LifeLink Devotions

Friday, December 15, 2023

“You’re overqualified.” I’ve never had an employer tell me that, but maybe you have. You’ve done a great job in the interview and think you have a superb chance of landing the job, only to have the Human Resources director tell you, “You’re overqualified.” According to a Wall Street Journal article, that’s bologna. The real reason they won’t hire you may be one of the following:

• You’re too expensive and wouldn’t even consider working for the pay we will likely offer.
• You are set in your ways, will come with baggage and bad habits, and won’t do things our way. 
• You’ll be a “know it all pain in the butt” who intimidates the manager and the staff.
• You may take this position, but the moment the market turns or you get an offer at your previous level, you’ll leave, so why go through that pain?

What all these things expose is this – the company you have applied to doesn’t really want to improve. They have become ingrown and self-protective. It’s good you found that out now. You don’t want to work for them under those conditions. Any good, growing, and visionary company will jump at the chance to hire “overqualified” people and improve their market position. They will create opportunities for you to use your skills and accomplish bigger and better things.

Isaiah 49:5-6 “And now the LORD says… “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

When the LORD declares the primary purpose of the coming Messiah – to restore the nation of Israel – He says, “You are fully qualified.” God says, “The first task I have assigned does not fulfill my total vision for my Kingdom. Therefore, I am adding duties to your job description.” God didn’t limit the growth of His “company” to just one small nation, but rather He brought salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus came to fulfill God’s total purpose and He was qualified to do it.

What about us? Are we allowing God to write the job descriptions of our lives so they fulfill His purpose and our potential? What about our church? Are we ingrown and self-protective when we should be visionary and growing? You may have been the manager of a ministry in your church for years when God sends an “overqualified” person to assist you. Your fears of being replaced overwhelm your vision of ministry growth and you become protective of your position. 

We must guard our hearts in this area. We must not become prideful and protective of what we are doing. I pray that we would be humble enough to let Jesus reign as the Head of His church and let Him provide the people He knows we need to accomplish His purpose, and that we would rejoice when He does. 

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Thursday, December 14, 2023

One of the most meaningful prophecies of Jesus from the Old Testament is found in Isaiah 42:1-4, where God proclaims what type of ruler the Messiah would be. 

Isaiah 42:1-4  “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.”

There are several significant attributes of Christ’s character as a King that are mentioned:

• He will be a ruler with a servant’s heart
• He will be upheld by God Almighty
• He will be the delight of His heavenly Father
• God’s Spirit will be upon Him
• He will reign in perfect justice
• He will be gentle, not obnoxious (He will not shout or cry out, or raise His voice in the streets)
• He will be faithful to God’s purpose
• He will remain strong
• He will not be discouraged

I intentionally skipped over two items, because they are so meaningful to me and I want to address them specifically. These words have been of great comfort to me in times of hardship and hurt. They have encouraged me when I have been down on myself. They remind me that Jesus Christ does not abandon the unlovable and the hurting. He is the approachable King who will not break us when we are bruised or snuff us out when we have become nothing more than a smoldering wick. He will not lash out at us with harsh words of condemnation, but will lead us to healing with compassion, comfort, and care.

It’s simply amazing to me – with the power and authority of heaven to bring justice to the earth, Jesus will reign with gentleness. He even described Himself that way while on the earth. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Later, when He triumphantly entered Jerusalem days before His crucifixion, Matthew wrote that Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy that declares, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” He could have called down ten thousand angels to destroy all those who rejected Him, but He did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17). He came to conquer sin, not destroy the sinner.

Today, Jesus presents Himself to the world as the King who has already conquered sin and now seeks to restore sinners. His message to the world today is not one of condemnation, but of compassion. Read with joy these descriptive passages of the Messiah’s ministry:

Psalm 34:17-18 “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 147:3  “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Isaiah 61:1-3  “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

Jesus declared that He is the fulfillment of these prophecies. On one occasion, after reading from the scroll of Isaiah 61, He said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4) Jesus came to restore people to fullness of life.

Are you brokenhearted? Is your spirit crushed? Are your emotions wounded? Are you being held captive by unforgiveness and bitterness? Are you suffering in the darkness of despair? Are you a bruised reed or a smoldering wick? Turn to Jesus and admit it all to Him. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.”

