• that God spoke creation into existence,
• that there was a first couple who sinned for the first time (Adam & Eve),
• that all human beings share a common ancestor and an inherited predisposition to sin,
• that there was a massive human attempt to resist God’s will at the tower of Babel,
• that evil grew so rapidly that God did indeed judge that generation sending a universal flood and rescuing one man and his family,
• that God began His great rescue with a man who trusted Him throughout his life (Abraham),
• that God spoke to that man’s descendants over many generations guiding their lives and fueling their hope for a “home” that transcended this existence,
• that God entered time to do battle with the demon gods of ancient Egypt to rescue His people and set them free to be… with Him,
• that God clarified who He is through the Law and every human being’s created purpose to love Him with all of the heart, mind, soul, and strength,
• that when God chose to elaborate on His true identity, He said that He was “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty” (Ex. 34:6-7),
• that God gave a hint that life under His rule was desirable through the “shalom” (peace/wholeness) experienced in Israel through the two kings David & Solomon,
• that the prophets were allowed to see the coming kingdom that defied description, when all suffering, sin, and injustice will cease, and when death will die, and when God’s people will slip into His Presence with an eternal, childlike joy and a new never-ending mission to explore all that He is,
• that when God wanted us to know what He is really like, He came in person… He is Jesus,
• that Jesus chose to live as an ordinary human being, walking by faith and depending on His Father to guide & empower everything He did & said,
• that Jesus breathed the same air, drank the same water, felt the same pains & joys, encountered the same kinds of people & problems that I do… but never, ever offended or disobeyed His Father,
• that Jesus announced that God’s Presence & rule are available right now — the very same, marvelous kingdom of insurmountable & indescribable life that is coming at the end of time — for every soul that surrenders its poverty and broken throne to Him,
• that Jesus not only announced the rule of God, but He demonstrated it — putting things back to the way He intended, showing what life looks like when He comes — restoring health, expelling demons, and calming killer storms,
• that Jesus called people to repent before the face of this present Ruling One, learning to agree with His evaluation of what is true and right, learning to accept His estimation of our worth, learning to pursue what He made us to be and do, and succumbing to His grace… falling down before Him in worship and deep desire for Him,
• that Jesus took my place, carrying every sin — every offense in my past, my present, and my future — to the cross where He died my death and endured my shame, rescuing me from an eternal separation from God, from hell,
• that God was speaking love to me at that moment… forever,
• that I still… don’t… fully… “get”… why… but I have millennia ahead of me to let that fact sink in,
• that God raised Jesus from the dead, proving the reality that my endless punishment was ended, and that all my ugliness and actual wrongness was erased, and that there were no more reasons to die anymore,
• that He saved me, forgave all my sins, and began changing me when I abandoned my life into His hands in 1978,
• that He is not finished with me… or with you,
• that He continues to walk the earth announcing good news through His people… they are the “called out ones” — the “ekklesia” — the actual church,
• that He has preserved everything He wants me to know about Him on this side of heaven in the Bible,
• that He wants me to experience Him every day, me following… Him leading,
• that this life is the “fullest” kind of life — the most clear, the most correct, the most intense, and the most fun,
• that time is expiring and every moment counts, and
• that He is coming.

Oh yes, I really do believe.

Every happiness is limited.

Every life runs out.

Every relationship ends in separation.

But for those of us that have been rescued by Jesus the Christ, there is an impending unveiling of a very different story that has been forming inside us from the first moment we abandoned ourselves and relinquished our lives into His hands.

The Day is coming when descriptive words will fail as we step into the Presence of our Father…

no limits,

no barriers, and

no ending to His love, His power, or His story.

And we are inextricably and eternally caught up in Him, slipping away from this boot camp existence and into the place we have always belonged.

Lord, give us eyes to glimpse this unseen and certain destiny… our hope.

