another hiker heard his cries for help.

    “I made some big mistakes,” he told the reporters. “First off, I did not tell anyone where I was going or when I would be back. That meant no one knew that I was missing or where to even begin looking for me if they did.”

    “The other big mistake was trying to get down to the river, where I did. I knew the ravine walls were steep, but the fishing looked so good down there that I just had to try. I hadn’t gone down more than about ten feet from the top when I knew I was in trouble, but there was no way to get back up.”

    “I lost my balance and fell. I bounced off a couple of big trees and some rocks. The next thing I knew I was coming to down by the river’s edge. After a few days, I was starting to give up hope, but then I heard someone singing up top and called for help. Thank God he heard me and went for the rescue people.”

    The fisherman was lucky. He got out of the mess alive, but he will carry the scars all the days of his life.

    We are not all that different. The temptation of sin draws us into places we know we should not be, and suddenly we find ourselves unable (or unwilling) to turn back and plummet down until we hit bottom. 

    We hurt ourselves and others along the way, leaving physical, emotional, and spiritual scars in our wake. Broken marriages, ruined businesses, addictions, and other devastating consequences of our poor choices haunt us.

    When we accept Christ, we are forgiven and become new creations.

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

    Sometimes, even though we are made new, we carry the scars of the old life. We may have been forgiven the eternal consequences of our sin, but that does not give us an automatic “Get out of jail free” card for this life.

    Even after we become believers, we can still fall prey to temptation and make poor choices. God will rescue us, but there may be fresh and permanent scars to remind us of our folly or to warn others against making the same mistake.

    Until next time, when you hear temptation calling, walk away. The bottom can be a long way down, and the landing can be very painful.

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

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  • Christmas – Kings or Wise men?

    drawing of the magi

    With Christmas drawing near, much of my Bible reading and  meditation has focused on the incarnation of Jesus and the events surrounding it. This morning, I was in Matthew 2, “The Visit of the Wise Men.” It’s a passage that fulfills prophecy and is prophetic in itself, but is often misunderstood. We need to actually do some Bible reading and look at context.

    There is far too much to cover in detail in one Gleanings, so for this morning allow me to touch on one key point.

    How many kings were there? None. Let’s read the first few verses.

    Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:1-3

    The text says “wise men”. In Greek, it is μάγοι, which refers to wizards, magicians, and astrologers or astronomers. These were learned men from the east, most likely from Persia, who studied the works of other religions and were familiar with the Jewish prophecies from Daniel’s time in Babylon.

    The text tells us who they were and why they had come. Yet there is no indication of their number. It’s often assumed that because three gifts are recorded in Scripture (gold, frankincense, myrrh), there were three visitors.

    Church tradition varies regarding the number, ranging from 2 to more than 20. Some traditions even have names for the Magi, although none appear in the text.

    It’s doubtful that these wise men from Persia travelled alone. They would have come in a caravan that included attendants, apprentices, armed guards, and more.

    Some sources suggest that since the Magi were high officials in the court of Babylon, the caravan could have been as many as 1,000 men and 100 camels. That’s possible, but it seems overstated to me; even if there were three magi, there would have been support, and I can’t envision a caravan of less than a few dozen.

    Indeed, the caravan was large enough to cause concern among the residents of Jerusalem. Three lone scholars wouldn’t have been noticed, let alone granted access to King Herod. The party must have been large enough to warrant notice.

    Whatever their number, they came seeking the Christ child and knew of the star. Their arrival confirms a prophecy of old.

    I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Numbers 24:17

    The Magi may have been looking specifically for that star based on a prophecy in Daniel about the timing of Christ’s coming..

    “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Daniel 9:24

    Whatever the number of Magi who came, they confirm the good news of Jesus’ birth. He set aside the privileges due Him and stepped into the material world as an infant. He came to die for us.

    Let’s remember Him this season and every day.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

    Silent Night – Only it wasn’t – the heaven’s rejoiced