Kenneth Winter's Blog, page 6

Pride Comes Before a Fall

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

This week, we’re looking at some of the early days of the church. The idea of a being a “body” of believers was brand new. No one had done it before, and everyone was following the Spirit of God as closely as they could.

Barnabas, a man who was already distinguishing himself as a humble servant of God, had just selflessly sold a piece of land and given the proceeds of the sale – quite a sum of money – to the church. Since the church shared all things, the believers were all aware and were probably talking about his generosity. More than likely, his gift was drawing more attention to him than he would have liked. He was mature enough in his walk with Christ to realize that no glory should come to him. God had entrusted the parcel of land to him as provision for the body. God had directed him to sell the land and surrender the proceeds to the church for the ministry of the body. There was nothing glorious about that act as it related to Barnabas in his own eyes – all glory belonged to God.

But others wanted to ascribe glory to Barnabas, and still others became envious of that glory. Envy and pride are as old as the days of the Garden of Eden. And that nature still exists within us, even as believers, if we fail to surrender it to Jesus and ask Him to take it captive. That’s true today, and that was true among the believers of the early church. Though Barnabas had surrendered that nature and refused to be “puffed-up” by the recognition he received, there were others within the body that sought that recognition for themselves. After all, why shouldn’t their generosity be rewarded? (Can’t you just hear the serpent whispering in their ear?)

Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, were two of those early believers.(1) They also owned property. We’re not told whether God led them to sell the property, or whether they chose to do so on their own. But either way, they sold it. They chose to keep part of the money, and give the remainder to the church. Again, we don’t know what, if any, God had directed them to give. If God directed them to sell the property, He would have also directed them as to what portion they should give. It may or may not have been all of the proceeds. At issue here is not the amount that they gave. The issue is that they lied. And they apparently lied in order to garner the recognition that they had seen Barnabas receive. Otherwise there was no reason to claim that their gift was the full amount of the proceeds they had received.

Ironically, the name Ananias means “God is gracious” which is a testimony to God’s grace and mercy. But God is also holy. When Ananias and Sapphira lied, they not only did so to the believers in the church, but more importantly they lied to God. There was a purity in that initial church. That’s not to say that the early believers did not sin. We can be certain that they did; they were frail sinners just like you and me. But what made this sin of Ananias and Sapphira so repulsive to the Lord was their introduction of hypocrisy and deceit into His newly formed church, through their feeble attempt to glorify their own names. God Himself has told us, “…I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God….”(2) He is jealous for His glory and He will not share it. “I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not give My glory to anyone else….”(3)

Ananias proudly announced that he too was giving the full proceeds from the sale of his property to the church. Interestingly, the Spirit of God apparently gave Peter the discernment to know that was not the case, because he asked, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart?”(4) Ananias then heard the rebuke from God through Peter and fell to the ground dead. As soon as they had carried his dead body out of the room, the exact same thing happened when Sapphira also lied about the gift. She, too, fell dead to the floor.

Lest there be any confusion, Peter didn’t do anything that caused Ananias or Sapphira to “fall to the floor and die.” God did! God dealt with the sin of Ananias and Sapphira swiftly and severely. Too often, we presume upon God’s grace without regard to the fact that He is holy and just. We seemingly expect him to overlook our sin. We lose sight that the forgiveness of our sin cost the Father the agony and sacrifice of His only Son on the cross. He paid dearly for our sin because of His grace. And He will not allow His grace to be trivialized by our wanton disregard for His holiness. We would do well to join with those believers who, when Ananias fell to the ground, were “terrified” before God. They realized that God was not “one of the boys” to be disregarded, lied to, or defamed.

Even in its infancy, Satan was attempting to defeat the church. He was fresh on the heels of the reality that he was impotent to defeat Jesus. Satan’s best efforts had been defeated at the empty tomb. So now, he turned his attention to Jesus’s bride – the church. Satan knew that his best opportunity to defeat Jesus was through the church, and that defeat would not come from outside the church, it would come from within the church. He knew then – and he knows now – how to lie to and deceive church members – even sincere followers of Jesus.

