Several years ago, the students of a small-town high school not far from where I live staged a public protest against their school cafeteria. They marched with signs and organized a boycott, and the story was carried on the local evening news.  As it was reported, the students had two chief complaints against their school cafeteria. First, they said the food was terrible, almost to the point of being inedible. Second, they said the portions they were given were too small. (I will give you a moment to consider the irony present in the combination of those last two statements.)

It occurs to me that story is an apt illustration of how some people might look at their own lives, as well as the lives of their loved ones. They agree wholeheartedly with the assessment of Job’s friend Eliphaz that “man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7), but at they same time they are troubled by the thought of life ending.

Death is perceived as an unwelcome intruder into the experience of human life, and we need a firm hope to hold on to concerning what lies on the other side of the grave.

The good news is, we do in fact have that hope.

Part of our security lies in the promise our Lord gave us that he will return in victory to consummate our salvation and take us to be with him for eternity (Matthew 24:30-31, Luke 21:27-28, John 14:1-3). But in the meantime, we trust that if we die before Christ returns, we will continue to live in the presence of the Lord in heaven (Matthew 22:31-32, John 11:25-26, 2 Corinthians 5:1-9).

Christians in all generations have looked expectantly for the second coming of Christ, although there are many different ideas about how the events surrounding his return will take place. The Thessalonian believers evidently had a keen interest in Christ’s return, as Paul invested a good bit of ink in writing to them about it. (In addition to this passage, see also 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

Many of them probably were anticipating the Lord would come during their own lifetimes. Paul’s warnings against idleness in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 might well have been directed toward some in that church who had quit their jobs and neglected their other earthly responsibilities in anticipation of a quick return of Jesus.

But as the days went by and the Lord still had not come back, the Thessalonians might have begun wondering about those of their number who died without seeing the Lord descend from heaven. They might have started asking, “Will those who die miss out on the glorious hope of the return of Jesus?”

That question reflects the concerns countless others have had, or now are having: “What has happened to my loved ones who died while trusting in Jesus? As a believer in Jesus Christ, what hope does the Scripture communicate about what awaits me beyond the grave?”

The very first statement in our study passage sets the tone for what is to follow. That statement in verse 13 expresses two great desires of the Apostle Paul for the Thessalonians and for all believers.
 
First of all, Paul did not want the Thessalonians to be uninformed about those who had died. He desired that they have settled convictions and firm hope concerning those persons and for their own lives.

Second, he wanted for them not to grieve over death as people who have no hope. Please remember that this is not a prohibition against sorrow when someone we love dies. Grief is the natural response to the loss of someone we care about, even though we know we will be reunited with them. 

Nowhere does the Bible command us not to grieve or shed tears when someone we love dies. But we are given instructions on how we should grieve: As people who possess confidence in the power and the promises of Christ, and not as those who have no hope. We can experience sorrow while at the same time resting secure in the promise that “Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (v. 14).

The return of Christ always has provided fertile ground for discussion and debate, and there are a number of different ideas concerning the events surrounding that return. Many of those discussions relate to the resurrection of the dead and the moment that believers will be caught up to meet Christ (vv. 16-17), and when those events will take place in relation to Christ’s visible return and the creation of the new heaven and new earth (2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1). Some people use the terms premillennial, postmillennial, or amillennial to describe their beliefs or those of others concerning these issues. Others somewhat jokingly describe themselves as “panmillennial” (as in “I’m not sure how it all will happen, but I know that it will all ‘pan out’ the way God wants it to”). 

But Paul’s purpose here was not to provide a detailed theology of the Second Coming, nor to create a systematic timeline of those events that will surround Christ’s return. The apostle’s emphasis is that those believers who die before the Lord returns will not miss out on the glory and the joy surrounding that wonderful event. Those believers, he insisted, will be resurrected from the grave and will be reunited with those still alive at his return, and we will all be together with one another—and more importantly, with Christ for eternity.

Paul’s words offer us hope concerning our own death and that of our loved ones. The fact of Christ’s resurrection from the dead gives us the sure hope of our own resurrection and eternal life (1 Corinthians 15), and the promise of the Lord’s return gives us assurance that he will bring to perfect completion his redemptive work in our lives as well as in all creation (Romans 8:18-25). 

“Therefore, encourage one another with these words” (v. 18).

This week, we continue our theme of renewal. Last week, if you remember, we talked about a fresh perspective, focusing on the truth of who God is and what his word says. Having established both God and his word are perfect, we can now discuss fresh hope for a joyful life.

Even recognizing we live in a fallen world, life can seem pretty unfair. Financial experts finally have admitted we are in a recession, but that news comes as no surprise to most of us. With the cost of living rising and job security bottoming out, most of us already have been struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, everywhere we look, health problems multiply and families fall apart. The things we want, we can’t ever seem to achieve, while the things we have give little or no satisfaction. It all can seem pretty hopeless.

Today, we read two psalms, written by David at a time when he was feeling depressed. Although presented as two separate psalms in our modern Old Testament, many Hebrew manuscripts present them as one, and today we will read them as one. Honestly, whether the psalms were meant to be read together or separately doesn’t matter. What does matter is how David responds to God in the midst of his depression.

In these psalms, David expresses hopelessness in God’s apparent distance and lack of support. But David is honest about his feelings and shares them transparently with the Lord, all the while crying out for deliverance. By following David’s example, we can weather our own storms a little more gracefully. Like David, when faced with trails, we need to focus on our soul’s longing for God, the truth of God’s constant love and our own commitment to God.

Understand your soul’s deep desire

We were made by God specifically for relationship with him. When Adam and Eve lived in the garden, God walked with them daily. Though sin has interrupted perfect communion with God, he has continued to reach out to man, first through the Old Testament law and finally through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being’” (Acts 17:27-28).

Even in the midst of depression, David acknowledges his need for relationship with God. We too must understand our greatest need is an intimate relationship with our Lord.

All too often, when life comes crashing around us, we turn from our greatest source of strength and comfort. Sometimes we blame him. Other times, we merely forget him. Yet through him, we can find comfort. He isn’t the cause of our troubles, but our source of joy in spite of our circumstances.