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

I was impressed when I read a story about the great conductor Eugene Ormandy. He was leading the Philadelphia Orchestra in one of Stravinsky’s compositions, and during one of the rousing movements he dislocated his shoulder. He was so passionately involved in what he was doing and giving his all that he went beyond the limits of his physical capabilities. Now that’s zeal! As I read that I wondered, “Have I ever had so much zeal for something that I’ve dislocated anything? Maybe, just maybe, while preaching I might dislocate my tie.”

Isaiah 9: 6-7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…the zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

When Isaiah prophecies the coming Messiah, he gives us two primary pieces of information – the names by which He will be called, and the task to which He has been assigned. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, and He will come to rule the world in peace forever. Then Isaiah adds “the zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” What is zeal? According to the Hebrew dictionaries, zeal involves several things – passion, determination, and jealousy. Now passion and determination I can understand, but jealousy troubles me. But as I think about it, I understand that God will accomplish His purpose of restoring mankind to relationship with Himself because He is jealous for us. I would do the same for my wife if she were ever distracted from me. My zeal – my jealousy for her and her alone – would drive me to passionate determination to win her back. That’s zeal!

When Isaiah says that the zeal of the LORD will accomplish this, I believe he is referring to more than just the reign of Christ on David’s throne. I believe the zeal of the LORD will also accomplish the Names of the Messiah in our lives. God’s zeal is for more than the fulfillment of a plan – it is for the revelation of Himself to His people. God’s zeal is for us to know Him intimately and experience Him fully. He is determined that we know Him as our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace. He is passionate about bringing us to the abundance of life that can be ours when we know Him fully.

I wonder if we really want to experience Jesus as our Wonderful Counselor, for that implies that we need counseling. We spend our lives avoiding trouble and hardship, when during such trouble we may learn the greatest lessons about God. 

Luther B. Bridgers began preaching at age 17 while he was a student at Asbury College in Kentucky. He was a young Methodist minister of unusual zeal and evangelism. In 1910, now 26-years old, the future looked bright for this fiery preacher. God had blessed him with a wonderful wife and three children. The Bridgers family was visiting Mrs. Bridger’s parents at Harrodsburg, Kentucky for the weekend. After the family retired for the night, a neighbor noticed flames coming from their house. He ran into the house and was able to rouse Mrs. Bridgers’ parents and Luther, but the rest of the family members were beyond reach. The young pastor lost his wife and children.

In the awful days of sorrow that followed, Luther remembered that God offered songs of comfort in the night (Ps. 42:8) and would never forsake him. It was during this period that Luther wrote the words and music to a great old hymn entitled “He Keeps Me Singing.” You may be familiar with the words but read them carefully and see the depth of understanding in the heart of the author based on what you know he was experiencing when he wrote them.

In the darkest night, in the depths of despair, God gave an inward song to Luther Bridgers that has blessed millions. Out of a pit of grief came a song of blessing, because He knew Jesus by the name of Wonderful Counselor.

Whatever it is that you’re enduring right now, Jesus is your Wonderful Counselor. Rather than fight the problem, recognize that the zeal of the LORD is accomplishing His purpose in you, so every name of Jesus becomes the sweetest name you know.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

If you were to go to New York City and take a walk up Fifth Avenue, you would discover, if you were looking for it, a stark contrast between man’s view of government and God’s view. First,  stop in at the RCA/GE building.  Inside there is a statue of Charles Atlas.  He is straining every muscle as he carries the world upon his shoulders.  That’s one philosophy by which we can live.  In contrast, if you walk across the street and go into St. Patrick’s Cathedral there is another statue.  This statue is of Jesus when He was boy, maybe eight or nine years old,  and He’s holding the world in His hands, showing no effort whatsoever. That’s the other way you and I can choose to live. Both statues answer the question of “Who’s in charge of our lives?”

Isaiah 9: 6-7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders…Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” 

Isaiah’s prophecy specifically applies to the day that Jesus returns as King of Israel and reigns on David’s throne forever and ever. But for us in the Christian era after the resurrection of Christ, it applies to His reign on the throne of our lives. Who is really on your throne?