He used the soulish ambition of Ananias and Sapphira to get them to do his bidding, and he convinced them that no one would ever be the wiser. He used the same tactic in the Garden of Eden with Eve, and he still uses it today. We would do well to remember the admonition from Paul to “put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”(5) Because as Peter later wrote, “…your great enemy, the devil… prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”(6) One can’t help wondering if Peter was thinking of this very moment with Ananias and Sapphira when he penned those words. Satan lied to and through Ananias and Sapphira, and the lie led to their deaths.

At the very root of their sin was pride. The writer of Proverbs tells us, “pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.”(7) It was pride that transformed Lucifer into Satan.(8) It was pride that led to Adam and Eve’s sin.(9) And it was pride that led Ananias and Sapphira to attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit.

The early church saw God enter into their midst through His Holy Spirit in “great power,” extending His “great grace.” Then, in this moment, they were moved by “great fear.” As we continue in our journey on this side of eternity, we would do well to remember the words of the writer of Hebrews: “Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”(10)

One of the greatest tests in our own lives as to whether we are walking in the spirit or being led by our flesh is pride. Pride cannot exist in my life if i am truly walking in the Spirit. Lord, empty me of my pride and flesh, and fill me with your Spirit!

* * * * *

You can read the account of Ananias and Sapphira in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 5.

This post is taken from chapter 15 of my book, Until He Returns. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Acts 5:1-11 (NLT)

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”

“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

 

(2)  Exodus 20:5 (NLT) 

(3)  Isaiah 42:8 (NLT)

(4)  Acts 5:3 (NLT)

(5)  Ephesians 6:11 (NLT)

(6)  1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

(7)  Proverbs 18:18 (CSB)

(8)  Isaiah 14:12-15

(9)  Genesis 3:4-6

(10) Hebrews 12:28-29 (NKJ)

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Bas van den Eijkhof on Lightstock

The Greatest Commandment

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

As we begin this new year, let’s be reminded of the commandment which Jesus declared to be the most important.

Some of the greatest teachings from Jesus were in response to questions that were intended to trap Him. This particular day was no exception.(1) The Sanhedrin had already put forth the Herodians and the Sadducees, both of whom had failed miserably in trapping Jesus. So they sent out a lawyer – an expert in religious law.

The scribes (the lawyers) had determined that the Jews were obligated to obey 613 mitzvah (precepts and commandments) recorded in the Torah. 365 of them were negative commands to abstain from certain acts. Interestingly, that is one for each day of the year (excluding leap year). 248 of them were positive commandments which outlined acts to be performed. It was said that the number 248 coincided with the number of bones and main organs in the human body. And that was just in the Torah! That number did not include the exhaustive code of conduct to be practiced as it related to rituals, worship practices, each person’s relationship with God, as well as interpersonal relationships that comprised the Talmud. There was a lot to keep track of! No wonder they needed a team of lawyers to keep a close eye!

One of the favorite pass-times of the scribes was discussing which of these divine commandments was the greatest. These men, who were considered to be the greatest religious minds in the land, had spent countless hours in debate over the answer to one particular question, and had never come to a resolution. So at the behest of the Sanhedrin in their plot to trap Jesus, the lawyer posed this question to Jesus: “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”(2)

Bear in mind, the scribes had debated this at great length. But Jesus never blinked an eye or hesitated for even a moment. He immediately – and authoritatively replied – quoting the confession of faith that pious Jews recited each morning and evening, called “The Shema”, from Deuteronomy 6:4-5:

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”

 

And He followed it up by quoting Leviticus 19:18:

“… love your neighbor as yourself….”

