by Webmanager | Dec 7, 2017
Day 5, Thursday, Dec 7
Acts 20:35b, “He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (NASB)
The term used by many of my Christian friends is “commercialization of Christmas,” but as a money manager, I am plagued by my programmed managerial thinking that despises waste, a general disregard for finances, gluttony, and selfishness. I wrestle with a particular persona that identifies with “Scrooge” from the beloved story, A Christmas Carol. Of course, I realize that ‘It is more blessed to give . . .” (Acts 20:35). When the Apostle Paul quoted Jesus concerning giving in this passage, he spoke these words as a final phrase of farewell to his dear friends at Ephesus. The power of these final words probably resonated as hearers considered the context of ministering to others. The concept that I must help others in giving reveals a whole new perspective about gift giving.
My epiphany helps me realize the great opportunity for personal growth. My attitude struggles with one who boasts of finding a perfect gift for everyone, overspending, unnecessary debt, and selfish pride. I sometimes felt guilty because I did not give a more expensive gift to a family member. Self-examination reveals a lot! Paul’s advice in Acts and Jesus’s quote urge believers to help those who are in need, especially those who need “guarding” (vs. 28). I now believe that a thoughtful gift can assist those in need by encouraging them. Occasionally, a thoughtful gift will require a great sacrifice of effort or, perhaps, money.
The most important thing is that believers redirect any accolades for gift giving back to Jesus who gave the best gift “which He purchased with His own blood” (vs. 28). I suppose if I could rewrite Charles Dickens work to fit my own thinking, I would want guilt from the past, present, and future covered by the crucial atonement of Jesus’s blood instead of last minute gifts. That is truly what makes giving more “blessed.”
Dr. Skip Hessel, Chief Development Officer
by Webmanager | Dec 6, 2017
Day 4, Wednesday, Dec 6
Galatians 4:4 – “But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His son….”
Let’s consider all the wonderful preparations God accomplished to bring about this “fullness of time.” Note this list of extraordinary events:
- The Jews were finally convinced of monotheism. By the time the first century A.D. rolls around, they hated idolatry. Just let the Romans try to bring their images into Jerusalem; the Jewish zealots fought them “tooth and nail.”
- The Greek language became “universal.” From 300 B.C. to A.D. 300, Greek was the lingua franca of the Mediterranean world. Linguists tell us that it was the perfect medium to communicate God’s truth – the New Testament. (Robert Gromacki: A Survey of the New Testament)
- The Old Testament was translated into Greek (ca. 250 B.C.). This was commonly called the LXX or Septuagint and made the prophetic word available to all.
- Jewish Synagogues were prolific throughout that region of the world. They were used for worship and the reading and teaching of the Scripture. Note in Acts that the synagogue in a particular city was often the first place Paul visited on his journeys.
- The Romans established peace, referred to as the Pax Romana. Missionaries could spread the word about Jesus without fear of invading armies.
- The Romans also built a marvelous system of roads. A way is provided to spread the good news about Jesus to the remote parts of the empire. You can be sure the apostles used these roads to great advantage. (Taken from Notes for N.T. Survey – Dr. Keith Miller)
When everything was just right, God sent forth His Son! What an awesome and sovereign God we serve!
Dr. Keith Miller, Bible & Theology Department Chair
by Webmanager | Dec 5, 2017
Day 3, Tuesday, Dec 5
A few years ago I got a chalkboard that is set up for a countdown to Christmas. I got it in early December and faithfully (mostly) lowered the number of days ‘til Christmas until the day we left for the Christmas holiday. When I returned a few days after Christmas, it seemed kind of sad to just put the chalkboard away, like there was nothing left to look forward to now. Then I thought to myself, “Hey, Christmas is still coming. It’s just farther away now than it was a few days ago.” So, instead of putting my calendar away, I started the countdown again, only now it was almost 360 days to Christmas. People who come by my office are usually surprised by how far away Christmas seems (“Wow, it’s 240 days to Christmas?”) or else shocked by how close it is getting (“It’s really just 67 days to Christmas?!”).
I love Christmas and celebrating our Lord’s birth, so I’m excited about counting down the days until it gets here. But we should be equally excited or maybe more excited about counting down the days until His return. We don’t know the exact day, so we can’t put it on a calendar and count down the days that way, but we can keep it a focus of our lives, being ever mindful of His soon return and what we should be doing while we wait for it. Just like the countdown to Christmas helps to remind us that we need to get our baking, our shopping, and our gift wrapping completed in time, so the thought of Christ’s return should motivate us to make sure we are busy in our service for Him. We don’t know when that day will be, so let’s keep working every day to make sure we are ready when it comes.
Titus 2:13 “ . . . looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Ruth Grimm, Director of Publications
by Webmanager | Dec 4, 2017
Day 2, Monday, Dec 4
With Christmas fast approaching it is easy to get lost in all of the wonders of the lights and festivities. While many of us are busy wrapping presents to prepare to place under our Christmas trees, we sometimes neglect to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and why we observe this wonderful holiday. The birth of Jesus Christ is much more than a little babe found in the manger. The reality of Christmas could also be found in the Garden of Eden.
In the book of Genesis God had told Adam not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and that in that day when Adam ate of it he would die (Gen. 2:16-17). Adam and Eve, due to the actions of the crafty serpent, ate the fruit they were commanded not to eat (Gen. 3:1-6). Death, as a consequence of eating the fruit, had now entered creation (Gen 3:19). Adam and Eve were now cursed (Gen. 3:16-18).
However, it was at this moment when God declared a promise directly to the serpent and indirectly to Adam and Eve that the “seed of the woman, would crush the head of the serpent” (Gen. 3:15). This promise in the distant future would be realized in a baby born in a manger whose works on the cross would certainly destroy the works of the serpent (cf. 1 Jn. 3:8b). This little babe in the manger would mean nothing without the first Christmas, told to the serpent, and indirectly to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
As we think of Christmas throughout this month remembering the Holy Babe in the manger, let us not forget to reflect back to where it all began. The first Christmas was given in the Garden of Eden.
Dr. Luther Smith, Biblical Counseling
by Webmanager | Dec 1, 2017
‘Tis the Season
Day 1, Friday, Dec 1
And so begins the “holiday” season. As most would recognize, the term is a compound of holy and day. Even as there is an increasing secularization of the holidays, the holy roots are inescapable. No matter how hard society tries to scrub God from our consciousness, He is still present. As the Psalmist asked, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? And where can I flee from Your presence” (Ps 139:7)? And ultimately, that is really what we are celebrating during this time of year – that God is with us! The central point of the Christmas Story is that God came to earth as the perfect God-man – as Immanuel, or God with us (Mt 1:23) – in order that He might take our place and pay for our sin. He has provided the way we can be reconciled to our Creator (Rom 1:16-17). So the holiday season is about much more than friends, family, gifts, food, and days off work. It is about remembering that the Amazing Creator God has not left us alone, but is with us always.
For many, the holiday season kicks off with Thanksgiving – and how appropriate that as we enter this time of year we can start with sincere thankfulness for who God is and what He has done for us. So, when someone wishes you “Happy Holidays,” don’t get too grumpy that they haven’t explicitly acknowledged Christmas. Perhaps their greeting provides you an opportunity to respond, “Yes – the holidays are a joyous time because of what we are celebrating – that God is with us and has given us life!” Have a blessed holiday season – and yes, of course – a wonderful Christmas! Even in the most difficult of times, we have much for which to rejoice and be thankful.
Dr. Christopher Cone, President