A.W. Tozer has a good insight into the condition of our hearts and the church today when it comes to the reign of Jesus. He says we are living much like the people of England. He says,  “The present position of Christ in the gospel churches may be likened to that of a king or queen in a limited constitutional monarchy. The monarch (sometimes depersonalized by the term “the Crown”) is in such a country no more than a traditional rallying point, a pleasant symbol of unity and loyalty much like a flag or a national anthem. He is lauded, feted, and supported, but his real authority is small. Nominally he is head over all, but in every crisis someone else makes the decisions. On formal occasions he appears in his royal attire to deliver the tame, colorless speech put into his mouth by the real rulers of the country. The whole thing may be no more than good-natured make-believe, but it is rooted in antiquity, it is a lot of fun, and no one wants to give it up.”

What a sad but true analogy of our lives and our churches. We say and sing “He is Lord”, yet we rule our own lives. We work out every day to strengthen the muscles of our minds, emotions, and wills so we can better carry the world on our shoulders. So much of what we do each day is done to become better equipped to handle tomorrow. What fools we are to work so hard for what is not guaranteed. What fools we are to believe in our pride that we carry anything. We call Jesus Lord, but we refuse to let Him reign. We’ve given Him some safe areas of our lives but reserve the right to rule over the important ones.

We believe we can better determine outcomes for ourselves, so we relegate Jesus to a position of non-binding counselor, when He could be our Wonderful Counselor.

We’re convinced that our knowledge and wisdom is sufficient to handle our problems, and our inner strength will carry us through, so while we acknowledge He is God, we deny He is Mighty God.

We know in our heads that life is terminal, but in our hearts we live as if there is an endless supply of tomorrows, and we must provide for them. In doing so we become the sustainer of our lives rather than surrendering to the loving care and provision of our Eternal Father.

We expend excruciating amounts of energy to produce comfort and contentment on the outside, hoping it will bring us peace on the inside, so everything is viewed as the price of peace when Jesus could be our Prince of Peace.

When Jesus was exalted by God to the throne of heaven, it was not under a limited constitutional monarchy. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He reigns supreme! We sing, “He is exalted! The King is exalted on High. I will praise Him!” But praising Him is not enough. Submit to Him! Serve Him! Surrender the throne of your life to the One who alone is qualified to reign. Stop wearing yourself out carrying the world on your shoulders. He’s got the whole world in His hands. Let Him carry you!

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Monday, December 11, 2023

Isaiah 9: 6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…”

She was five. Her name was Sharon. She was sure of the facts and recited them slowly, convinced every word was revelation. She said they were so poor they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat, and they went a long way from home without getting lost. The lady rode a donkey, the man walked, and the baby was inside the lady. They had to stay in a stable with an ox and an ass (hee-hee) but the Three Rich Men found them because a star lighted the roof. Shepherds came and you could pet the sheep but not feed them. Then the baby was born. And do you know who he was? Her quarter-sized eyes inflated to silver dollars. The baby was God. And she jumped in the air, whirled round, dove into the sofa and buried her head under the cushion – which is the only proper response to the Good News of the Incarnation.

“To us a child is born, to us a son is given.” God the Son was given by God the Father. Directly from heaven. Into the darkness of sin’s dungeon came the Light. C.S. Lewis puts it this way. “One may think of a diver first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, he’s gone with a splash, vanished, rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through the increasing pressure into the deathlike region of ooze and slime and old decay, and then back up again, back to color and light, his lungs almost bursting until suddenly he breaks the surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing he went down to recover. That dripping, precious thing is you.” 

But for that rescue of the precious to take place, the giving of the Son had to involve more than just His birth. True gifts come with no strings attached. True givers release the gift for the total benefit of the receiver. Imagine opening the gift of a lifetime on Christmas morning, only to hear the giver say, “I gave you this because I need one too. I reserve the right to use it whenever I want and for whatever purpose I choose.” The value of the gift has been destroyed. Not only did God give the Perfect Gift, but He gave it perfectly. God did not need what He gave. He was what He gave. And He gave His Gift knowing that He would completely release Him for our benefit.