Remember God’s faithful love

Feelings can be misleading. When it seems God is absent, we need to rely on our knowledge about him. First, we must remember God’s desire for our best. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We are God’s creation, made for his pleasure. Sin, not God, brings life’s hardships.

Second, we can never make God stop loving us. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35, 38-39). God doesn’t punish us with circumstances. He doesn’t test us with difficulties. He loves us throughout life’s challenges.

And finally, God is faithful. “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name” (Psalm 111:7-9). We can trust God even when nothing else seems sure. But like David, we must remind ourselves of this truth even when we don’t feel it’s true.

Follow God’s light and truth

When facing difficulties, we don’t always think clearly. So before difficulties come, we must commit to remain faithful to God, just as he is faithful to us. Regardless of our circumstances, we must focus on five things:

1.    Worship. Praise God, not because things are going your way, but because he is who he is. Thank him for the assurance of his love when nothing else seems stable. “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts” (Psalm 96:8).

2.    Obey. “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). We honor God when we obey him out of love, even when we don’t see immediate rewards. We can, though, be sure the rewards are waiting for us. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

3.    Trust. God wants only the best for us. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

4.    Believe. God can and will restore us. “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).

5.    Act. Don’t react. Regardless of the source of your problems, respond as Jesus would respond. Be patient and kind to one another. Be thankful and obedient to God. “Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).

Life sometimes is unfair, but God always is fair. Circumstances may seem hopeless, but God can restore our hope. Trials may challenge our faith, but God remains faithful through them all. When going through difficult times, remember: God doesn’t cause the difficulties, but he can work through them to bless us and to teach us more about himself.

Discussion questions

• When life seems overwhelming, how do you usually respond?
• Do you think it’s possible to genuinely worship God when you’re facing trials?
• How might it help to focus on God instead of our problems during hard times?

Our lives are filled with a quest for something greater, wouldn’t you say? It is hard to deny when everywhere we turn we see mixed media bearing the message that there is something more to be had. There are advertisements for gadgets and gizmos and guarantees for the latest and greatest—guaranteed to awe and impress. There are romance novels that embody the ideal mate. Millions of dollars are only a sweepstakes away and the perfect life is on the next primetime reality television show. Of course, where would we be without the shows and movies filled with antagonists and heroes alike who are striving for a kingdom of their own?
I am reminded, in particular, of the movie “Braveheart.” Mel Gibson plays the brave Scottish rebel William Wallace who leads the fight for the freedom of Scotland. Faced with injustice against his people and the murders of his loved ones, Wallace fights with passion, ingenuity, and perseverance. If only I had a dollar for every time this character has been used to inspire myself and others!
Jesus spoke of a kingdom worth fighting for as well. As Jesus sat down and taught the Sermon on the Mount, as any respected teacher would have, the crowd gathered around him for what was probably days of teaching. In Matthew 5:1-12, referred to as the Beatitudes, he painted a picture. It was a picture of the kingdom of heaven and the blessed person—a person favored and approved of by God—the William Wallace of the Bible. The stories are reminiscent but strangely different.

Jesus talks about the blessed one being a person who is solely confident in God. Whether it has been financial or spiritual bankruptcy, they are humbled and recognize their need to depend on God. The blessed mourn. They mourn not only their losses, but their shortcomings both individually and as a community. We are assured that those who mourn will receive comfort from God; surely for themselves, as well as to pass that comfort on to others.

And for when other people are so ready to point out the very shortcomings being mourned about, the blessed one is able to maintain composure. They do not seek revenge or react in violence, but instead are, as Jesus puts it, meek.

What would a hero be without the hunger and thirst for what is good and right? The blessed do this as well, but not in a way that suits their needs; instead they hunger for a righteousness that represents God in their own lives as well as everywhere else in the world. Ultimately, they will have satisfaction. Mercy follows them in their every step and they are pure in heart, having integrity, honesty, and moral purity.

Furthermore, the blessed are peacemakers. They orchestrate peace between each other and between people and God. How fitting that they be recognized as sons of God; people who bear the characteristics of their Father. Finally, the blessed does not escape from it all unscathed. They may be persecuted, as all of these traits are not the norm.

I’m not so sure after reading the description of God’s favored, the one that inherits the kingdom, that even William Wallace measures up. He was passionate and fought for a cause. He surely mourned his losses and his intentions mostly were good. But Wallace worked awfully hard to right things for himself. It was expressed in vengeance instead of mercy and at the cost of moral purity so that he may have peace for others, sure, but mostly for himself. If William Wallace doesn’t measure up, how can we ever expect to?

Perhaps this is the catch Jesus wants us to notice. The blessed person, the one favored by God, is the one who knows he doesn’t measure up at all. They still fight, but they know when they fall short, they will be comforted. They know everything they are lacking and so desperately want, they will receive. They know they will receive mercy from not only people, but from God whose mercy is infinitely more valuable.

I can almost hear Jesus teaching about this person. It is inspiring to think of someone who fights for something so great. Perhaps what is hardest is accepting the reward when we know it is not something we can earn. What an ideal. What a challenge.

And then in Matthew 5:11-12, he points his finger directly at us and maybe in today’s words he would have said something like, “I expect you to experience this. … I expect you to know what it is like because of me.” He says, “But don’t worry, because just like everyone before you, I will take care of you. My kingdom is your kingdom. I favor you too.”

Questions to explore

• Which of the beatitudes do you struggle with the most? Which do you find comes easiest?

• Can you think of a movie or show where one of the characters more accurately represents Jesus’ favored “hero”? If not, what might one look like?

I have a friend who, while in one of his more cynical moods, once said that the secret of success in life is to establish low standards for yourself. Expressed another way, one might say those goals that are most easily reached are the ones most easily reachable.

From time to time, we need to examine (or re-examine) our personal goals and see if the objectives we have set for ourselves correspond with those the Lord God has set for us. When we do that, what we might discover is that we have set the bar too low for ourselves. To borrow a phrase from author C.S. Lewis, we might be far too easily satisfied.
 
Our study passage in 1 Thessalonians 4 challenges us to adopt God’s standards as our own. The goal we ought to set for ourselves is stated succinctly in verse 1: “Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God … .” The verses that follow make specific application of that overarching objective.

