Rescue Mission

 Luke 19:10. The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

 A favorite of the grandchildren's is the age-old game of "hide and seek." The "seeker" counts down ... 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 ... then yells to those hiding, "here I come, ready or not." The "coming" of Jesus is the focus of Advent - those our weeks prior to Christmas. Luke sums-up the essence of Jesus' coming to earth ... to seek and to save those spiritually lost. In his book, The Dawning of Indescribable Joy, John Piper writes: "The coming of Jesus was a search-and-save mission." We often hear a similar phrase - "search and rescue" - following a catastrophic disaster. Perhaps we miss the deepest thoughts of Jesus when we fail to see Jesus' mission as ... our rescue. Our thinking is too shallow when we merely ponder the plight of Mary and Joseph, no room at the inn, birth in an stable, a lowly group of shepherds, wise men bringing extravagant gifts. These things are indeed much to wonder about, however, we must not neglect to remember God's rescue mission, to spare man from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). "It's a season for cherishing and worshiping this characteristic of God - that He is a searching and saving God, that He is a God on a mission." (Piper). I suspect we'll all be on-mission about many things this month; let us not forget for even a moment the greatest mission for which all who believe should be most aware and grateful. That mission is that God sent Jesus to seek and to save the lost; yes, you and I were the ... rescue mission.

Think-On Jesus

The season of Advent may have slipped up on you! News flash - it comes the same time each year. Advent - a time when Believers pare to center their hearts on the first coming of Jesus to earth as Savior. That time is now, four weeks before Christmas! How do we find that Christ-centered focus amid the many distracting sights and sounds, tastes and aromas, gatherings and festivities? Let me suggest a month of extraordinary discipline! A firm determination each day to The Word - that is both the Personal of Jesus and to His written word. Noah Webster (1828) says discipline is a "regulation of practice" - an uninterruptible commitment to habitually do something. Those who love Jesus should not find it burdensome nor binding during Advent commit the body, mind, spirit and heart to ponder The Savior. There will certainly be much to see, hear and do as the Christmas month goes. As good as those things may be, do not allow any of them crowd-out The One Who is Center of the Season ... think-on Jesus.

Let Me Just Say ...

 Happy Thanksgiving to You
MWB will resume Monday 12-01-2025
Stay in The Word
Miles of Smiles, Beverly   

Hear and Do

How do you feel about a do-nothing day? It really seems not too long ago those kind of days were on my "wish list" - a slow, quiet day to rest, renew, re-group, refresh. James writes, "be doers of the word and not hearers only" (1:22). It doesn't take much living with others to know that it is rarely what we say that speaks loudest; no, it's what we do. I suggest it's also what we do ... consistently! We all know doers - those who are marked by deep-seated commitment to ... doing. They are hearers but it's their faithful obedience that defines them. The rest of James' words are: "deceiving yourselves." Those who hear the word only and refuse to follow-through on what they've heard deceive themselves. They have knowledge but aren't willing to put it into practice; they really aren't obedient at all. Are you a hearer or a doer, or hearer and a doer? Everyone needs an occasional day to physically-emotionally-spiritual  renew, regroup and refresh but do not miss the joy of obedience that comes to those who consistently ... hear and do.

Steady Through The Ages

You may have already concluded this: as we age we become less steady on our feet. Weaker muscles, hips and legs and feet and ankles, changes in balance and coordination - all contribute to a decline in sure-footedness.

 Paul warned Believers in Galatia of "a different gospel" which had thrown some into confusion - a perversion of the Gospel of Christ. He made it clear this "different gospel" was "really no gospel t all" (Galatians 1:7 NIV). Like gradual loss of strength in our limbs can impair balance and coordination, so can we lose sight of the complete and finished work of Jesus to save our lost souls! The message of The Gospel is simple yet profound: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NASB). Belief is key to one's salvation. Yes, believe in Jesus! That "belief," of course, becomes holy and righteous living, however, it is quite simply our belief in The One - sinless and perfect and holy - Who has done all required for our deliverance from sin. Our church sings these lyrics: "There is one Gospel on which I stand for all eternity - It is my story, my Father's plan, the Son has rescued me - Oh, what a Gospel, oh what a peace - My highest joy and my deepest need - Now and forever, He is my light - I stand in the Gospel of Jesus Christ." (CityAlight Music). Be sure, it is the Gospel of the ages! Our age may bring with it less than steady feet but we stand steady and sure in Christ ... steady through the ages.