Jesus speaks of this completed act of giving in John 3, when He says, “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

It was on the cross where Jesus was lifted up that God fully released His gift. In a moment of excruciating agony Jesus cries out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” At that moment God’s love for the world was fulfilled in the giving of His Son. It is in that context that Jesus continues in John 3:16 by saying, “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.”

To us a Child is born at Christmas. To us a Son is given at the crucifixion. The story of the greatest gift ever given is not finished until the gift is fully given. The light of the star that shines on the manger should also create the shadow of the cross.

As you ponder the love it took for God to give such a Gift – praise Him! As you consider the cost of such a Gift – praise Him! Let the tears flow as you feel the human emotions of giving such a Gift – and praise Him! It is for you that He gave.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Friday, December 8, 2023

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

This may be the most well-known prophecy of Jesus that we find in the Old Testament. It is rich with meaning. It describes in concise fashion who the Messiah would be and what He would accomplish. It is far too important to summarize in one day. We will be richly blessed if we take the time to study it carefully.

At the age of 30, Jesus came to John the Baptist in the wilderness and was publicly identified as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” The angel Gabriel had declared 31 years earlier that John would be the one called to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the forgiveness of sin that would be provided by Jesus. Eight days after the birth of his son John, Zechariah spoke these words – “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 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.” In a prophetic utterance from the Holy Spirit Zechariah affirmed that the baby boy still in the womb of His mother Mary would be the great light – the rising sun from heaven – and would shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death.

The time had now come for Jesus to be revealed to the world as the Messiah. Jesus came first to those whose hearts had been brought to repentance of sin by the preaching of John. Even though He had no sin, He identified with those who did by asking John to baptize Him. Jesus made a public statement that He was going public with His ministry. His baptism was not for the forgiveness of sin – He had none. His baptism was not to initiate relationship with God – He was God. His baptism was the starting point of fulfilling all righteousness. It was His public commitment of obedience to God’s will for His life, as it is to be ours.

Immediately after His baptism, Jesus went up into the wilderness to be alone with His Father. His commitment would be severely tested for 40 days. After passing the test by resisting all attempts of the Enemy to shift His focus away from obedience to God and onto satisfying the desires of the flesh, Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum. This city was by the Sea of Galilee in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, the land described by the prophet Isaiah as the land of darkness (Isaiah 9:1). In the first Gospel of the New Testament Matthew writes that Jesus moved there specifically to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy. “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matt. 4:15-16) Jesus is declaring that He is the great light that will shine on those living in this land of darkness.

We live in a land of darkness today. Maybe some of you are experiencing that darkness in some aspect of your life right now. Sin has darkened your eyes to the light of God. But unto you a child has been born. Unto you a son has been given. Jesus has intentionally invaded your darkness. He did not come to bring light where it is already light. He came to specifically invade the darkness. If He had come first to where it was already light, they would not have noticed. But when the light shines in the darkness, it is obvious. Maybe the reason you can’t see the light of God right now is because you’ve convinced yourself that your situation is already light. You’ve been convinced by the Enemy that your current choices and circumstances that satisfy the desires of your flesh are as light as it gets. You can’t see Jesus because you won’t admit darkness. Once you do, you will discover something incredible – Jesus has been there all along. He came specifically and personally into your darkness so that His true light could shine on you.

From the moment of His arrival in Capernaum, Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” That’s what He wants you to hear today – “Repent.” Admit the darkness and turn from it. When you do, you will see the Light.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Isaiah 2:1-5 “This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the LORD’S temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.”

When Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, angels appeared to the shepherds and proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” The Prince of Peace had arrived. However, the people to whom he came misinterpreted his call to peace, demanding political and social peace now. But the peace that Jesus came to introduce was far more significant. He came to bring peace with God.

When Jesus talked about peace during His ministry on the earth, it was in a spiritual context. Nowhere does Jesus promise political or social peace without first finding spiritual peace with God. In fact, when speaking directly to His disciples Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Then just moments later He adds, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” It was the mission of Jesus to bring us to peace with the Father so that we could be at peace in our hearts while around us the world is at war.