One of the first things we notice in this passage is that the Thessalonian Christians already were striving to live lives that were pleasing to God. But the Apostle Paul encouraged them not to rest on their accomplishments, but to do yet “more and more” (NASB, “excel still more”) (v. 1). 

The Christian experience frequently is described as a “walk with Christ.” That particular analogy was a favorite of the Apostle John, who used it extensively in his epistles (see 1 John 1:7, 2:6;  2 John v. 6;  3 John v. 3). “Walking” is indeed a powerful metaphor for the Christian life, because the word implies continual and progressive forward movement.

Consider this: An athlete who competes on the track does not reach a certain time goal for his event and then say, “I’ve made it; I can relax now.” No, he continues to train and work even harder, always trying to shave just a few more micro-seconds off his time.

The same principle holds true in the matter of being a disciple of Jesus Christ: No matter where you are in the process, no matter what stage of growth you are at, no matter how long you have been a Christian, the goal before us is this: Excel still more! 

That progressive forward movement in our relationship with Christ is explored further in verse 3: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified … .” The word “sanctified” is very closely related in meaning to the word “holiness”—that is, to be set apart to Christ. We ought always to keep in mind that when Christ called us to salvation, he called us into a life-changing relationship with himself and into a process whereby we increasingly are set apart to him.

Here Paul specifically addressed our sanctification as it relates to sexual and moral purity (vv. 3-8). Recall that many of the Christians in the city of Thessalonica had come to faith in Christ out of a background of pagan belief and behavior (1:9). Having been born and raised in a profane and immoral culture, many of the Thessalonians had lived their lives according to accepted standards of behavior which, while perfectly normal and natural in their society, were nonetheless opposed to God’s standards of holiness.

One of the challenges every new Christian faces is learning new ways of living, thinking and responding. When we begin to follow Christ, we must unlearn habits and values and actions we might have been carrying around for much of our lives. In these verses, we hear Paul saying, “Don’t live like the people of the world; and don’t keep on living like you used to live yourself before you came to know Christ.”

Paul then went on to write about the importance of love for those in the Christian family (vv. 9-10). In verse 10, the apostle commended the Thessalonians for their love of “all the brothers throughout Macedonia.”

That statement, and particularly the word “all,” particularly is instructive when viewed in the context of what the New Testament says about the Macedonian churches. For example, the church in the city of Berea included some of the prominent and influential (and, we might assume, financially well-to-do) citizens of the city (Acts 17:10-12), while other Macedonian Christians were materially poor (2 Corinthians 8:1-2). The believers in Macedonia represented a vast cross-section of society, and the Thessalonians' love wrapped itself like a blanket around them all.

Our love ought not be restricted to people who are just like us, but should be directed toward all of our brothers and sisters in Christ—those who are wealthy as well as those who are poor, those who are on the top rung of the social ladder as well as those who aren’t even on the ladder. 

Our love also should be a living and growing thing, as once again in verse 10 comes the encouragement to “do so more and more.” That encouragement is a reminder that love isn’t a mere feeling, but is a way of behaving toward other people. To “do so more and more” might be interpreted to mean, “Keep finding new ways to show love to others.” 

A while back I saw this bumper sticker on the back of a car: “I BRAKE FOR GARAGE SALES.” The driver of that car was telling the world, “You never can tell when I am going to stop and look for a bargain.”  This passage of Scripture urges us always to be on the lookout for opportunities and ways to love people.

The study passage concludes with yet another application of the goal of living a life that is pleasing to God. Paul wrote, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands … so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody” (vv. 11-12).

We should take care of those things God has entrusted to us, without being lazy, a meddlesome busy-body or a self-promoting glory-seeker. Our Lord has called us to make a difference in the world, and you can do that while leading what Paul here called a “quiet life.” Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, and salt makes a big difference in whatever it touches; but one of the quietest things in the world is a salt-shaker! 

What are your goals in life? Do they measure up to God’s goals for you? As you consider this passage of Scripture, what personal challenges do they place before you as you evaluate what you desire for yourself and what God desires for you?

“What everyone wants from life is continuous and genuine happiness,” according to the 17th century philosopher, Baruch Spinoza. That seems obvious. All our efforts in life tend to revolve around finding a place we belong, people who love us and a job that fulfills us. Yet every one of us can attest to the difficulty of achieving these goals.

Happiness can be an elusive target, largely because we don’t often define it properly. When we speak of happiness, we don’t usually mean joy or peace. Instead, we’re talking about a state of light-heartedness, with no problems and no concerns. And since true happiness can be defined differently by each of us, we don’t really know what will get us there.

Usually in our youth or early adult years, we develop a formula for life in which A + B = happiness. And we fully expect to achieve our dreams by approaching life according to this formula. What we fail to realize is how often life can invalidate our formula.

Occasionally, we need a fresh start, a time to reevaluate our formula and gain new perspective and hope. The New Year is the perfect time for such an evaluation. We’ve probably all been thinking about our New Year’s resolutions. But are we sure they integrate with our faith and life’s calling? Every plan we make needs to be founded on a solid knowledge of who God is—otherwise, we have no hope of attaining them.

We’re studying Psalm 19 this week. Essentially, it is a song praising God’s perfection. David begins by praising God for his creation. Next, he lauds God’s law. And finally, after concluding there is nothing imperfect about God, David prays his actions, words and thoughts will be pleasing to God. The Psalmist offers a good model for us to follow as we look for renewal in the new year.

Recognize God is in control

When life’s difficulties throw us off balance, the right response would be to cry out to God and follow his leading. All too often, we just lead out and expect God to follow. Then, because life really doesn’t make sense, we question whether God is there for us at all. We can’t see him or hear his voice, and there don’t seem to be any real consequences for not obeying him. At this point, we can easily lose faith and begin living life according to the world’s rules instead of God’s.

But the world doesn’t live by faith. It wants to see evidence before it believes, while God asks us to do the reverse: first believe, then wait to see the evidence. Remember the angel’s announcement to the shepherds? “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12). The shepherds had to believe the angel’s message before they would see the sign. Not the other way around.