However, there is strong reason to believe that Nimrod, the subject of the verse and the founder of the first world empire that included the construction of the Tower of Babel, was probably not a good guy, but a bad guy. “Before the Lord” can simply mean that God was aware of his activities… but “awareness” falls short of “approval.”

Do you want to use a verse describing a man who was offensive to God and apply it to your hunting ministry?

If you really want to understand a Bible verse, it’s always important to understand the “context” of the verse… you need to ask: what is the overall message and background of the passage and book that it comes from? Otherwise, you may reach a misleading conclusion regarding the verse’s meaning. A scholar explains why…

“A text without a context is just a pretext for whatever you want it to mean.” – Ben Witherington, during New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s Feb. 15, 2013 Greer-Heard Forum

Do you want to know God? He has revealed everything you need to know about Him on this side of heaven through the Bible, not in the form of systematic lists of dogma, but as truth-filled encounters between God and ordinary individuals just like you. Much of the Bible contains stories of God revealing Himself and His activity in the world… and He has not changed… but be sure to read more than a sentence or two!

Especially if you like to hunt.

When in truth, God clearly told us to “go”… you can’t “go” in a “box.” You’ll run into the walls… which is where many of our churches find themselves.

“Boxes” are not bad. But we spend so much time in our “boxes,” that we can forget that we (His people) are the church… and not the “box.”

We are praying and planning how to get more people into the “box,” when what we need to do is start thinking “outside the box.”

Better yet, we have to think as if the “box” didn’t exist. Seriously.

A poet helps answer the “why?” question:

“Before I built a wall I’d ask to know; what I was walling in or walling out, and to whom I was like to give offense. Something there is that doesn’t love a wall. That wants it down.”

- Robert Frost’s “Mending Wall” in North of Boston (1915)

The changes are profound. Whether I like it or not, people are using social media to make personal anouncements and plan meetings. They are marketing their businesses and themselves. They are expressing their griefs and trumpeting their happiest moments. And much of it is happening in real time. Right now.

In my previous post, I voiced my position that social media is simply an alternative form of communication and a way of doing relationships. I also shared some “don’ts” for interacting with others on Facebook. In this piece, let me offer some more rough notes describing the “dos” of digital interactions with real people: six social skills that promote relationships through Facebook.

1. Listen
   • Read widely – what others are doing and saying (many different friends).
   • Read in-depth (previous posts on a friend’s wall) – I am calling it “social browsing.”
2. Gain the Other Perspective
   • Empathy – Exercise compassion and awareness of the other person
   • Harder to do online – clearly, easier to do in person.
3. Identify and Meet Needs
   • Ask sensitive/personal questions privately via a message vs. posting on the wall
   • Commit to pray (and really do it), then follow-up with a call or visit.
4. Give Affirmation
   • “like” = a form of affirmation, agreement, or praise.
   • People need encouragement more than they need your correction.
   • Don’t give your opinions and answers if someone isn’t asking for them.
5. Filter Yourself
   • Read before you post – gauge your words and change them as needed.
   • “In my opinion” or “have you considered” is better than an absolute statement.
6. Let Friends “In” to Your World
   • Share your passion.
   • Trust is cultivated through intimacy – people feel like they know you through your posts.
   • Your posts can trigger a ministry or work-related interaction.

For example… you can post:

• What I am doing or who I am with.
• Something I am thinking or learning.
• Quotes, trivia, or facts.
• Humorous events or observations.
• How your work is making a difference.
• Promoting a work-related message or resource.

Social media is here to stay. Get involved. Learn. Listen. Share. But above all, honor Him in your relationships whether online or offline.

using facebook to do relationships, tell your story, promote your passion–and to do it without being obnoxious and without falling into narcissism… or getting fired…
or something like that. :-)

But I decided that was a little long. Plus, Facebook is not the only channel in the social media world… but I use it most. I also use Twitter. I opened a Pinterest account about a year ago, but I didn’t “get” it. I tried Instagram… once. So, if my remarks seem to favor Facebook users, I would suggest that the principles apply to most social media.