The world today clamors for peace. People believe peace is achievable by their own efforts and resolve. The pursuit of peace becomes the justification for the elimination of enemies. Peace becomes the campaign slogan of political candidates. But Jesus said that without His peace there can be no other peace. The prophet Isaiah knew this truth when he wrote, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Peace of mind through peace with God was the message of Jesus, not peace on earth. Jesus spoke to that specifically when He said, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.” What will be the cause of that division? The conflict between the pursuit of peace with man and the attainment of peace with God. And that conflict will continue until Jesus returns and sets the record straight.

The day is coming when Jesus will return and bring peace to the world. That peace will be made possible by the imprisonment of Satan. Sin will be abolished from the earth, and the King will reign in glory from the restored temple on the mountain of the LORD. Jesus will judge between the nations and settle the disputes of people based on His law, not man’s. Then, and only then, will they “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” Jesus will bring peace to the world.

Until then, we as His followers are to be peacemakers according to the plan of Jesus. His plan is for us to bring people to Him for peace. Our pursuit of peace on earth is only valid if it is founded on bringing the people of earth to peace with God. Peace will be accomplished in no other way. So come, let us go up to the mountain of our LORD, where He will teach us His ways so we may walk in His paths – the paths of peace.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Deuteronomy 18:15 – 16 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the LORD your God…”

When the Israelites escaped from Egypt under the leadership of Moses, they experienced for the first time in their lives the physical presence of Almighty God. They heard His voice from the mountain where Moses met with Him, and they saw His holiness and His power in the fire that encompassed the mountain. They were suddenly aware of their vulnerability. They realized that their sin could not stand in the presence of God, and God was present. Knowing their precarious position and desiring to live, they asked if God would remove Himself from their presence. How do you think God responded? At first, I focused on the selfishness of the people, and thought God should respond by punishing them. But look at what God did. “The LORD said to Moses: “What they say is good.”

Why would God call good someone’s request to not have Him present? I can think of only one logical reason – it’s because God saw that the people were asking for the right reason. They were not asking because they valued their lives more than God. They were asking because they had become aware of the true nature of God and had realized the true nature of their own lives. In essence they were saying this – “We are sinners, and we cannot stand in the Holy Presence of God. We are deserving of death. We want to know you, God, but we can’t know you this way. Is there another option?” The people were begging for a touchable God.

God responds with another option. He says, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.” Up until this time Moses had been the mouthpiece of God, speaking His truth with His authority. But in this great prophetic promise of Jesus, God tells the people that one day there would be another prophet who would come and speak all the truth of God so that we could know Him and have a personal and intimate relationship with Him. That promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, God’s final prophet. The author of Hebrews puts is this way – “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” 

None of us is worthy to approach God. None of us is able from our own merit to communicate with God. We are all insecure humans, incapable of having personal contact with the Hero of Heaven. But God wants to have contact with us. So, He provided a Prophet to us who is His exact representation but in touchable form. Through Him we have a personal and intimate relationship with Almighty God. In Jesus God became touchable.

A touchable God. It’s not only what we want, but it is what we need. This Christmas, and every day before and after, praise the God who became touchable.

If you have the time, here’s my favorite story to illustrate this truth. I’m sure you’ve heard it many times before, but it’s simple message never grows old, and it fits this prophecy of Christ perfectly. It is Paul Harvey’s story of the man and the birds.

Unable to trace its proper parentage, I have designated this as my Christmas Story of the Man and the Birds. You know, THE Christmas Story, the God born a man in a manger and all that escapes some moderns, mostly, I think, because they seek complex answers to their questions and this one is so utterly simple. So for the cynics and the skeptics and the unconvinced I submit a modern parable.

Now the man to whom I’m going to introduce you was not a scrooge, he was a kind, decent, mostly good man. Generous to his family, upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn’t believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas Time. It just didn’t make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn’t swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man. “I’m truly sorry to distress you,” he told his wife, “but I’m not going with you to church this Christmas Eve.” He said he’d feel like a hypocrite. That he’d much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They’d been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.

Well, he couldn’t let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it. Quickly he put on a coat, galoshes, tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.

And then, he realized, that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me. That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Because any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him. “If only I could be a bird,” he thought to himself, “and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to safe, warm …to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand.”

At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells – Adeste Fidelis – listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. And he sank to his knees in the snow.

Pastor John