According to David, when our faith is weak, all we have to do is look around. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). As we look for a renewed relationship with God, we need to pray he will give us faith to believe the voice of creation and trust him even when life gets difficult.

Accept the truth of God’s word

Another bad habit we can fall into is misinterpretation of God’s word. We like for Scripture to confirm our beliefs, not challenge them. So all too often, we’ll select biblical truths as if they are a Sunday afternoon buffet. We choose this verse and some of those verses, but leave behind the verses we don’t like. Or we’ll chop up whole passages, taking verses out of context so they say what we want them to say.

But David tells us God’s word is perfect, trustworthy, right and pure. It can revive us when we need renewal. It can make us wise when we feel foolish. And it can give us joy—even when its sayings are hard.

When we’re faced with unsolvable problems, we often want God to speak directly to our situations. True, the Bible isn’t usually that specific. It speaks to core issues such as the definition of love, the value of life and the nature of God. But if we’ll be honest, most of our problems are merely surface issues resulting from a misunderstanding of or refusal to live by these core issues. If we aren’t satisfied with the answers we find in the Bible, it may be because we don’t want to accept a core truth. Our problems may not be easy fixes, but may require a faith and obedience overhaul.

As we seek renewal, we must turn to God’s word. We shouldn’t try to retro-fit it to our way of thinking, however. We need to accept God’s truth the way he reveals it to us. Sometimes the answers will be simple fixes. Sometimes instead of answers, we’ll find comfort in our moment of distress. And sometimes God will ask us to look deep into our hearts to fix core issues that keep us from enjoying all his blessings.

Pray for God’s strength to obey him

Jesus never said it would be easy to follow him. He says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). But he also promises not to leave us alone. “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16).

God asks us first to believe in him and the work Jesus did on the cross. Then he asks that we stand on that faith by obeying him. “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). Just as the shepherds had to seek out the Christ Child in order to know the angel was telling the truth, we must believe God’s promises enough to obey him. The evidence comes as peace beyond comprehension, blessings here and in the hereafter, and a non-guilty verdict on Judgment Day.

Renewal can only be found if we are willing to live life by God’s rules, not the world’s. We must know him intimately and be dedicated to him. Like David, we must find our joy in relationship with him. Let’s follow David’s lead and pray God will protect us from our own sinful nature. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Discussion questions

• When you were young, what was your formula for happiness? Did it work for you or lead you astray?

• What is your New Year’s resolution regarding your faith or your relationship with God?

As far back as I can remember, I worked on my dad’s farm each summer. At the time, I felt he got the better end of the bargain: He got a worker, while I just had to work.

I learned at an early age the importance of listening to my father’s instructions. For instance, one time when I was too young to be driving a tractor, I chose to speed things up in order to finish faster. The end result was not what I expected, but instead I had to explain how I plowed through a fence.

I was faced with several decisions during my years on the farm. New tasks were presented with wise advice, which I did not always heed. Familiar responsibilities were littered with the miscues of youthful arrogance. Time and time again, I found myself facing a common predicament—follow my father’s advice or try my own way. I was not a prodigal by any stretch of the imagination, but I still had to make the decision as to what I would do.

So far, we find Jesus being faithful to his Father in every task. Last week, we saw Jesus being obedient in the midst of three intense temptations. His faithfulness to God was unwavering in the midst of hunger, exhaustion, pain and loneliness. Jesus followed his Father and proved why God had said in Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

After hearing of John the Baptist’s imprisonment, Jesus left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum to begin his Galilean ministry. Matthew quoted Isaiah 9, highlighting the fact that Jesus was the light that had dawned. As Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, his message was simple: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (4:17).

The use of the phrase “kingdom of heaven” is unique to Matthew. One possible reason for Matthew’s use of “kingdom of heaven,” instead of the more common “kingdom of God,” is the Jewish reverence for the name of God. Referring to the “kingdom of heaven” would be less offensive to early Jewish readers. Either way, “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” are synonymous.

Verses 18-22 present the calling of the first disciples. Jesus was in a new area, and it was interesting to note that Jesus approaches the disciples. While Peter and Andrew may have known who Jesus was, their choice was clear. They were fishermen and just doing what they knew they should be doing. They were not doing anything out of the ordinary. There was no special magic to the casting of nets they did that day. The nets were not special, nor were the men casting the nets.

So imagine their shock when they heard the teacher calling to them. Jesus called out to Peter and Andrew and offered an invitation they could relate to: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (v. 20). Jesus did not set out a detailed itenerary of the years ahead, but kept the call simple. Peter and Andrew responded to the call with a simple response—“at once they left their nets and followed him” (v. 20).

James and John were in a similar situation. They were fishing, except we are told they are fishing with their father. This could imply James and John were part of the family business and expected eventually to take it over. Matthew does not share Jesus’ wording, but simply that he extended an invitation to the brothers, who immediately followed and left both their boat and father.

After calling a few disciples, Matthew tells us Jesus began going throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, healing the sick and preaching about the kingdom. Everywhere Jesus went, people were faced with how they were going to respond to him. Most people displayed a willingness to bring their sick friends and family to Jesus, while still countless more chose to simply follow him wherever he went. The crowds knew there was something unique about Jesus, and they chose to act in accordance with their knowledge.

Today, we are faced with a similar situation. We have our comfortable jobs with cushioned chairs and relatively stress free decisions. Our futures may be unsure, but we know where we stand at the moment and we are okay with that. But what is Jesus challenging us to do differently?

Every person in this passage was faced with a decision. For most, it simply was whether or not they would make the effort to help their relative get healed. But for a few, like Andrew, James, John and Peter, the decision was life changing. The teacher approached them and invited them to a life with him.

Jesus is doing the same for you. He is inviting you to make a life-changing decision. The road is not easy, but the journey with Jesus is worth more than anything you might have to give up. What are you waiting for today?

Questions to explore

•  If you were a character in today’s passage responding to Jesus, which character would you be? Why?

•  What are some benefits of following Jesus with a faithfulness similar to that of the first disciples?