Social media is here to stay, although it will morph and change every 1-2 years. Facebook and Twitter will likely give way to something else… in fact, it probably has and I just don’t know it yet! But the idea of doing relationships through technology — well, that is not going to go away.

You have always had different kinds of friends: best friends, school friends, hobby friends, work friends, church friends, new friends, and secular, irreligious friends. How do you interact with them now? Social media gives you the opportunity to “touch” more people, more often, and in many more ways. The interaction does not have to be less meaningful or less personal… that depends on you.

Social media should reflect who you are and what is important to you. It can be a narcissistic pursuit. It can be a way of dishonestly representing yourself to others. It can be a way of being “mean” (thank you Taylor Swift). If that’s how you are in real life, it will show up in social media. You can’t hide what’s in your heart.

But it can also be a way of doing ministry. Social media can be a vehicle for expressing genuine care and concern — it is not “less” because it is a digital note instead of a handwritten note (I still do both). I find ample opportunities to discuss matters of faith. I love Jesus… I am a Christ follower. By being online and available, some friends feel “safe” and, consequently, they are more willing to discuss spiritual things and pose long-held questions about faith.

Okay… enough of my philosophical musings. In this post, I want to share some rough, incomplete notes on the “don’ts” of social media. In the next piece, I’ll share some “dos.” So, here you go: seven ways to damage relationships through Facebook.

1. Ignore Normal Social Boundaries
   • TMI – too much information about your personal life (boundaries are healthy).
   • Personal travel announcements (also known as an invitation to a burglary).
   • Politeness and consideration still count.
2. Become an Annoying Advocate
   • Posting for Amway or some other pyramid scheme.
   • Playing games at work or bugging friends with unwanted game posts (e.g., mafia farm etc.).
   • Do you have an Aunt who posts 14 pictures of Jesus every day? Don’t do that!
   • Post too many updates (and no one is commenting or “liking”). No one.
3. Express Yourself without Regard for Other Views
   • Bully pulpit.
   • Political or theological diatribes.
   • Inappropriate comments (esp. about the boss).
   • Bad language.
4. Comment on Everything
   • It is not necessary to register your thoughts on every post. Seriously.
   • Be obnoxious (it can get you “de-friended” or reported).
5. Ignore Context
   • Seek first to understand before you write anything in response.
   • Making a point in print is not the same as saying it in person – partial information (no facial expressions, no context, no sound/inflection etc) requires better written communication.
   • Words are delivered without a context – social media requires you to create a context and to understand the context/conversation you are entering into.
6. Reacting Instead of Reflecting
   • Don’t write the first thing that comes to mind.
   • Emotional responses will almost always get you in trouble.
7. Use Unguarded or Crude Humor
   • Children get away with saying things that adults cannot.
   • Children can be cute – you cannot.
   • When people read your words, they are reaching conclusions about who you are.

Next post: On Using Social Media (Part 2): 6 Essential Facebook Social Skills that Promote Relationships.

Whether you are a new child of God or a long-time follower of Jesus Christ, Bible reading is an essential discipline for every Christian. Many believers make resolutions to begin a Bible reading habit, only to flounder when they fall behind schedule or encounter difficult-to-read passages in the Old Testament. It is vital that you and I cultivate a habit of Bible reading. Why?

