As was His custom

When you go out to eat, it is customary to tip your server at least 15% of your check total. Anyone who has ever worked as a waiter or waitress would tell you that this is a very important custom. The concept of customs, or what things are customary is an interesting topic. A custom can be thought of as a habit or practice, but it is more than that. It also implies the usual or expected way to act in a given circumstance.

The book of Luke tells us of one of the customs of Jesus that we can learn a great deal from.  He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath, day he went into the synagogue, as was His custom. (Luke 4:16)It would be very easy to read too quickly over this passage of scripture, but it is an important verse. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus was in the synagogue. We could apply this type of reasoning to people we know: Since it is 10 am on a Tuesday, Ms. Biffington, a teacher, is at school. Since it is Friday night at midnight, Uncle Dan is playing poker with his army buddies. Or, since it is his anniversary, Kevyn is probably fishing. Note-Any similarity to actual people or events is purely coincidental.

 The notes of my study Bible point out out that Jesus’ custom of regular worship sets an example for all of His followers. Go figure, Jesus sets an example for us follow. What if some one were looking for you on a Sunday morning? Would your neighbors be able to tell this person where you were? “Sometimes they go to church on Sunday, unless it is nice outside, or really terrible outside,  or unless they had a tough week at work.” I think that this custom of Jesus is one we should all strive for. Would it not be great for someone to say of you, “If you are looking for (insert your name here) on this Sunday morning( or whatever day or time you attend church), I can say with virtual certainty, (he/or she) is in church as is (his/her) custom.”  

Worship is continual not occasional.

Giving is receiving

I heard is said once that one way to distinguish the moment you become an adult is how you look at two things: baths and sleeping. To adults, sleep and bubble baths are luxuries and not something to complain about and endure.

The Christmas season reminds me of another thing that happens seamlessly between childhood and adulthood. At some point in our maturation process, we begin to look forward to people opening presents that we pick out for them more than we look forward to receiving presents. I am not sure when this happened to me.  I can say with all honesty and sincerity that I do not think of what great present I might have under the Christmas Tree. However, I look forward with great anticipation to seeing the reaction of a loved one opening presents. 

The bible says, “It is more blessed to give than receive.”(Acts 20:35) We are blessed more by giving than receiving.  Or in other words, we receive much more by giving.  This principle also replies to praising God.  In scriptures we are commanded to worship God more times than any other command. This might seem strange at first glance. Why would an all-powerful, perfect, and holy God need praise from His people? As is the case with gift giving, we get much more out of our offering of praise than we give. God does not need our praise, we do. God’s instruction to praise Him shows is immense love for us not his vanity. John Piper, in his amazing book, Desiring God, states this principle well:

This is love,

because in pursuing the praise of his name

in the hearts of his people,

he commands the very thing

that completes our joy.

God commands us to praise Him, because it is what is best for us. When we give an offering of praise to God, we are actually receiving the joy of doing the one thing that we were created to do, and the thing that we will do eternally.

Risen treasure

Isn’t it amazing how scriptures that you have read 200 times can still surprise you on the 201st reading. I just spent some quality time reading the Christmas story from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. I make it a tradition to do this each Christmas, just as I read about the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ in each of the Gospels during the Easter season. It would seem that this practice would be a good opportunity for reflecting, but not be a source of ”new” lessons. And yet, each year I am amazed to discover something that preciously escaped my notice. I think that this something that God does to remind me that His word is alive and that even the most familiar passages of scriptures are rich with truth. This year I was fascinated by Mary’s response to the shepherds visit to the stable.

Luke 2:15-20 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 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. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The report that the shepherds told to Mary concerning their encounter with the angels was an affirmation from God. Mary did not miss this fact, but treasured these moments. Dictionary.com says that the verb form of treasure means “to retain carefully or keep in store, as in the mind. To regard or treat as precious. To Cherish.” When God uses the words and actions of others to affirm and encourage us, we should follow Mary’s lead and treasure these moments. We should not let these precious gifts go by with little notice, we must cherish and store them in our hearts to help us through those times of doubt and discouragement. These reminders of God’s love for us are truly something to treasure

The real Nativity Scene

Many people in our culture, when asked what their favorite time of year is, would respond, “The Christmas Holidays.” The old song even says that it’s the Most wonderful time of the year. I am partial to the holiday that celebrates the empty tomb of Christ, the defeat of sin and death, and eternal life for believers, but I will not quarrel with those who like Christmas best.

One of the beloved symbols of Christmas is the manger scene, or nativity scene. Many people even enjoy collecting nativity sets. Many images of the manger scene, with snow, angels, wise-men, and sad looking drummer boys, have crept into our celebration of the Season. But, the first Christmas probably looked a little less aesthetically beautiful than most representations. But it was the meekness of the scene that makes it so beautiful. God could have chosen fanfare and hype, but he chose a humble stable for His son to be born in. Humility was the mark of this first triumphal entry, also. Here is a thought provoking excerpt from John MacArthur’s book, “God’s Gift of Christmas:”

We cannot know Jesus if we don’t understand that He is real. The story of His birth is no allegory. We dare not romanticize it or settle for a fanciful legend that renders the whole story meaningless. The Manger that Mary laid Jesus must have reeked of animal smells. So did the shepherds, in all probability. That first Christmas was anything but picturesque. But that makes it all the more wondrous. That Baby in the manger is God! Immanuel!

That’s the heart and soul of the Christmas message. There weren’t many worshipers around the original manger–only a handful of shepherds. But one day every knee will bow before him, and every tongue will confess He is Lord. (Phillipians 2:9-11). Those who doubt Him, those who are His enemies, those who merely ignore Him–all will one day bow, too, even if it be in judgement. How much better to honor Him now with the worship He deserves! That’s what Christmas ought to inspire.

What do they have to sing about?

This time of the year, I watch a lot of football on television. Even when I am not interested in the particular teams participating in a game, I just like the mood, sounds, and movement of football. It is beautiful to me. Some people love ballet or opera, but to me football is high art.

Many people seem to agree with me on this matter. TV ratings are higher for football than almost any other type of programming. There are now more SuperBowl parties than New Years Eve parties. The SuperBowl trails only Thanksgiving day for the most amount of money spent on food. Even the first game of the season is something to celebrate. Prior to the opening game we can now expect to see  analysts, famous bands, and other celebrities attending the opening game pre-game show, which usually takes longer than the game itself.

I was reminded recently about one such opening game pre-game show that I watched with my son.  One of the bands in the star-studded lineup was Aerosmith.  While Aerosmith was playing in full Rock Star Mode, my son asked me if they were Christian. I chuckled a little. I don’t know for sure the details of their faith, but I never really thought about them as Christian.  To my nine year old son, this seemed like a plausible question. In fact most of the bands that we enjoy watching are Christian bands. My son has attended concerts by Third Day, Toby Mac, The David Crowder Band, and many others.

After I told him that I did not think that Aerosmith was a Christian band he asked me a question that I will never forget: What do they have to sing about? Wow, that is a tough question.  What do non-Christians have to sing about? Disappointment, anguish, drugs, failed relationships, sexual innuendo. The topics found in most secular music are pretty insignificant and bleak.  To answer my son’s question, “What do they have to sing about,” I answered, “not much.” I believe that God gave us the ability to sing so that we could sing praises to Him. Praising God for his greatness, and for loving us, and saving us is about the only thing really worth singing about.