I never cease to be amazed at how God orchestrated the spread of the gospel after Jesus’ death. It started with 11 men who had been commissioned by Jesus himself, and it spread like wildfire. Events that should have interfered with the gospel’s spread created an environment where the gospel would be carried even further across the ancient world. This, if nothing else, is proof of God’s desire for everyone to hear the good news.

As we’ve discussed in the last few weeks, all Christians have a mandate to share their faith. Today, we will talk about the call to full-time missions, the importance of responding to it, as well as what you can do if you haven’t received this call.

The call to missions

To those who haven’t received the call to international missions, it can look a bit like extreme sports—scary and dangerous. Yet for those who have the calling, it only seems natural to leave home with a few belongings and settle in the far reaches of the world. Why wouldn’t we want to tell the world about Jesus?

What we’re seeing is the difference in callings. God has set aside some Christians for the express purpose of leaving their comfort zone and sharing the gospel in foreign lands. And those who receive this calling also are equipped to fulfill it.

This is an important distinction. The call to missions comes from the Holy Spirit. It’s a whispering in the heart there’s something we should be doing, even if we don’t know exactly what it is. As God prepares us to receive this calling, he often gives us a sense of restlessness, a feeling there’s more to the Christian walk. It’s a hunger that takes us back to God, searching for his will in our lives.
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God’s call is unique for everyone. Jesus told Peter he was to be a fisher of men. Peter’s calling was related to his livelihood, but his end purpose was changed. Paul’s calling was a burning-bush experience: blinding light and a voice in the darkness. Afterwards, the Lord described Paul’s calling to Ananias: “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:15-16). His calling was to preach to the Gentiles—and to suffer for Jesus.

Most of us are not called to suffer. But each of our callings is different, even among international missionaries. Some are called to preach, teach and plant churches. Others are called to continue doing what they do here—practice medicine or dentistry or farming, for instance—sharing God’s love and their faith as they go about their business. Some are called to reached people groups, where the church already exists. Others are called to unreached people groups, where no one has heard about Jesus.

But they all share one thing: an urgency to do the work God has given them.

Responding to the call

It’s time for a little honesty now. All too often, we as Christians do good things not because God told us to, but because everyone else is doing those things.

A mission trip is a perfect example. We might be ashamed we don’t care about the mission as much as everyone else appears to, so we pretend we’re enthusiastic. We participate mostly because it looks bad not to participate. Or perhaps the trip looks like fun, and we’ve always wanted to see that part of the world.

Because missions is a work of God, it must be led and empowered by God. If we “call ourselves” to missions, we’ll be doing the work in our own strength. Don’t get me wrong. God will use everything for his own good. Even when we work in our own strength, we can accomplish God-sized results. But we’ll miss blessings, and we’ll wear ourselves out. When we operate within a calling, we are energized by even the most difficult of situations because we aren’t doing the work. God is. When missions are done within a calling, the Holy Spirit does the work, and his results feel effortless.

If you feel you are being called to missions, make sure the calling is from God. Pray and ask for confirmation. But take the calling seriously. Share it with your church and contact the International Mission Board. Let God lead you, and be careful never to get out in front of God.

What if you’re not called?

There’s no shame in not being called to international missions. All of us are called to share our faith, so we can continue to share where God has put us. But we can also support mission work around the world.
Pray. All too often we take lightly the power of prayer. Our sustained prayers for missionaries strengthen the Spirit’s work in their lives, offering protection and provision we could never imagine. You also might ask God if he wants you to participate in missions yourself. Make sure you don’t put off answering a call to missions if you feel God leading you that way.
Give. It takes money to send and keep missionaries in the field. If we haven’t been called to missions, or if we aren’t able to go ourselves, we can still participate through our financial gifts. Give through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, which funds half of the International Mission Board’s total income, or look online at www.imb.org for other ways to give.
Continue to share. Remember, in a way, we are all missionaries. Our mission field may only be in the backyard, but it’s our job to plant seeds of faith, water them and harvest new believers for Christ. Support those whose calling is different from yours, but walk boldly in your own calling.

Discussion questions

• Have you ever felt an urgency to do something for God?

• How do you feel God wants you to support missions?

The hot blistering wind blew coarse sand into Jesus’ eyes and mouth, a drastic change from a few days earlier when he felt the cool refreshing water of the Jordan dripping from his face.

How things had changed. Just the other day, he was publicly recognized as God’s beloved son and reassured by the words “with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

Now alone, tired, hungry and thirsty, the only words he heard were the hostile words of an adversary who stood opposed to everything Jesus came to do. This little wilderness side-trip was proving difficult.

Matthew places this story from Jesus’ life back-to-back with the story of his baptism and confirmation at the Jordan. When viewed next to each other, these scenes are like black against white.

As we journey through life seeking to remain true to the way of life God has called us to, we find similarities with this event in Jesus’ life. Our own lives are cluttered with Jordan River scenes, with long walks in the desert and everything in-between. There are moments of great hope and moments when despair follows like our shadow. We find there is a great adversary seeking to destroy the work of God in us and the work God is doing through us. We find great rewards for obedience, but there are temptations ever pulling us toward disobedience.

What do we do with all of this? We do what Jesus did—we stay focused on loving and serving God.

Matthew shares three of the temptations Jesus faced in the desert. To each temptation Jesus responded by asserting his devotion to God and the way of life that devotion produces. The devil, hearing Jesus’ growling stomach, tells him to make the stones become bread (Matthew 4:3).

I have read this passage many times and, on each occasion, Jesus’ response grabs me. Jesus reveals he will not be distracted from the truth that God alone gives life, and that life is much more than a full belly. What is a full stomach with no purpose or desire or goal to live for? Is that life? The word of God offers the life we seek, the kind of life that goes beyond a full belly (Deuteronomy 8:3).

The second temptation can be somewhat confusing. We find ourselves standing on the highest point of the temple at Jerusalem (Matthew 4:5). The temptation is for Jesus to prove his relationship with the Father by jumping off of the temple and having the angels catch him. Jesus reveals that jumping off the temple doesn’t prove he is the Son of God, but the proof is in how he relates to the Father—respecting and loving him enough to not put him to the test (Deuteronomy 6:16). Our relationship with God is most effectively seen in our love for him and in how that love affects our conduct in life. It’s not about proof; it’s about relationship.

