Jesus enters Jerusalem riding not a lowly donkey, but the lowliest of the low – a donkey’s colt. How Messiah’s feet must have dragged the ground as the foal struggled to carry the weight of the Son of God! Perhaps the colt staggered at times along the road to Jerusalem. No matter. The people were wild with anticipation of their liberation from oppression by the long promised Messiah:
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. ~ Zechariah 9:9
Have we not heard this story many times of how Jesus entered Jerusalem as a triumphant king in the minds of the people? How they yanked off their coats and threw them on the ground in front of the colt as it carried Jesus down the road? Others cut branches from trees and paved the road with them in a show of honor to Jesus. Multitudes sang, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”, and celebrated His coming (Matt. 21:9). Yes, it appears that they believed in the Messiah, but only as a liberating earthly king – the one who would free them from persecution by the Romans – not The One who had come to be crucified on the Cross at Calvary in less than a week.
As the procession neared the point in the road that led to the Mount of Olives, a whole crowd of disciples shouted,
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” ~ Luke 19:38-40 NIV
True believers will not keep quiet. We do not rely on the stones to cry out for us. Despite more bombings of Christian churches in Egypt today, believers focus on remembering our Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem two thousand years ago. Whether Pharisees or Isis rebuke, we will not be quiet. We continue to shout, to glorify, and to worship the Name of our King, Jesus in the Highest.
“Father, we pray for those who have lost their lives, indeed, been martyred today for the love of your Son, Jesus. Forgive those who continually persecute your church. We pray as brethren today for those injured in these bombing attacks that they would be healed by Jesus’ wounds and that the families of those fallen will receive love and peace through your merciful Holy Spirit, our Comforter. In the Holy Name of Jesus, our Messiah, amen.”
Many people experience sadness or actual depression during the Christmas season. When this happens to me, I search my memory bank for past Christmases that were joyful – hoping to lift my spirits. The Christmas Past that I chose this year is the Christmas of 1965. Nothing sets it apart from other Christmases except for the changing times. It has become remarkable to me only because 51 years of Christmases have come and gone since then; so I have a lot to compare it with.
Life was so simple in 1965. Our family lived close to the land in a very humble home that my parents built mostly by themselves. We lived far from the nearest town and the winters felt even more isolating as darkness spread over the northern landscape. We seldom had visitors but our parents made sure they took us to town for church and school activities. We would join up with carolers and walk around the community singing all of the classic Christmas songs. People would come to their front doors to hear us sing and then invite us in for hot cocoa to warm up. Christ was always the center of Christmas, thanks to my parents, and I wish it was more like that in our nation today.
My brother and I were in our early teens in 1965 and certainly did not appreciate how special that Christmas was. Looking back now, I could not appreciate it more.
Undaunted by our adolescent apathy, my parents did everything in their power to bring cheerfulness into our home at Christmas. We trimmed the tree with ornaments that we made at school in our elementary days and smothered the tree in lights and silver icicles popular for the times. It may have looked gaudy, but we loved to plug in those lights and sit for hours in the evenings eating popcorn while we played checkers or old maid. I don’t remember if we had a television then, but if so, it only had one military channel with very limited programming. Dad made sure it was off most of the time. He was against TV. He wanted reality and his focus was always on the people in his life.
I remember our parents gifted us with snow skis that Christmas; including all the gear we needed to begin learning how to ski. This must have been a big financial sacrifice for them at the time. Of course, we were excited to be able to join our peers on the local ski hill, and within days we abandoned Mom & Dad for the slopes.
I never became a good skier, but it was fun. We spent some of our Christmas school vacation ice skating on the frozen ponds near our house, too.
This trip down memory lane may not seem relevant to your Christmas, but I guess the Lord put it on my heart to show that even though over half a century has passed since this Christmas Past, the true Christmas story as recorded in the Gospels never changes. Nowadays it seems that Christmas is celebrated far differently than in 1965. Jesus is not the center of the season and even the word “Christmas” has disappeared from most greeting cards. No wonder some people feed sad at this time of year! Rejoice in the belief that Jesus is our divine Messiah who became flesh in order to redeem mankind from a sin debt we could never pay. That is the true joyful message of Christmas.
I hope that your Christmas 2016 is one to be remembered as a happy time spent with family and friends; that is spirit-filled, and full of peace and hope that only the Holy Spirit imparts. Regardless of your circumstances, may your hearts be lifted up this Christmas with the knowledge that our divine Savior came down to earth as a tiny baby who chose to be born in squalor in order to bring us hope, love, and peace.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men. ~ Luke 2:10-14 KJV
MERRY CHRISTMAS PRESENT and may God bless you all.
How long will I continue to indulge in airing my grievances about the cares of this world? A strange and uneasy feeling has crept into my heart lately that I am as much a part of the social unrest in our nation as anyone in post-election America.