Without reading the Bible…

• I am depriving myself of LIFE. In the wilderness the Israelites learned that their lives were dependent on the Word of God (Deuteronomy 8:3). The provision of bread in the wilderness was a daily reminder that life is more than sustaining a heartbeat or holding off hunger. Real life is defined as an intimate relationship with God—which is of greater value than physical survival. God’s Word is the source of spiritual life.
• I am stunting my GROWTH. By the time we had our sixth child, my wife and I had learned to distinguish between the cries of an infant. Crying indicated different needs for diaper changes, relief from gas, entertainment, or milk. In 1 Peter 2:2, Peter challenges us to desire God’s Word in the same way—as a baby craves milk. Why? So that we can grow!
• I am undermining my FAITH. In Romans 10:17, the Apostle Paul explains that faith comes from hearing the message of Christ. Faith in Christ is strengthened as I continue to read about Him in His Word. Because He is unchanging, what I observe in the Scriptures helps me to trust Him in the present. Confusing circumstances and painful experiences can undermine and weaken my faith. Faith is strengthened through a regular diet of truth.
• I am steering away from personal PURITY. In Matthew 4, Jesus Christ responded to each satanic temptation with the same phrase, “It is written…” If Jesus could not combat temptation apart from a personal knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, how can I escape temptation without a daily engagement with the Scriptures and an intentional effort to saturate my mind with God’s Word?
• I am cutting myself off from GUIDANCE. God “breathed” the Scriptures to change me through a relationship with Him. In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul highlights the four types of guidance found in the Scriptures: teaching (what is true?), rebuking (what is wrong with me?), correcting (how can I literally straighten out what is wrong with me?), and instruction in righteousness (how can I live routinely in the will of God?).
• I am abandoning the primary source of all effective MINISTRY. In 2 Timothy 3:17, Paul also links effective ministry to our handling of the Scriptures. God’s Word is sufficient to change my life and the lives of those I minister to. By submitting to the life-changing guidance of the Scriptures, I am equipped to impact the lives of others.

In the busy world we live in, finding the time to read and study the Bible can be a challenge. Even after thrity years of pastoral ministry, I have found that the most intense spiritual battles erupt around my efforts to fellowship with God through the Scriptures. The devil will do all he can to distract you and me from simple devotion to Jesus Christ.

Here are five simple Bible reading strategies for developing and maintaining a consistent and meaningful time alone in God’s Word.

Strategy No. 1: Read the Scriptures to Deepen Your Relationship with God

“It came as a surprise to me that one of the problems I faced in the ministry was that when I opened the Scriptures I found it extremely difficult to forget the need to determine the background, outline the passage, divide it into an appropriate package for delivery, and think of ways to get this particular truth across to others.” - Curtis Thomas, Practical Wisdom for Pastors, Crossway Books, Wheaton IL, 2001, 21-22.

Pastors and teachers are susceptible to reading Scripture just to prepare for the next sermon or lesson. When we read the Scriptures, we should seek Him first. To know Him is our highest privilege and should be our primary aim when we open up God’s word. He wants to reveal Himself to you and He wants you to know Him. Through His Word, He has provided all you need to know about Him on this side of heaven.

Reading the Scriptures is our primary vehicle for knowing and serving God. In an authentic, passionate relationship with God, His Word fills our hearts and our homes (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

If you struggle with a reading plan that takes you through the Bible in a year—relax! God wants to meet you in His Word throughout your life. There is no biblical requirement to complete the entire Bible in a year. In fact, every seven years the nation of Israel was supposed to gather for a public reading of the first five books of the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 31:10-11). When was the last time you came across a 7-year Bible reading plan?

Bible reading plans come in all shapes and sizes. You will find Bible reading plans in bookstores, on the Internet, and in many Bible software packages. There are 1, 2, and 3-year plans. To allow for missed days, some plans are based on 5 readings per week (instead of 7). While some reading plans guide the reader straight through the Bible, other plans encourage a daily mix of Old and New Testament readings.

Do you really want to read through the Bible in one year? You will need to allow about 80 hours. Be prepared to commit 10-15 minutes per day. You can also read through the Bible in one year by simply reading 3 chapters per day and 5 chapters on Sunday. A more aggressive approach is to read 3 chapters in the Old and New Testaments each day. You will read through the Old Testament once and the New Testament four times each year.

