December 11, 2014

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:52

Jesus, the Perfect Child, was well grounded in His faith and beliefs!

At FredWes, we believe in well-grounded kids! We will do the best we can to work with our parents in developing well-grounded youngsters!

Also, we desire well-rounded kids!

Jesus was well-rounded! This verse declares that He grew intellectually, He grew physically, He grew spiritually and He developed socially!

It is not easy for one man to change the world, even if He is the Son of God! For Jesus to have the impact on history that He has He needed to be well-rounded. We know He was intellectually developed because at age 12 He was found in the synagogue debating with Rabbis and Scholars. There are too many examples of His spirituality to list in this short article, take His teachings for starters. And, He had to be physically strong to withstand 40 days of fasting! We also know He was a carpenter. Being a carpenter was physically demanding job.

At FredWes, we want our kids to get the best education available to them. It is important they develop their intellect. It is also important for our kids to be as physically strong and healthy. We encourage our kids to be involved in some sort of athletic activity. Team sports are helpful in teaching many good life lessons. But, we want our kids to put God first and place a priority on their spiritual commitment. Sports are important but always secondary to spiritual commitments. Why would you put temporary involvements above those things that are eternal? Finally, we want our kids to be socially healthy! Faith is best experienced in relationship with others and faith is effectively shared within trusted relationships.

Our goal at FredWes: kids that are well-grounded and well-rounded, just like Jesus!

December 10, 2014

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:52

When you aspire as a Christ-follower to raise your children to also be passionate Christians, it is helpful to know how Jesus grew.

While the Gospel record doesn't provide specific details on Jesus childhood, we do know from this portion of Scripture that Jesus was a well-grounded child.

What do I mean by well-grounded? 

I mean He had a solid foundation of knowledge in the Law and the Prophets and Jewish faith traditions. I can imagine Mary or Joseph telling young Jesus the creation story as they tucked Him in for bedtime. They told of the other Bible heroes like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, and David.

How do I know Jesus was well-grounded?

I know because Luke 2 Mary and Joseph found the young Jesus in the synagogue holding His own in discussions and debates with the Religious Leaders, Scholars, and Rabbis. How could he keep up with these learned men unless He, too, was well-grounded in His faith.

As Pastor at FredWes, I want our precious children to be well-grounded in the knowledge and understanding of their faith. I am confident our many fine parents share that goal with me.

To me, being well-grounded first requires knowing Jesus Christ as their personal Savior just as soon as they are old enough to understand their need for salvation. Once they find Jesus they should be able to name all 66 Books of the Bible and their Old Testament and New Testament divisions. Being well-grounded means knowing all the Heroes of the Faith in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. I think, too, it means knowing all the great Biblical stories. It should include having the Ten Commandments committed to memory. They should know the Twelve Disciples and about John the Baptist. Children should know the story of Jesus' birth and why He had to come to earth. And, they should know about Jesus' death on the Cross, why He died and how He rose from the dead.

A house is only as solid as the foundation that supports it. The same is true of a home and the strength of a church is largely dependent on how solid its families are. Well grounded kids can only be raised by parents who are well-grounded in the faith, as well.

Let's raise Christ-like kids that are well-grounded in Biblical truth!

December 9, 2014

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:52

Nowadays we have complete and voluminous pictorial records of our children at every age and stage of development. That is a good thing, but it is also a fairly recent phenomenon due to the rise of technology.

We get just a few glimpses of Jesus as a child and then this summary statement of Him from age twelve until age 30. I certainly would have been glad to know more about Him as a child and then as a teen and later as a 20-something. But instead, I get an 18-year leap and to the time when He launched His earthly ministry at 30 with a brief statement - "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

Another way to state this verse is, "As Jesus grew older He continued to get better!" His personal popularity increased as His spiritual purity became apparent. He was better at 15 than He was at 12 and better at 18 that at 15, and so on.

I think it is safe to say that Jesus, thanks to His Heavenly Father and His earthly parents was very well-grounded in His knowledge and understanding of the Jewish law and customs. He was well educated!

It's also true that Jesus, again thanks to Mary and Joseph, was well-rounded. He was well mannered and had good social graces. He was thoughtful and helpful. Joseph taught Him a trade and made Him a partner in his carpenter's business. According to some secular historians, Jesus was known for His competence as a tradesman. We do know He was able to support Himself and His mother, Mary, after the death of Joseph.