 

The teachings of the religious leaders of the day had little to do with love. Their teaching stressed duty, obligation and rules. Even though they would regularly quote the Shema, it was by rote and in word only. Very little was said or taught about love, let alone lived out. But Jesus made love the most important thing. He was teaching that love for God and love for our neighbor was the purpose of the Law and the fulfillment of the Law. He was revealing to them the truth that Paul would later write:

“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.’ These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”(3)

 

Pastor Warren Wiersbe said it well when he wrote that Jesus was telling them that “if we love God, we will experience His love within and will express that love to others. We do not live by rules, but by relationships – a loving relationship {with} God that enables us to have a loving relationship with others.”(4)

i believe you could have heard a pin drop when Jesus answered the question. The crowd – and the scribe – had never heard that truth expressed. Time and again, they had debated the Law and missed the very point of it! As Jesus’s answer began to sink in, we can observe a brief moment of transparency and authenticity displayed by the scribe. He, who had intended to trap Jesus, now sincerely commended Him. Imagine the Pharisees’ anger as they heard their representative commending Jesus and confessing the very truth that Jesus had just spoken. The Word of God had just spoken to the man’s heart and he was beginning to understand. Perhaps further Scripture came to the scribe’s mind:

“You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”(5)

 

Or perhaps this one:

“What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring Him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”(6)

 

So what did Jesus mean when He said to the scribe, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God”?(7) i believe He was affirming the scribe as he was now honestly facing truth. The scribe was now testing his beliefs against the Word of God and not against the teachings of men. There hadn’t yet been a complete change of heart, but the man had made a quantum leap in his journey toward the Kingdom of God. i pray that he made it the rest of the way. And if so, i look forward to meeting him one day in heaven. Because if i do, i believe his testimony will be very similar to that of the man who once was physically blind – “I once was blind, but now I see.”(8)

Counting those who had come before the scribe to trap Jesus that day, three men had attempted and all three had failed. Three up! Three down! Jesus had pitched a no-hitter! The Sanhedrin didn’t have anyone else to put before Him that day. But as we know, they weren’t done trying.

Just as He had before – and just as He would again – in every instance, Jesus responded with truth. As each one of us take up our cross to follow Him in this new year, we would do well to remember that no matter who or what we face in our journey ahead, lies and deceit cannot survive in the light of truth. And the core of that truth is “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” And “love your neighbor as yourself!” Let’s be faithful to live out that truth – and add words only where necessary!

* * * * *

You can read about this conversation between Jesus and the religious leaders in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 12.

 

This post is taken from chapter 11 of my book, Taking Up The Cross. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Mark 12:28-34 (NLT)

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love Him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask Him any more questions.

 

(2)  Mark 12:28 (NLT)

(3)  Romans 13:8-10 (NLT)

(4)  The Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren Wiersbe

(5)  Psalm 51:16-17 (NLT)

(6)  Micah 6:6-8 (NLT)

(7)  Mark 13:34 (NLT)

(8)  John 9:25 (NLT)

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Mission Media on Lightstock

The Time Has Come

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

As 2024 approaches and begins, many of us are taking time to revisit our priorities for the new year. It is often a time when we make new resolutions and new – or renewed – commitments. It can also be a time when we decide to take action on those things we’ve been putting off.

For the past several weeks, we have all been celebrating the advent of the Baby in the manger. But today, let’s fast forward about twenty-nine years. At some point during the intervening years, Joseph died. Jesus assumed the role of the oldest son and carried forward the family carpentry trade, while caring for His mother and his younger half-siblings. However, the time had now come according to His Heavenly Father’s timetable for Him to step out from obscurity . . . and Jesus would not delay.

It wasn’t the first day of a new year, but it was most definitely the first day of the public ministry for which the Father had sent His Son to earth. That first step for Jesus was to go to the Jordan River.(1)

It is significant to me that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River – the river through which the Israelites crossed as they journeyed from the wilderness to the land of God’s promise. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Father’s promise. Everything is in Him, for Him, through Him and by Him. He is the Way through which the Father’s promise is fulfilled and realized in each of our lives. His baptism in the Jordan symbolizes the turning point in our lives as we cross from our wilderness of sin into the land of God’s eternal promise – through Him, by Him and because of Him. He has been made our Jordan – there is no other way for us to enter into God’s land of promise.