However, a Bible reading plan is valuable only when combined with a thirsty heart—a heart that longs to know God (Psalm 42:1-2).

Strategy No. 2: Read the Scriptures Until It “Burns”

“I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach the Bible with the idea that it is not only a book which was once spoken, but a book which is now speaking.” - A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, Christian Publications Inc., Camp Hill PA, 1982, 82.

God still speaks to us today through His Word. When He does speak, the words of the Bible come alive and glow with a brilliant relevance to our lives. He uses the Scriptures to place truth in our minds, inject truth into our decisions, and impress truth on our hearts. He comforts us and corrects us. Our hearts are captured and stirred by His Word.

In a post-resurrection appearance of the risen Christ, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize Him at first. After he disappeared and they realized Who had been teaching them, they exclaimed, “Weren’t our hearts a blaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)

Read the Scriptures with an expectation that God is going to speak to you. Listen for His voice. Depend on the Holy Spirit to open your ears. Read the Scriptures until His voice sets your heart “ablaze.” Do not be satisfied with checking off the day’s reading assignment—long to encounter Him in His Word.

In World War II, Corrie Ten Boom and her fellow prisoners were enduring the horror of the Holocaust. Each day she secretly shared the Scriptures with other women around her. If caught she could have been executed by the guards. Years later, she described the immediate, life-giving properties of God’s Word in the midst of that dark experience. She wrote,

“I would slip the Bible from its little sack with hands that shook, so mysterious had it become to me. It was new; it had just been written. I marveled sometimes that the ink was dry.” – Lawrence Kimbrough, Words to Die For, Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville TN, 2002, 168)

Strategy No. 3: Read the Scriptures Every Day

“Those who are willing to immerse themselves daily in God’s Word will find that he reveals enough to keep them busy for the day at hand!” -  Henry and Richard Blackaby, Hearing God’s Voice, Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville TN, 2002, 110.

Read the Bible daily. Although the amount of Scripture read may vary from person to person, the believers who read it daily are better prepared spiritually for the journey ahead. The kings of Israel were expected to copy the first five books of the Law (the Torah) and to read it “all the days” of their lives (Deuteronomy 17:18-20, Joshua 8:34-35). Each day the king was to take up his handmade copy of the Law and read it.

Read the Scripture in the morning. Even if you intend to read more later in the day, do not start your day without the intake of God’s Word. For your regular reading time, choose a time and place that is right for you. If you cannot stay awake, let me suggest you choose a different time of day for your reading!

Sit upright in a well-lit, private location. Choose a plain text Bible with a readable type. In order to concentrate on the text, consider using a Bible that does not have annotations or study aids—they can be distracting and keep you from the actual text. Using different translations each year can help you “see” passages in a new way.

Strategy No. 4: Study the Scriptures Every Week

“There is a freshness and a vitality about every sermon which is born of study; without study, however, our eyes become glazed, our breath stale and our touch clumsy.” - John Stott, Between Two Worlds, Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1982, 180.

John Stott stresses the importance of personal Bible study for preachers. It is true for all believers. I would argue that your best Bible study is going to be birthed out of your daily reading. As God calls your attention to particular issues or passages, He is often teaching you something that will be of benefit to others. In your Bible study time, go deeper into the questions raised during your reading. Bible study helps and commentaries will help unfold the meaning of Biblical concepts or difficult passages.

However, daily Bible reading and Bible study are not the same activity. In fact, you should avoid mixing the two. As you read the Bible, keep a journal handy and jot down issues, questions, ideas and topics for further study as they arise. Then set aside time each week for in-depth study.

Strategy No. 5: Remember What is Written

“Nothing perhaps more strongly indicates the tone of a believer’s spirituality, than the light in which the Scriptures are regarded by him.” - Octavius Winslow (writing in 1841), Personal Declension and Revival of Religion in the Soul, The Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle PA, 1978, 17.