The final temptation reveals more about the devil’s heart than anything else. The devil offers the world—its kingdoms and wealth—to Jesus. If Jesus would only fall down, offering his adoration and devotion to the great adversary, then it would all be his (Matthew 4:9).

As we have already seen, Jesus is radically devoted to the Father and his response only reasserts this more clearly. Jesus, no longer willing to play this game, sends the devil away with the resounding words that only God deserves our worship and service (Deuteronomy 6:13). Jesus knows his Father alone has ownership of creation, why would he offer his worship to the created instead of the creator?

We see temptation is unavoidable—even Jesus was tempted. Temptation comes to us even when we do everything in our power to avoid it. What makes us think we will escape temptation? The great problem Jesus addresses with his example is that a life spent resisting temptation is just that; a life spent resisting and accomplishing little else.

After this story, Jesus begins his ministry by setting out as the Messiah bringing the kingdom of heaven to those who desperately need it, including us. He didn’t stay in the desert and argue with the devil. Jesus set about doing the task he was called to do, and we can learn from that.

The great hope we see in Jesus’ example is when we shift our focus and pour all of our energy into loving and serving God like Jesus did, then temptations and distractions will fade into the background. We will be able to tell the devil to get behind us, so we can move forward toward the prize of the heavenward call of God (Philippians 3:14).

Questions to explore

• In what ways am I being tempted today?

• What or who do I serve to gain power and/or the riches of this world?

All of us who have raised teenagers remember those times when they were in high school, and we watched them leave the house with the car keys in their hands. They were headed out for a football game or a movie or just a night hanging out with their friends; but as we saw the taillights fading into the distance, we inevitably had our parental anxieties. “Will they be safe out there?” we asked ourselves in some form or fashion. “Will they drive safely? Will they make wise choices when they are faced with the temptation of negative peer pressure? Will they make it home OK?”

Sometime later that night, probably long after you had gone to bed (but not gone to sleep), you heard keys jingling in the front-door lock, and the sound of the door opening and closing. Your bedroom door opened, and your son or daughter said softly, “I’m home. Goodnight.” And a sense of happiness and relief washed over you so that you finally could close your eyes and go to sleep.

In the closing verses of 1 Thessalonians 2 and all of chapter 3, the Apostle Paul was writing about his emotions—emotions probably not too different from those I just described—at his having to be separated from the Thessalonian Christians for a time and his concerns over their welfare.

Paul and Silas had come to Thessalonica with the gospel message and initially had found a warm reception with many people coming to faith in Christ. But after just a few weeks of ministry there, the circumstances changed. Vocal and even violent opposition to their work quickly sprang up, and Paul and his companions were forced to move down the road (Acts 17:1-10).

The evangelists went from Thessalonica to the city of Berea, then from there to Athens, and ultimately to the city of Corinth; but with every step Paul worried about the young church in Thessalonica. In poignant terms, Paul told the Thessalonians of his anxiety at their sudden separation; the phrase “torn away from you” (KJV, “taken away from you”) in verse 17 translates a form of the Greek verb aporphanizo, from which we get our English word “orphan.” The great apostle felt much like a loving father would feel if he had to leave his young children behind without a parent to care for them.  

Paul also described how time and time again, he had attempted to go back to their city so he could make sure they were doing well, but every time his plans were frustrated (2:18). Paul probably was thinking, “They did well while we were there to help and encourage them. But how are they doing now? Are they safe? Are they still making the sort of wise choices that lead to maturity in Christ?”

Finally, no longer able to stand the uncertainty, Paul dispatched Timothy to go back to Thessalonica and encourage them to remain faithful in the face of their severe trial (3:1-5). The trial Paul had in mind was not just the problems and hurts that all people face, whether inside or outside the church. He was concerned about other problems the Thessalonian Christians were experiencing precisely because they were followers of Jesus Christ—the trials of persecution by the enemies of Christ.

In verse 3, the apostle described their situation as one in which they were in danger of being “unsettled” (KJV, “moved”) by those trials. The Greek word carries the idea of being slung violently around—picture a bull rider hanging on for dear life as the bull pitches and twists in an effort to throw him off, and you’ll get the idea. Paul was afraid the temptation of the devil and the severity of persecution had “unseated them from the bull” and sent them sprawling, so that they walked out of the metaphorical arena and refused to climb back on again (v. 5).

But when Timothy returned to Paul from Thessalonica, he delivered the encouraging news to Paul that the church in that city was alive and well, and the believers there were strong and stable (v. 6). Paul’s own hardships continued wherever he went, but Timothy’s report of the faithfulness of the Thessalonian church gave him great encouragement (vv. 7-8).

Even though Paul was able to breathe a huge sigh of relief at how well things were going in Thessalonica, he still longed to see them again (vv. 10-11). Sometimes it’s not enough just to hear that things are going well for the ones you love; you want to see them face to face and be physically close to them. 

These verses pluck a special chord in my life. As I write these words, my wife and I are preparing to leave in just a few days to go to Guatemala to visit some girls who have become very dear to us. We met these young ladies while traveling on mission trips with Buckner International, during which we ministered to them through Bible study and Christian discipleship training, and gave them gifts of school supplies and personal items. We continually hear good things about how well these girls are doing, and we stay in fairly regular contact with them by telephone. But it’s just not the same as being with them in person, and so we are going to see them—hopefully to bring joy into their lives, as well as to receive joy from them when we see how they have grown physically and spiritually (vv. 8-9, 12).  

The study passage closes with Paul’s prayers for the Thessalonians. He prayed God would increase their love for all those who were inside as well as those who were outside of the church (v. 12). He also asked God to make them inwardly strong, so that they would successfully face the challenges which were coming their way, and remain faithful to Christ through them all (v. 13).

Paul’s love and concern for the Thessalonians is a model of how we should relate to our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as those who are outside the Christian family. His concern wasn’t merely a mental exercise, but it expressed itself in specific concrete action. We ourselves also have countless opportunities to give meaningful ministry to those in and outside of the church.