Not only was the place where He was baptized significant, so was the person the Father permitted to baptize Him. Jesus came to John to affirm the ministry for which God had created him. John was less than one year older than Jesus, and had probably begun his earthly ministry only months earlier. He had been sent by God to “prepare a pathway for the Lord’s coming.”(2) Jesus later affirmed the ministry of John when He declared, “Of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist.”(3) But on this day, Jesus affirmed John through His action. It was a living illustration of God’s promise that those who honor Him, He will honor.(4)

But let us also learn from the way John responded to the Master’s affirmation. Too often, we can allow God’s expression of honor upon our lives to cloud our vision of who He is and who we are apart from Him. Like King Saul, we can allow a spirit of pride to well up in our souls and blind us from Him. John did not allow the honor of God to displace the primacy of God in his life.

John, who had been full of the Holy Spirit from his days in his mother’s womb, in the Master’s presence became aware of his need for an even greater filling,

John, who preached the message of repentance to the multitudes, in the Master’s presence had a greater view of his own sinfulness,

John, who had been sent to prepare the way for Jesus, in the Master’s presence had a greater view of his own need for Jesus, and

John, who that day was ministering to the multitudes on the riverbank, in the Master’s presence did not miss his own need to personally and publicly confess Jesus as the Christ.

But Jesus did not only come to the river to affirm John, He also came to be identified with sinners. He who knew no sin came to be baptized by a sinner as a sinner among sinners. Baptism in one word is that – identification. Through baptism we are identified with Christ. On that day He came as King of Kings to be identified with His subjects. The Father “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”(5)

Jesus came to teach us how to live, to enable us to live, and to empower us to live. In order to teach us how, He was baptized in the Jordan. In order to enable us, He was crucified (or baptized, if you will) on the cross. And in order to empower us He became our High Priest – One “who understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do”(6) and intercedes on our behalf. Jesus never taught His disciples to do anything that He did not first model.

He did not set Himself here as an example for us to live up to – He was holy, without sin – and while we walk on this earth, we will never be without sin. Rather, He came to identify Himself with us. Allow me to illustrate the point. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance of sin. After someone was baptized they would then immediately publicly confess their sin right there in the water. But we read, “After being baptized, Jesus went up IMMEDIATELY from the water….”(7) Jesus did not need to remain in the water and confess His sin; He had no sin to confess! He had been baptized to be identified with us.

And thirdly, Jesus came to be baptized that day because baptism symbolized death. It was a picture of His future “baptism” on the cross and subsequent burial in the tomb. Just as He became identified with us through baptism, we become identified with Him – His death, His burial and His resurrection. We are raised out of the waters of baptism to walk in new life in Him and with Him.

And on that day, all of heaven affirmed Jesus. The heavens opened to encourage Him in His going and to encourage us to receive Him. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him as a dove. It is interesting that the dove is the bird that was permitted to be offered as a sacrifice(8) and it was the sacrifice that was presented at the temple on the eighth day when Jesus was circumcised in obedience to the Law.(9) And it was a dove that God directed Noah to release from the ark that returned with the olive leaf in her beak,(10) symbolizing the peace and the promise of God.

Then the Father, Himself, affirmed Jesus on that day. He affirmed His relation as His Son, His affection as His beloved and His affirmation as the One in whom He is “fully pleased”. You see, the fourth reason – but most important reason – Jesus came to the Jordan that day was in obedience to the Father. Jesus came to do the will of the Father – in all that He did. And His baptism that day was the Father’s will.

What would the Master teach you beside the waters of the Jordan? A number of years ago the Lord gave me an opportunity to visit the Jordan River and there be baptized in those same waters. Though i had been baptized at age 10 in my local church, i truly did not surrender my life to Christ until over two decades later. The Lord had brought me to the realization that my baptism needed to be on the right side of my salvation – truly identifying with Him. And He ordered my steps so that it could take place in the Jordan River. On that day, in that place, i was reminded that Jesus had allowed Himself to be identified with me as a sinner. And now i had the opportunity to be identified with Him as my Savior. And in both instances the Father is pleased, and the Father is glorified.