When we are passionate about a topic, we learn all we can. With great ease, we are able to recite, dates, statistics, and facts concerning our passion. Why? Because we remember what we love!

The writer of Psalm 119 described God’s Word as sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103). You will not be able to sustain a meaningful reading habit apart from a real passion for God Himself. Remembering what He says to you each day will help keep your passion for Bible reading white-hot. Mark down the truth in your Bible or journal, and it will help you mark it down in your soul.

As you read God’s Word, write down the truths that God brings to mind. Make brief notes in a journal or in the margins of your Bible. Underline and memorize the verses with special meaning. Talk about what you are reading with your spouse or friend—share what the Lord is showing you. Be alert to ways the Lord will use your reading to help others. God will often use your reading to help someone else during the week!

He will also use His Word to fend off the attacks of the enemy. As Jesus recalled what was “written” when He was being tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4), so He will bring His Word to your mind in the face of temptation and challenges to your faith.

With great fondness I can recall the life-changing lessons learned during those long summer nights of Bible reading many years ago. I can show you the notes in the Bible I was using, but more importantly, I can show you the changes He made in my life.

Still looking for ideas? Here are some online resources that may help:

• Navigators http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=138 (free downloads of three different plans)
• YouVersion https://www.youversion.com/reading-plans (many different plans and ways to read across multiple devices/platforms)
• Broadman & Holman http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/readthebible/reading.asp
• ESV Reading Plans (can be used with any version) http://www.esv.org/resources/reading-plans-devotions/

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Christmas is not always a happy time.

• For some, it is a reminder that they feel terribly disconnected and alone.
• Many first responders, medical staff, “essential personnel,” and military service men and women will miss some or all of the holiday gatherings with their families, who will miss them deeply.
• When someone dear has died, this day will be reminder of the absence. Grief can resurface, barricading the heart from joy.
• And there are other losses, crises, and hurts that can kill the traditional spirit of celebration… an unhappy marriage or divorce, a family tension or conflict, unemployment, illness, and countless other forms of human pain and suffering.

Isaiah was a sensitive man who was weary of living in such a world of hurt and loss.

Isaiah lost king Uzziah after a prosperous 58-year reign. Admired for his efforts at religious reform and his personal devotion, Uzziah had impacted a nation—and a young man named Isaiah. Uzziah’s passing cast a long shadow over the future of the nation. Isaiah’s hero and spiritual leader was dead.

Isaiah began to seek God more than ever during dark and disturbing times. The world seemed as if it was reeling out of control. Then God gave Isaiah a powerful vision of His glory and power (Isaiah 6). Later, in Isaiah 9, God revealed details concerning a future Messiah who would restore order to a chaotic and corrupt world. Convinced of the rule of God in his life and in the world around him, Isaiah was transformed by the Christmas Revolution!

Let me say it again: Isaiah was gripped by a vision of the kingdom of God ushered in by the birth of a child – it would color the rest of his life and work.

You may feel life is reeling out of control and the world is a dark and painful place. And it is. You are not wrong about that. Isaiah saw it too and longed for change… real hope that Someone was going to come and reshape, reform, renew, and recreate all of life! Peering through time to observe what God was doing behind the scenes in human history, Isaiah saw the child… and he penned a poetic song describing the Son of God upon whose shoulders all authority will rest: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!

That child was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, but He is near you at this moment. He lives and He is not hiding in some far away corner of the universe. He is no Santa Claus, but He does see you always. He knows you.

The world you are living in can be filled with hope and light by opening the door to your heart. What do I mean by that? “Opening the door” includes…

• placing your trust in Him for salvation from sin and death (John 3:16-17),
• yielding to Him the reins of your life… He wants to change you from the inside out (Matthew 11:28-30, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 8:29),
• letting Him come into your needs (Matthew 6:25-34),
• letting Him speak and obeying what He says (Matthew 4:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17),
• taking responsibility for your sins, then seeking and accepting His forgiveness — His death on the cross was God’s way of wiping away your sins… Jesus died in your place (1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Ephesians 1:17, 1 John 1:9), and
• falling down before Him in worship (like the wise men). Rising from the dead, Jesus became Lord over everything that would be Lord over you (Philippians 2:9-11).