When we pray for others, our prayers might sound something like this: “God, please do something to meet the needs of this person.” Perhaps what they need to sound like, though, is this: “God, please somehow use me to meet his (or her) needs.” Through compassionate action motivated by Christ-like love, we might in fact become the answer to our own prayer.

Merry Christmas! This week is sure to be filled with the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations. You know: decorations, shopping, baking, parties, caroling, candlelight services and family get-togethers. It’s enough to make us forget what Christmas is all about.

Today we read the Christmas story, the story of how God in heaven gave his creation on earth the greatest gift ever given. And this is what all the bustle is about.

Jesus is the gift

I don’t know about you, but I give gifts at Christmas because it’s fun, not as a memorial to Jesus’ birth. And if we’re honest, I believe that’s true for all of us. We love to see our children’s faces light up when they tear off the paper and find the one gift they’d been hoping for. We love the surprise when we tear off the paper of our own gifts. We love the excitement, the anticipation and the eventual discovery.

But if we’ll slow down enough to think about it, we’ll realize Father God loves giving gifts, too. He also must love seeing his children’s faces when they realize the magnitude of the gift of salvation. After all, God offers salvation as a gift, for the express purpose of blessing us and giving us joy—“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Jesus is the light

We call Jesus the Light of the world, and God announced his birth with light:

• The angels, when they told the shepherds about Jesus’ birth, shone with the glory of the Lord (Luke 2:9).

• God placed a new star over Bethlehem as a birth announcement to people everywhere. As you know, it was the star that drew the magi from the east. “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).

• Zechariah, prophesying over newborn John the Baptist, revealed God’s purpose for sending Jesus into the world: “Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:78-79).

Without the gift of salvation, we are lost in darkness, hopeless and condemned. Jesus is the light that shows us the way back to God, to forgiveness and peace.

Jesus is the message

God communicated in as many ways as he could Jesus is the message:

• When the angel told Mary she would bear the long-awaited Messiah, he told her to name the child Jesus. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, and it means “the Lord saves.”

• When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he told his followers, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

•    The disciple John calls Jesus the Word in John 1:14. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

When Jesus was born, he brought the message of hope with him: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). But not only that, he is the message of hope—“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

People need to hear … so they can receive their gift as well

Like Simeon, who was anxious to see the Christ child before he died, seekers everywhere are looking for the Truth. They know it’s out there somewhere, if only they can find it. The story of Jesus is the gift of peace they are looking for.

But even in biblical times, when they didn’t fully understand the gift of salvation, people rejoiced when they heard about Jesus.

• The shepherds glorified and praised God after seeing Jesus: “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” (Luke 2:17-20).

• Simeon praised God, calling Jesus “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:32).

As Christians, we have received the greatest gift ever given, God’s gift of salvation for all mankind. Do we really understand its value? The gift of salvation was meant to be shared. Yet now, at the time of year we celebrate the Christ-mass, we allow busyness to keep us from remembering the reason for the celebration.

We forget there are people out there who don’t have the gift. The gifts they’ll open this Christmas are pale imitations of the real thing. Let’s take a moment to pray for opportunities to share the story of Jesus, the reason for the season, and the best gift anyone could receive.

Discussion questions

• Do you remember how you felt before learning about salvation? Describe your feelings.
• How did you feel after becoming saved?
• Why do we hesitate to share the gift of salvation with others? Is this fair or right?

In the conclusion of his fable “The Fox and the Lion,” Aesop stated the moral that “familiarity breeds contempt.” Although that maxim isn’t universally true, it does describe the way things sometimes work. Familiarity might bring awareness of things we were much happier not knowing, and the more you know about someone or something, the less you might like that thing or person.
 
Let me suggest a parallel thought: Familiarity also can breed apathy. We might hear something so many times it no longer lights the same spark in us it once did. 

The biblical story of Jesus’ conception and birth might be “Exhibit A” of that tendency. Most of us could quote the details of the story from memory—the visits by angels to Mary and Joseph, the trek to Bethlehem, the birth of the Savior, the swaddling clothes and the manger, the shepherds, the wise men and all the rest. But is it possible we have heard and read the Christmas story so many times that it doesn’t excite us any more?

As we study Luke 1 and the announcement of the angel to Mary concerning the conception and birth of Jesus, I pray we can begin to see it once again with the excited eyes of fresh discovery.

Luke 1:26 tells us God sent an angelic messenger named Gabriel to visit a young virgin named Mary, in the Galilean town of Nazareth. Gabriel’s announcement to Mary concerned two events God was bringing together on the world’s stage. 

First, the angel declared God was working out a great plan, in accordance with an eternal purpose, to bring his own son into the world: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” (vv. 32-33). 

Second, corresponding to and falling in line with that great eternal plan for the world, God also was working out a great plan and purpose in Mary’s own life. Mary herself would be the one to conceive and give birth to God’s Son: “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus” (v. 31).

The words the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary contained a number of remarkable messages, but what Mary seemed to be grappling with most of all was the fact that she would give birth while still a virgin (v. 34). After all, even though people living in the 1st century weren’t in possession of all the medical and scientific knowledge that we living in the 21st century enjoy, they were not so backward that they didn’t understand where babies come from.

Although for the sake of convenience we usually speak of the “virgin birth,” the real miracle is not how Jesus was born. He was born by the same natural process of labor and childbirth as every other human baby. No, the real miracle is in how Jesus was conceived—not through the normal process by which children are conceived, but by a direct miraculous act of God. Verse 35 explains the miracle which would take place in Mary’s body: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

I am afraid we might not fully appreciate the leaps of faith Mary had to make in response to this announcement. Aside from the obvious spiritual difficulty she might have had in believing what the angel said to her, there was the very real issue of her human relationships, especially her relationship with her betrothed husband, Joseph. How could she possibly explain it all to him?

We know from the Gospel of Matthew that God took care of that particular problem by another angelic visit, this one to Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25). But at the time, Mary had no idea how it was all going to turn out. Her mind must have been turning cartwheels in her attempts to understand it.

There still are a lot of folks who struggle with the notion of the virgin conception and birth of Jesus. They might think, “I accept the fact that there was a man named Jesus who lived and taught and even worked miracles of healing.  But I just cannot accept this idea of the virgin birth.”