As you begin this new year, please allow me to ask – have you taken that step of obedience in following the Lord in baptism? Please don’t allow my personal experience to confuse you. We don’t need to physically travel to the Jordan River to be baptized; we can come to that place right in our own hometowns. Wherever you are, if you have not yet taken that step of obedience, i want to encourage you to wait no longer. Now is the time to follow your Master in what He modeled – remember it was Jesus’s first step.

Perhaps you would say you have followed the Lord in baptism, but there is something else you know He has told you to do . . . and you’ve been putting it off. There will never be a better time than now to take that step. Be assured that the Father will be pleased, and the Son will be glorified as you take that step with Him. The time has come!

* * * * *

You can read about the day Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 3.

This post is taken from chapter 6 of my book, Walking With The Master. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Matthew 3:13-17 (NLT)

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John didn't want to baptize Him. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by You," he said, "so why are You coming to me?" But Jesus said, "It must be done, because we must do everything that is right." So then John baptized Him. After His baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with Him."

 

(2)  Matthew 3:3 (NLT)

(3)  Matthew 11:11 (NLT)

(4)  John 12:26

(5)  2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJ)

(6)  Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)

(7)  Matthew 3:16 (NASB), emphasis added

(8)  Leviticus 1:14

(9)  Luke 2:24

(10) Genesis 8:11

 

Copyright © 2023 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by PhotoGranary on Lightstock

A Story for Advent: Ashriel

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

NOTE: This week i am posting the last of my four stories for the season of Advent about the incarnational birth of Jesus. My hope is that the stories become a part of your Advent tradition as you remember and celebrate the Good News of the advent of our Lord and Savior.

Each of the four stories is an adolescent’s eyewitness account of the circumstances surrounding the advent of Jesus. The last three eyewitnesses are fictional and represent the many who would have been present at the advent of Jesus, but are not named in Scripture. Though some of the characters and details contained in each story are fictional, you will find that the truth they reveal is very REAL!

To that end, this week we will hear from Ashriel, the great-grandson of Simeon.

 

Part 1 as told by Isaac, the son of Abraham (November 29th)

Part 2 as told by Salome, the friend of Mary (December 6th)

Part 3 as told by Yanzu, the servant of Balthazar (December 13th)

Part 4 as told by Ashriel, the great-grandson of Simeon (This week - December 20th) 

* * * * *

My name is Ashriel and I am ten years old. But in just a few weeks, my birthday will take place and I will be eleven! I live in the city of Jerusalem. Have you ever heard of Hanukkah? It is a special time when Jewish people like me celebrate our past.  

A long time ago, a brave priest named Judas told our people not to obey our evil ruler. Our ruler did not want us to believe in God. He did evil things in the temple where we prayed. Our people revolted against him and defeated him. For the first time in many, many years, our people were not being told what to do by a ruler from another country.

Judas made our temple like new again. There were special lamps in the temple that used oil to make light. But not just any oil could be used. The oil had to be pure and it took eight days to make.

When the lamps were lit the first time, there was just enough oil for them to burn for only one day. But somehow these lamps stayed lit for eight days until the new oil was ready! My people believe God made this happen. So, every year we remember those eight days with a holiday called Hanukkah.

My great-grandfather Simeon is a priest. I call him Papa. He is one hundred thirteen years old! Every day he goes to the temple. God gave him a promise a long time ago – and he knows God always keeps His promises!

When he was sixteen years old, Papa was at the temple praying during Hanukkah. By that time, my people were again no longer free – the Roman emperor was telling us what to do. Papa prayed and asked God to help us be free again so we could pray and honor Him.

As Papa prayed, he heard a voice tell him, “Simeon, you will not die until you have seen My Son. Watch for Him and wait for Him!”

Every day since then, for many years, Papa has gone to the temple to watch for the Son of God. I now go to the temple with Papa to help him walk because he is so old and needs my help. Papa says that God chose for me to be born during Hanukkah for a special reason. God was reminding Papa that He would keep the promise He had made during Hanukkah a long time ago. That’s why Papa asked my parents to name me Ashriel. My name means “God’s promise.”