Let me also suggest that Jesus was unbounded. Because of His relationship with His Heavenly Father He had a different perspective and worldview than others. There were times even Mary didn't understand Him and "pondered" in her heart what she saw and heard from Him. Jesus didn't allow Himself to be defined by His parents, by His hometown, by His trade, by His humble surroundings, or by His Hebrew identity. Jesus lived a life bounded only by the will of His Father.

Jesus, God in the flesh, was well-grounded, well-rounded and unbounded. No wonder God could use Him to change the world!

At FredWes, where we have a vision to raise up our next generation to be more passionate about God than we are, this sounds like a good pattern for us to follow. Let's raise kids that are well-grounded, well-rounded and unbounded!

December 8, 2014

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2:8-20

I get some of my news from the Free-Lance Star newspaper, I get some news from the Roanoke Times online version, I get some from The Warsaw Times-Union on the internet, some from the radio, some from Fox news, and most from the internet. Rarely do I get good news from any of those sources.

The shepherds got their news from and angel. Lucky shepherds!

As you would imagine, the breaking news that the angel brought was good news! In fact, it was great news that brought joy! Talk about a news flash! One moment these shepherds are staring at the stars and the next moment an angel appears!

What was this good news? God had heard the prayers of His people over the centuries and now the Messiah was about to be born! The silence of God was to be broken and the Son of God would soon appear!

You have to love how these shepherds responded to the news. We can learn from them!

Good news is to be believed!

The shepherds heard the news from angel and believed it! Of course, hearing it from angels makes it a tad more believable! But, also, they believed it because they know the prophecies and were versed in the teachings of the religious leaders. They were spiritually attuned enough to recognize that something was from God! Are you?

Good news is to be beheld!

".....the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Hearing this news was wonderful! Going to see it would be better - so, off they went according to what the angels had said. They found it to be exactly as the angel had said - except better!

"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger."

Good news is to be believed and it is to be beheld and one more truth we can learn from the shepherds - good news is to be broadcast!

"When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."

When good news is believed and beheld and then broadcast, it is believable and it blesses! Good news is meant to be shared!

One more thing about these as they returned from sharing this good news that they believed and beheld and broadcast, one more thing happened to them - they were blessed! When you share good news and it is believed by others, it causes you to believe it more! When you see others be blessed by the good news you beheld and broadcast it blesses you! That happened to these shepherds!

If you want this Christmas to be a time of "great joy", believe the good news that a Savior is born! Do you believe it?

This Christmas can be a time of "great joy" if you will behold the Savior! Take a fresh look at the story. Read it. Read it out loud to someone else. Meditate on it. See Him afresh and new in your eyes of faith! Will you behold Him this Season?

Christmas 2014 will bring you "great joy" if you will broadcast it! Tell others with your lips and with you life that Jesus is born and it matters to you! Who will you tell?

The "great joy" is enhanced when you see others believe the story and when it blesses them, you are blessed! If you want to be blessed this Christmas, share the blessing with others!

How do we know these shepherds, believed and beheld and broadcast it and were blessed? Who else passed on the story? We know it because they were faithful to share it! Will you be faithful with this transforming truth?

December 7, 2014

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’”But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”  Luke 19:1-10

Christmas proved the love of God beyond any doubt when God sent His Son, Jesus to be the Savior of the world.

God proved that He is serious about sin because Jesus came to conquer the power of sin and satisfy the penalty it demands. We saw last Sunday that God hates sin because He loves people and sin destroys people.

In this Scripture text, Luke tells you that God loves you because He sent Jesus to seek those who are lost. You were once lost. God is serious about seeking

This story of Zacchaeus is perhaps the classic illustration of Jesus in the role of the seeker. Over the next several posts I want to show you four inspiring insights of the Seeking Savior.

1) Jesus knows what you hope, v. 3

2) Jesus knows where you hide, v. 4

3) Jesus knows where you hurt, vv. 2, 5, 7

4) Jesus knows when to help, v. 9

Zacchaeus was a lonely and miserable little man. So when he heard Jesus was coming to his town hope arose within him. "If this Rabbi was Who they say He is maybe I will have a chance. I need to make sure I meet Him when He comes."

In verse three you can see that once Zacchaeus arrived at the place where Jesus would be passing, he discovered that being diminutive in stature he was unable to see over the crowd. And for the moment his hopes were dashed.

Determination and desperation can inspire creativity and Zacchaeus climbed a nearby sycamore tree to get a better view of the approaching Lord. Where once he had hoped to be seen by the Messiah, now he was just hoping to be able to see Him. And from his lofty perch he was able to get a great view of Jesus.

