Tag: promises

Now and Forever

Today’s reading is Psalm 41.

This chapter begins with verses discussing caring for the poor and having enemies against you. But in reading this last week and now beginning to write this on Sunday, June 22, day after the US struck Iran’s nuclear sites, one verse jumps of the page to me and that is the last one.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting!

Amen and Amen.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion as to whether the US made the right decision at the right time to bomb Iran’s nuclear site. But as Christians who believe the Bible to be the true Word of God, we cannot question that God is the God of Israel now and forever.

Does that mean Israel is perfect? No. Does that mean Israel does not make mistakes? No. In fact, my 12-year-old and I were just discussing how many times Israel messes up and turns their back on God in the Old Testament and ultimately the Jewish leaders crucified Jesus. But the Bible, including the book of Revelation, makes it clear He is still their God. He will never leave or forsake them. And we see throughout the Bible that God keeps His promises and covenants.

While I remember my Mom emphasizing growing up “the Gospel in a nutshell” John 3:16, I also remember her emphasizing Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The Holy Trinity which is three in one does not change. He keeps his covenants and His Word does not change, He is “the God of Israel.”

Please join me in praying for Israel and the United States and for wisdom for the leaders of both. And above all, please pray for peace in the Middle East, the US, and the world and that hearts and minds will turn to God who will be victorious now and forever. Amen.

Your Christmas Star

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:1-2

This Monday night many of us saw the bright star of Saturn and Jupiter aligning for the first time in over 800 years. How cool is it that this star, possibly similar to the star of Bethlehem that shown over Jesus’ birth, would be seen near Christmas in 2020 on what most would consider a year of darkness just like when Jesus was born?! I would assume some reading this may have grown up like me thinking the wise men were there the night of Jesus’ birth. They are in most nativity scenes, right? Today, on Christmas Eve, I can remember sitting through many candlelight church services imagining shortly after midnight about 2,000 years ago Jesus was born and all the angels, shepherds, and wise men were there in the stable under the Christmas star. However, it’s clear from these verses that it was “after” He was born when the wise men arrived, and in coming from the far east of Iraq/Bablyon (without a car or plane in those days), they would not have arrived until days and most think years later. Yet, they remembered and still came to worship Him some time in the future after seeing His star.

It may seem strange reading this on Christmas Eve to be thinking about what we do after Christmas, but that’s where my mind went in reading these verses. We worship and praise him in the days leading up to Christmas and especially today on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day….but do we continue to worship and praise Him the same after? The wise men remembered His star and came sometime later still to worship Him and bring Him gifts. What has occurred in your life that is your Christmas Star that should remind you He’s always with you and to worship Him on all the other days of the year? Perhaps something has happened where you were aware of His presence and hand on your life which is your reminder. However, we can often easily forget in the years, days, and sometimes even hours that follow..and especially during the tough times. However, this Christmas Star in your life should remind you He is with you always.

I also thank God for His Word in the Bible which serves like a Christmas Star to remind us of who He is and His promises made and kept. Since man first sinned, He gave us gave us promises of a Savior (Genesis 3:15), and He has kept that and each and every one of His promises. My prayer for all reading this is that each and every one of us recall our Christmas Star which is our personal reminder of His presence in our life, and we open and read the reminder He gave us in His Word more in 2021 than we did this past year. When we do so we will not only have more peace and comfort through growing closer to Him, but we will continue to give Him all the honor and glory and praise He deserves..just like the wise men did. As notes written from a past sermon or devotional near these verses in my Bible read, “Wise men and women still seek Him today.”