Most every day he tells me, “Today could be the day we see Him!” Even though it has been almost one hundred years since God gave him that promise, Papa believes it as much today as he did when he was sixteen.

This morning, soon after we arrived at the temple, Papa saw a young man and woman with an infant. The man was gently taking care of the young mother and the baby in her arms. We watched the man buy two birds called doves from a shop near the temple. He then gave the doves and some money to the priest as an offering.

Papa told me the baby must be a boy. He could tell from the offering the man gave that the baby was forty days old and was a firstborn son. Over the years, Papa had seen many parents with baby boys give a gift just like this one. And every time he thought it might be God’s Son.

But this time was different. Papa seemed to be really happy. He told me to help him walk over to the baby. He said his heart was beating extra fast!

Papa asked the parents if he could see their child. They kindly turned their young Son so Papa could look into His eyes. Tears began to stream down my great-grandfather’s cheeks.

He turned to the baby’s mother and said, “This Child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The Child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject Him, and you, young mother, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what is really in the hearts of the people.”(1)

She didn’t say a word but simply nodded at Papa. She was so kind I could see why God chose her to be the mother of His Son. When Papa reached to pick up the baby, she willingly handed the tiny boy to him.

The baby didn’t make a sound as Papa held Him. My great-grandfather looked up at heaven and said, “Lord, I am Your servant, and now I can die in peace, because You have kept Your promise to me. With my own eyes I have seen what You have done to save Your people.”(2)

Papa gave the baby back to His mother and thanked God for her and the father. We stood there watching as the mother and father walked away with their child.

 “These people have no idea what just happened,” Papa said, as he pointed to the other people in the temple. “They don’t know they have been in the same room with the Son of God. They came here to worship God and He has been right here with them, but they did not see Him. And sadly, when He appears before them again, more than likely they still will not recognize Him.”

I quietly thanked God for keeping His promise to my great-grandfather. Then I thanked Him for keeping His promise to all of us. His promised Son had come, and He had allowed me to see Him, too. And I knew this wouldn’t be the last time I would see Him.

_______________________ 

About Ashriel

Ashriel is not in the Bible but Simeon is.(3) Simeon was old, though we do not know his exact age. But he probably needed someone to help him walk around the temple. That person would likely have been a young family member. So, that person would have heard Simeon’s prayer of praise over Jesus.

 

You can read about Simeon in Luke 2:25-35 in the Bible.

* * * * *

This story is taken from Not Too Little To Know , a collection of ten illustrated short stories written for ages 8 and up for the Advent season. The book is available through Amazon in hard cover, paperback, and for Kindle or Kindle app. It is also available as an audiobook. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain a copy.

 

Copyright © 2023 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO-The Gospels for the visual age on Lightstock

 

(1) Luke 2:34-35 (CEV-paraphrase)

(2) Luke 2:29-30 (CEV)

(3) Luke 2:25-35

A Story for Advent: Yanzu

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

NOTE: As you probably already know, i am posting a weekly story for the season of Advent about the incarnational birth of Jesus. My hope is that the stories become a part of your Advent tradition as you remember and celebrate the Good News of the advent of our Lord and Savior.

Each of the four stories is an adolescent’s eyewitness account of the circumstances surrounding the advent of Jesus. The last three eyewitnesses are fictional and represent the many who would have been present at the advent of Jesus, but are not named in Scripture. Though some of the characters and details contained in each story are fictional, you will find that the truth they reveal is very REAL!

To that end, this week we will hear from Yanzu, a servant who accompanied the magi.

Part 1 as told by Isaac, the son of Abraham (November 29th)

Part 2 as told by Salome, the friend of Mary (December 6th)

Part 3 as told by Yanzu, the servant of Balthazar (This week - December 13th)

Part 4 as told by Ashriel, the great-grandson of Simeon (December 20th) 

* * * * *

I am an eleven-year-old boy named Yanzu. I am not Jewish. I live in the city of Babylon which is in a very different part of the world. My city is the capital of what is known as the Parthian Empire. It is one of the best places for learning in the world, but I have not grown up hearing the stories about Abraham or Isaac – or the promised One.