The King is here. He patiently waits for you to get that. It’s the bottom line of the Christmas Revolution.

Need more guidance? Explore further by clicking here.

Editor’s Note: If you would like to obtain a single PDF file containing all 25 blogs in the “Counting Down to the Christmas Revolution” series, click here to download. May God richly bless your efforts to explore the revolutionary truth underlying the Christmas celebrations around the world.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

They were just doing their job. Ordinary men… extremely ordinary. The shepherds of the Christmas story were among the poorest in society: you will never read about a wealthy shepherd. And of all the people on the planet, God sent an army of angels to inform them that His Son was being born in Bethlehem in real time.

The news was for every person on the planet (“all people“), and when properly understood, the news causes “great joy.” What were they told?

• There was a birth.
• The birth was in the city of David (Bethlehem).
• It was the birth of a Savior.
• The Savior is identified as the Christ (the anointed One or the Messiah).
• The Savior is the Lord.
• The Savior will be found as a newborn in a feeding trough.

Then the countless assembly of angels shouted out, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” The word “peace” was commonly used to describe the cessation of hostilities in a war. The same word is used in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” For the one who places faith in Christ for forgiveness and salvation, God erases all sin from the relationship. You can draw near. You can know His favor. He is able to respond to you with “goodwill.”

God is not at war with you.

However, your experience of God’s peace is not automatic. It is conditional… dependent on your readiness to lay down your defenses and cease hostilities on your part. You don’t need to fight your way through life. You don’t need to live as if everything depended on you. You don’t need to hide. You can stop running.

You have a Savior.

The first ones to learn about the Savior born in Bethlehem were not the rich and powerful, the mighty and influential, the successful and famous… the first ones granted access to the Savior were the ordinary ones!

He has good news for you, if, like me, you feel pretty ordinary. The Savior has been born… for us! It’s the Christmas Revolution!

Editor’s Note: If you would like to obtain a single PDF file containing all 25 blogs in the “Counting Down to the Christmas Revolution” series, click here to download. May God richly bless your efforts to explore the revolutionary truth underlying the Christmas celebrations around the world.

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

They fell down and worshiped Him… stunning.

These travelers arrived as much as two years after the birth of Jesus. The young family was living in a house in Bethlehem, not overnighting in a stable. The shepherds had long since come and gone. Jesus was walking by now.

The text does not tell us the wise men were kings, nor that there were three of them. They are the Magi… scientists and religious scholars who combined astronomical observation with astrological speculation. It is likely that they knew some Jews where they came from… and they would have been equally aware of the Jewish hopes for a Messiah. They traveled a great distance, led by a star that had the capacity to be movable, and then motionless. These men who had spent most of their lives peering at the night sky recognized something special about the star and attached great significance to it.

I have so many questions for these guys.

• what are your names?
• how many of you were there?
• where did you go after you saw the baby?
• what did you do for the remainder of your lives?
• why did you fall down and worship…a toddler?

The word worship used here finds it’s root in the Greek word proskuneo. Pros means “towards” and kuneo means “to kiss.” It means to lie prostrate, literally leading with the lips towards the object of honor. These men fell down and did that… before a toddler. Somehow these men put it together: this was no ordinary baby.

Yes, they gave the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But long before they gave their gifts, these dear men gave themselves.

Models for you and me, the wise men show us the way to the Christmas Revolution!

Editor’s Note: If you would like to obtain a single PDF file containing all 25 blogs in the “Counting Down to the Christmas Revolution” series, click here to download. May God richly bless your efforts to explore the revolutionary truth underlying the Christmas celebrations around the world.