How can this be? I did my best to be informed on national issues. I compared candidates’ views. I prayed, cried, cheered, posted and commented. I voted.
And the outcome? The once silent majority has spoken and that suits me fine. Then I gloated. I ate humble pie on the rocks.
That is not the same as humbly giving glory to God for answered prayer. The outcome could have just as easily gone the opposite of my own hopes. It didn’t, so what is my problem?
Election Reflection: There seems to be a nationwide obsessive need to analyze, criticize (and in some cases), condemn others of opposite views. How did I fall into that worldly abyss? I fell prey by caring too much about what Jesus warned us about in Luke 21:31-36. I watched (fearfully) the vengeful, hateful and shocking post-election public protests of the past few days and thought in my heart, “Thank God I don’t feel that way,” and other sanctimonious thoughts I am too ashamed to share. I didn’t realize until this morning that my opinions do not stand up to God’s instruction in His Word – even when it seems that my motives are consistent with “Christian” views. This came about as I prepared to re-share a wondrous scripture post on social media that shockingly contained venomous remarks about others in the comments section; coming from what I can only assume are believing Christians. What in this world are we thinking? I sadly did not share the post and am on my guard in future against sharing any message that links hate to The Gospel of Christ.
I am not demeaning the importance of a believer’s call to stand up for justice and what is right. The problem is a crushing reality that I do not know God’s plan other than what He has revealed in His Word. His plans for our nation in particular are either not mentioned in the Bible or are veiled in mysterious symbolism. Perhaps it will become clear in the future; perhaps not. Regardless, until Jesus returns and governs in His perfect way, none of what man does to self-govern will ever achieve peace. There will always be division and major differences of opinion between groups of people on the earth. My thoughts are to continue to pray for our new leadership; that all governing members will seek the wise counsel of our Father in heaven before any and all actions whether domestic or foreign. I turn my thoughts away now, and embrace:
I can aspire to humility but not lay claim to it without remembering the holy words of Almighty God that bring me low:
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. ~ Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
Verse 13 describes my thoughts. They have been mostly of the thorn-bush and briers.
History has shown that Jesus came to earth to save mankind almost 2,000 years ago at a time when the Roman Empire ruled most of the known world. Roman rule was brutal, pagan, terrible, and even the instrument of Christ’s own crucifixion… yet history also shows that The Gospel of Good News spread victoriously like wildfire throughout the world on Roman roads and trade ships that networked three major continents. That would not have happened had not God allowed Roman rule at exactly the time of Christ’s appearance on the world scene.
No, I do not know God’s thoughts or plans but I do know that He deserves my praise and thanks for blessing our nation for over 200 years. I have strong faith that He is not giving up on America just yet. He always redeems even a remnant of people who believe on His Name.
My prayer: “Change me, Lord, and grow juniper and myrtle thoughts within me for Your Glory! Forgive my prideful thoughts and actions and stir up Your powerful Holy Spirit in me to love all people like Jesus did. Help me to shine Your Light upon the whole earth and give You Praise!“
This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever. ~ Isaiah 55:13b NIV
This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right for My Salvation is close at hand and My righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the one who does this – the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil.” ~ Isaiah 56:1-2
I belong to Jesus – not to this world system. I owe Him everything including my very existence. My opinions are subject to the Word of our King Over All. Jesus came to save the whole world, including those who do not share my views or belief in Him. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. ~ I Peter 1:3 KJV
The more we praise Abba, our Father, the more we embrace the “lively hope” of our inheritance in heaven, through the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our praise opens the pathway for love to invade our spirits, and renews our faith.
It is only by the power of God that we are kept strong in faith until the great revealing and salvation of our souls at the second coming of Yeshua Messiah.
Prayer: Mighty are your wondrous works on our behalf, Father, and Your Name is greatly to be praised. You are YHVH, my Elohim. Not just someone else’s god; but I declare to heaven and earth forever that You are MY GOD! Thank you for Your mercy and love for all; for sending your Son Jesus to die in our place and that our sin debt is paid in full. In the matchless name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus; PRAISE! PRAISE!! PRAISE!!! Amen.
If you have not yet received God’s gift of redemption and promise of eternal life through believing in Jesus, the important stuff you need to know is found in God’s Word. He wrote you a love letter to explain what you need to do to escape eternal judgement and it is found in The Bible. Another helpful salvation guide with more links is found at our home page..
Special thanks to Dan Dyer, a believing obedient servant of God, for MTM – his Message through Music ministry. You can help support the ministry by partnering.
GRAMMY-winning and multi-Platinum selling group Casting Crowns performs “Good Good Father” live.
Yahweh is so perfect in all of His ways. Sometimes the best way to worship Him is in song. He must love to hear this song of worship and praise. I know I do.
importantstuff 