I have a master whose name is Balthazar. When boys and girls from a poor family where I live turn ten years old, they must go to work. They become kitchen helpers, housekeepers, field workers, or people who work with their hands. Some, like me, are fortunate enough to work for one of the important people of our city. My master’s older brother is the governor, so my master lives in a palace.

Balthazar spends his days studying the stars. He sees things in the stars that others can’t. He believes the stars help us know about important events that will happen. I am glad my master does not only see me as his helper, but also as one of his students. He is teaching me about the stars.

He has been studying a new star for the past year. He told me it is brighter than any he has ever seen. He says there are old writings by people called Israelites that tell of a King who will be greater than all the other kings. He believes this star is telling us about the birth of this great King.

A few weeks ago, my master told me we were going to follow the star to find this King. He said we would be taking a special gift to Him called frankincense, which comes from trees in our part of the world. It’s used for many things – even to help heal sick people. My master trusted me to carry the chest that contained the frankincense and told me to make sure nothing happened to it. I was very happy and proud that he trusted me that much!

Before I went to sleep each night, I always looked up at the star in the sky. I would wonder what this King must be like. How powerful He must be! He must have more money and helpers than anyone else. Even as a baby, He would wear only the best clothes. He would live in a palace even better than the one my master lives in. I hoped I would see Him someday. But I feared that no one as lowly as me would ever be permitted to enter into His presence.

We had traveled for several days when we met another group of people. They were following the same star to find the King, too. These were wise men like my master, but they came from other countries. They invited my master to join them, and he said yes.

After a few more days of travel, it became clear that the star was leading us into Judaea – one of the provinces where the Israelites lived. My master and the other wise men decided to stop in the city of Jerusalem to visit the Israelite ruler, King Herod. My master believed King Herod would know where we would find the King we were seeking. As we entered the city, people stared and pointed at us. I  couldn’t imagine that they had never seen a caravan. But I could see they dressed very plainly. The bright colors of our clothing and robes must have looked very strange to them.

When we arrived at the palace, our masters were told they could enter to see the king but the rest of us would need to wait in the outer courtyard with our animals. My master instructed me to stay with all of our belongings, including the chest of frankincense. The other servants were told by their masters to do the same. The palace servants were curious about the special gifts we had on the backs of our animals. They were surprised that our masters had not brought those gifts for their king.

After a long while, my master and the others returned to us and told us we would continue our journey. We would travel a little further to a small town called Bethlehem. King Herod had told my master that we would find the special King there.

Given the strange welcome we had received in Jerusalem, my master and the others decided not to ask anyone on the streets of Bethlehem to direct us. Instead they would trust the star to guide us. The star eventually stopped over a house that was built beside a hill. When my master and the other wise men knocked on the door, the master of the home greeted them. But like everyone else we had met along the way, he was very surprised to see us.

My master explained that they were there to honor the newborn King. “We have followed the star and it has led us to this home,” my master said. A woman, who appeared to be the wife of the man at the door, stepped out from behind him and quietly told my master and the others to follow her.

The rest of us waited outside. I couldn’t help but think this was a funny place for the special King to be staying. The house was very small and simple – not like a palace at all!

My master sent word for me to bring the chest into the house. The other wise men’s helpers brought in their masters’ gifts, too. We were led up to the third floor and down a narrow hallway to a small room. When I arrived at the door, my master motioned for me to enter the room. I was being allowed to enter into the King’s presence!

As I walked into the room, I bowed my head and looked at the floor. I don’t have the words to tell you how I felt. After I handed the chest to my master, I knelt down on my knees and kept my eyes lowered. I knew I was in the presence of One who deserved great honor.

My master kneeled, too, and gave his gift to the mother and baby. As he opened the chest, the sweet smell of frankincense filled the air. The smell caused me to look up. The baby’s mother was smiling at us. She and the baby were dressed plainly – not in the fine clothing I had expected. But as I looked into His eyes, I knew He was the King!