Much to Zacchaeus' surprise, as Jesus was passing by the sycamore He stopped, looked up at Zacchaeus and calling him by name said, "Come down immediately! I need to go to your house today!"

Zacchaeus couldn't believe his good fortune! This was so much more that he could ever have hoped for! This famous Rabbi wanted to visit with him in his own home! He scurried down the tree!

God understands your hopes and dreams. You want to be a good person. You want to be happy and have significance. You want your life to matter. You want to have the peace of knowing you are right with God. You want the assurance of Heaven when you die. Those things can only be found in a relationship with God.

Whether you realize it or not, God knows that only through Christ can you have those hopes fulfilled. Only through salvation can your fondest hopes be met. That is why He sent His Son to seek and save those who are lost - and those who have lost their hope.

Christmas proves that God's love is serious!

December 6, 2014

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

The Baby Jesus was sent from Heaven to be the voice of God to this world.

The Baby Jesus was sent from Heaven to be the vision of God to this world.

And, the Baby Jesus was sent from Heaven to bring the victory of God to this world. Jesus came "full of grace and truth". How do grace and truth bring victory?

Let me suggest four significant ways truth and grace will bring you victory. Four key words are:

Reality

Repentance

Regeneration

Relationship

Truth connects you with reality. The purpose and power of truth is to anchor your life to reality. Whatever is most real to you will determine what is true for you. The best example in support of that claim is Adam. He became susceptible to rebellion against God the moment he lost touch with the truth that God is Ultimate Reality because He came first, He created everything that is real while everything else apart from Him is unreal and temporary.

Adam believed the implied lie from the lips of the serpent, "God wants to keep you from knowing what He knows. You will not surely die."

Grace would have kept Adam from erring from the truth. 

How? 

When the serpent caused Adam that moment of doubt about God's nature, Adam should have extended God the benefit of the doubt.

God gave you the benefit of the doubt when He sent Jesus "full of grace and truth" to call you back to His truth and reconnect you to what is real and eternal.

Truth calls you to repentance. Once God's Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, convinces you of His truth it convicts you of your lies. But, at the same time His truth condemns you, His Spirit calls you to His grace so that His compassion seems more real than your condemnation! His grace leads you repentance for believing lies and reconnecting with His truth!

Repentance leads you to regeneration! When you turn from your sinfulness by believing His truth and receiving His grace, the Holy Spirit brings His life into your spirit! That "born again" experience is known as regeneration. 

Once you are alive in Christ by His Spirit, you are brought into a personal relationship with Christ. He steps in and fills that huge empty place in your heart by gracing you with His love, His peace and His presence!

God will become real to you as He speaks to you and as you hear His voice. God becomes real to you as He listens to your voice. You will become aware of an eternal spiritual reality. What you can't see with your eyes will become more real than those things you can see! What you hear from God will have the ring of truth and keep you grounded in His reality.

The old saying is true - truth hurts! That is why truth must be coupled with grace because grace helps!

Aren't you glad that Jesus came from Heaven full of "grace AND truth"?

December 5, 2014

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

God's Word changes everything every time it is applied!

The reason God's Word is so transforming is because God was transformed into flesh when the Baby Jesus came to earth on the first Christmas!

Heaven came down at Christmas in the Person of Jesus to be the voice of God!

Heaven came down at Christmas in the Person of Jesus to bring a vision of God!

But, wait, it gets better!

Heaven came down at Christmas in the Person of Jesus to bring the victory of God!

What is the victory Jesus brought on that first Christmas Day when Heaven came down? He came full of "grace and truth"! Heaven is a place of grace and truth so that shouldn't be surprising, but it IS inspiring!

The birth of Jesus was proof of grace and truth! He was sent to provide forgiveness and salvation when we deserved judgment and wrath! God extended mercy when we had earned justice. That's grace!

If you want to get an idea of how good His grace is for us, consider how bad God's wrath and judgment was for Jesus on the Cross!

And, His birth was also confirmation of His truth! It was a product of God's truth. Over 300 prophecies over a 700 year period foretold the coming, life events, and sacrificial death of God's Messiah. 

Therefore, His birth was proof of God's truth, because every event happened just as prophesied!
  
God's grace is dependent on God's truth and His truth is expressed and extended through His grace! Without the grace of God we would have no access to God's truth because Jesus IS God's Truth!

God's grace and truth expressed in Christ Jesus made it possible for you and me to gain the victory guilt and darkness!

Heaven is filled with God's grace and truth! And because Heaven came down at Christmas through the birth of Jesus, you can be filled with His grace and truth, too!