Permit me, if you would, a point of personal privilege so that I can try to explain why I believe so strongly in the virgin conception and birth of Jesus.

First of all, I believe it because that conviction is a natural outgrowth of what I believe about the Bible. I believe the Bible accurately records God’s self-revelation and that it contains—to borrow a phrase—“truth, without any mixture of error.” Building on that basic assumption, there can be no argument about this fact: Luke 1 very clearly states Mary was a virgin at the time Jesus was conceived in her.

When we read these verses, it’s not a matter of “What does it mean?”—the meaning is very clear. It is, quite simply, a matter of “Am I going to believe what it says, or not?” For my part, I choose to believe it.

But I believe in our Lord’s virgin conception and birth also because everything else I believe about Jesus makes a belief in the virgin birth necessary.  
What I mean by that statement is, I actually believe a lot of things about Jesus: I believe he is the Son of God, that he lived a sinless life, that he died on the cross for my sins, that he rose again on the third day, that he ascended to heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father and that he still lives to make intercession for me. I believe that by trusting Jesus for salvation, my sins are forgiven, and I am reborn spiritually. I believe that through Jesus, I have life which is eternal.

What’s more, those beliefs I hold about Jesus are things I do not believe about any other person who ever lived. And so, if all of those things I believe about Jesus are true, then that means Jesus was essentially different from every other person who has ever lived. 

That essential difference between Jesus and every other person who has ever lived lies in the fact that Jesus is both human and divine—both man and God.

And that brings us to the bottom line: If Jesus is both human as well as divine, then a human conception which was a direct act of God is the only possible way to account for his being both. Everything else I believe about Jesus logically requires I also believe in his virgin conception and birth. To put it bluntly, it’s the only way to understand the person of Jesus Christ and how he came into the world that makes sense; and it’s important that what you believe makes sense.

In simple faith, Mary accepted what the angel had told her: “I am the Lord’s servant … . May it be to me as you have said” (v. 38). Then this young woman who would become the mother of God’s son joyfully celebrated the great work that God was doing, and the great favor that God had shown her by choosing her as his vessel for bringing his son into the world (vv. 46-55).  

Our own response to the message of Christmas should never be joyless apathy. Just as Mary trusted God and submitted to his plans for her, let us also commit ourselves to faith and obedience to Christ. As Mary joyfully celebrated God’s saving work, let us also live lives of joy and celebration for his great salvation.

Christmas time is defined by our expectations. As those few weeks at the end of the year approach, our minds are filled with anticipation of times to come:  family reunions, dinners, gifts, traditions, etc. A great holiday season can become a terrible one simply by missing a few key expectations, but then the opposite is also true.

As I look forward to the holiday season, my own mind is filled with expectations of flying home and seeing my family for the first time this year. Certainly expectations can make or break any experience.

Now as we turn again to our passage, we see that the stage is set for the birth of our Savior, the Messiah, God with us, the Lord Jesus Christ. After the extensive genealogy in the first chapter, Matthew tells us something we do not expect: “Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him’” (v. 1-2).

These magi, popularly known as the Wise Men, most likely were professional priests who made a living watching the stars and discerning “signs” from their movements. They came from the eastern lands, perhaps Arabia, Babylon or Persia (we have no way of knowing for certain) to worship the “king of the Jews” (v. 2). 

Who knows what these men, who were very important in their own land, expected as they approached Jerusalem. We certainly have no way of knowing, but we do have a reasonable idea of what King Herod expected upon hearing news of Christ’s birth. We see that he was seriously disturbed by this news, and called together “the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law” (v. 4) to find out where this Christ was to be born.

Herod, a man placed on the throne of Judea by devious political maneuvering, became instantly suspicious of the Christ, expecting a challenge to his political power. The text suggests “all Jerusalem” (v. 3) felt the same emotion as the suspicious Herod, but the writer is more likely referring to the religious and political establishment that ruled with Herod, and not the entire city of Jerusalem.

Again, expectations are driving the thoughts and actions of these people. We have seen that expectations are powerful, but what do they have to do with these magi and the rest of the story?

Herod further nurtures his suspicion by eventually enlisting the aid of the unwitting magi in finding the Christ, so that he can do with him as he wants.

With a warning by God in the form of a dream, the magi depart for Bethlehem with the guidance of their aforementioned star and find the Christ, the object of their expectations, in a house with his mother. Much time had passed since they first saw the star when they were still in the east, as much as two years. Yet these intrepid magi had finally found him, so they bowed low and worshipped him before departing for their homeland.

This depiction requires a measure of imagination in order to determine what the magi expected as they approached Bethlehem, when they were coming to find Jesus. Perhaps they were merely anticipating what the Lord desired to reveal to them, whatever it might be. After all, they had left their homeland and travelled far and wide to seek out a baby they had never met solely on the signal given by a star in the sky. What tremendous faith is found in such an unexpected place.

It is interesting that the king, the priests and the teachers of the law all were given news of the arrival of the Christ. Yet only the magi sought him out to give their worship, seeing as their decisions were motivated by their expectations. As for Herod and his aides, their self-centered expectations blinded them to the fact that their Savior had been born. Those same expectations also biased and blinded them through the remainder of Christ’s life.

As you and I hustle and bustle throughout the rest of the holiday season, perhaps we should re-examine our habits and realign our faulty expectations.

If we only expect our holidays to be a repeat of last year, that might be all we receive. Of course, those same expectations might also blind us to what God is preparing to do this year, just as Herod was ignorant to the workings of God in his own day. We always are seeking something during the holidays, even if that something is the expectations of last year.

As we’ve seen with the magi, God has been known to guide travelers, men and women looking for answers, unexpectedly toward those who can help. As we bustle about this year, and every year, perhaps we need to be on the lookout for the unexpected, for those who are lost and looking for an answer. After all, Christmas time is all about finding that one thing that has been missing all along.

The magi found what they were seeking, and this year God may be leading you to help an unexpected friend find what they are seeking too.

Questions to explore

• How has God spoken to you through unexpected ways?

• What must you do ensure that you are available to assist those in search of Christ?