Provision and Obedience

Did you notice our record attendance on Sunday?  I think we must have had a record attendance of geese off the back parking lot and in the field. Beth snapped a picture with her phone just before Sunday School.

When I think about how birds know when to migrate, where to find food, how geese fly in the V formation so that the weaker ones have an advantage within the formation, I think about Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (vs. 29-31)

It is a precious promise that God knows the number of hairs on our head.  He provides perfectly for the birds of the air by giving them the proper instincts and the physical characteristics they need to survive. And He has promised to be our Provider and Sustainer far more than He cares for these birds.

But I think we should take note of the context in which Jesus is speaking here.  He is just sending His disciples out to reach the Jews, the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” and He is warning them that it will not be an easy assignment.  First of all He instructs them not to take an extra tunic or sandals or a bag of food for their journey. They were to find a place to stay in each town where they would receive lodging, food and necessities. And Jesus warned them that they may not find such a place in some towns, meaning they have to travel on without food or rest.  He warns them that they will be persecuted and “hated by all for my name’s sake.” 

It is in this context that He tells the disciples to not be afraid, to “not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”  It is as He is sending them on a long and hard journey without even a change of clothes or shoes that He gives the promise that even more than He cares for the birds of the air, the Father will care for them and will be their provision. 

Unfortunately I think we are eager to claim the promise of His provision, but are entirely unwilling to be obedient to His call to lay aside our ‘stuff’ and follow Him completely in the building of His kingdom in 2012.  We want to expect that He will provide everything we need, but we are unwilling to inconvenience ourselves to live for Him, to step out of our comfort zones and take the message of His love to our community.

I think it is worth considering, as we launch into this new year, if we are taking advantage of His promises but falling way short in our obedience and our commitment to live each moment of our lives in submission to His perfect will. My prayer is that we will begin to devote ourselves to obedience and a moment-by-moment walk with Christ this year.

What's first?

We are already a few days into a brand new year.  The holidays are over and Christmas decorations have been packed up and put away. Now it’s time to think about the new year that lies ahead.  Perhaps you are still pondering over your resolutions…or perhaps you are one of those who have sworn off making resolutions because you can never manage to keep them.  I think the new year causes all of us to reassess and re-evaluate our lives…at least I hope it does.

If we have received the Spirit of God, He will squeeze right through our lives, as if to ask, “Now where do I come into this relationship, this vacation you have planned, or these new books you want to read?” And He will always press the point until we learn to make Him our first consideration. Whenever we put other things first, there is confusion. 
Oswald Chambers - My Utmost For His Highest

One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves as we enter this new year is, “What will I put first in my life this year?” The Lord wants to occupy that space and He is asking you today where He fits into your 2012.  I think we can all testify to the truth that Oswald Chambers spoke…whenever we put other things first, there is confusion…there is chaos and anxiety and disharmony and discontentment. And there is no joy. 

My prayer is that we each choose joy this year by trusting only in the Lord our God and living each day fully, for His glory.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

Christmas

We had a great day Sunday with a wonderful message of Christmas brought by the adult choir during the morning worship service and the Christmas story from a child's perspective as the Children's Ministry treated us to their program during evening worship service.

The adult choir will do another performance of "Night of the Father's Love" on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.  Refreshments will be served afterward.  I hope you will plan to join us Thursday evening as we continue to celebrate Christmas at FBC.

Gifts

Jesus asked, “If you hardhearted, sinful men know how to give good gifts to your children, won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them?” (Matt. 7:11 TLB).

We find ourselves just thirteen days from Christmas. The next two weeks will find many of us in a hectic pace to buy gifts for everyone on our list. Some gifts we give out of obligation, but mostly we will be giving gifts to those we love to bring them joy.

Max Lucado says we are at our best when we are giving. In fact, we are most like God when we are giving:

“Have you ever wondered why God gives so much? We could exist on far less. He could have left the world flat and gray; we wouldn’t have known the difference. But he didn’t.

He splashed orange in the sunrise and cast the sky in blue. And if you love to see geese as they gather, chances are you’ll see that too.

Did he have to make the squirrel’s tail furry? Was he obliged to make the birds sing? And the funny way that chickens scurry or the majesty of thunder when it rings?

Why give a flower fragrance? Why give food its taste? Could it be he loves to see that look upon your face?

If we give gifts to show our love, how much more would he? If we—speckled with foibles and greed—love to give gifts, how much more does God, pure and perfect God, enjoy giving gifts to us? God’s gifts shed light on God’s heart, God’s good and generous heart. Every gift reveals God’s love…but no gift reveals his love more than the gifts of the cross. They came, not wrapped in paper, but in passion. Not placed around a tree, but a cross. And not covered with ribbons, but sprinkled with blood.”

As you do your shopping this week, don’t forget to ponder the gifts God has given. Take time to recognize the gifts He gives every day. And take time to thank Him for those gifts.  It will help take the stress out of your extra long to-do list.

“Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.” (James 1:17 MSG).

Journey

I thought I would flash back a year and post some reminders of last year's Journey. This Saturday and Sunday evenings we will have Journey Through Bethlehem from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.  Many of our people have committed their time to provide this unique Christmas opportunity to our community.  If you are not involved in Journey, I hope you are planning to attend one evening. And be sure to invite your neighbors and family.

I look forward to seeing you there.