I looked at my master as he too knelt before the baby. And I realized he and I were the same before this baby. This little One is the King before whom every knee must bow. I knew He was my King – just as much as He was my master’s King. And I knew I would always be welcome in His presence.

I wanted to stay in the room with the baby forever! But soon my master said it was time for us to leave. “Yanzu,” he said, “you have knelt before a special child tonight. He is not just any king, but the King of all kings. The star has led us to Him. Though we must leave Him now, be sure to keep Him in your heart wherever you go.”

_______________________ 

About Yanzu

Yanzu is not in the Bible, and neither is Balthazar by name. However, we do know that wise men traveled a long way to follow the star to a home in Bethlehem where Jesus was staying. The wise men and their helpers would have had many of Yanzu’s same feelings when they met the baby Jesus.

You can read about the visit of the wise men in Matthew 2:1-12 in the Bible.

* * * * *

This story is taken from Not Too Little To Know , a collection of ten illustrated short stories written for ages 8 and up for the Advent season. The book is available through Amazon in hard cover, paperback, and for Kindle or Kindle app. It is also available as an audiobook. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain a copy.

 

Copyright © 2023 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO-The Gospels for the visual age on Lightstock

A Story for Advent: Salome

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

NOTE: As i indicated last week, i am posting a weekly story for the season of Advent about the incarnational birth of Jesus. My hope is that the stories become a part of your Advent tradition as you remember and celebrate the Good News of the advent of our Lord and Savior.

Each of the four stories is an adolescent’s eyewitness account of the circumstances surrounding the advent of Jesus. The last three eyewitnesses are fictional and represent the many who would have been present at the advent of Jesus, but are not named in Scripture. Though some of the characters and details contained in each story are fictional, you will find that the truth they reveal is very REAL!

To that end, this week we will hear from Salome, a young neighbor who befriends Mary.

Part 1 as told by Isaac, the son of Abraham (November 29th)

Part 2 as told by Salome, the friend of Mary (This week - December 6th)

Part 3 as told by Yanzu, the servant of Balthazar (December 13th)

Part 4 as told by Ashriel, the great-grandson of Simeon (December 20th) 

* * * * *

My name is Salome and I live in the town of Nazareth. It’s not a very big town, so everybody knows everybody else. My family lives next door to Joseph the carpenter and his young wife, Mary. She is five years older than I am, and I have known her all of my life. When I was younger, she often helped my mother take care of me and I have always looked up to her like a big sister.

Eight months ago, Mary’s father decided she would marry Joseph. He is a lot older than she is, but they seemed very happy. So, I was glad when Mary’s father told the whole town that Mary and Joseph would be getting married next year.

But four months later, their plans quickly changed. Joseph said they were getting married right then, and Mary went to live in his home as his wife. That night I heard my parents quietly talking about them. And I heard my mother say to my father, “Mary must be at least three months’ pregnant. She has always been such a good girl. What has happened?”

The next morning, I heard some of our neighbors also talking about Mary and Joseph, saying they had done something wrong. “Mary is going to have a baby!” I thought. “What could be wrong about that? Why are people talking about her like she’s done something bad?” Since Joseph was at work and Mary was home alone, I decided to go see her.

I could tell Mary had been crying. I walked up to her and gave her a hug. “Mary, I am so happy about your news!”

“What news have you heard, Salome?” Mary asked.

“That you are going to have a baby!”

“What else have you heard?” she asked.

“People are saying you and Joseph have done something bad,” I said softly.

Mary looked sad as she told me, “My father, Joseph, and I told the rabbi and our other town leaders what has happened, but they don’t believe us. They think we are making up the story and that we have done something wrong. But we haven’t! We’ve told the truth – and it is news that everyone in town should be happy about.”

“What news?” I asked.

“One day, soon after our engagement was announced, I was out taking a walk,” Mary said. “Suddenly, an angel stood in front of me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God is pleased with you. Listen! You will become pregnant. You will give birth to a Son, and you will name Him Jesus.’(1) But I asked him, ‘How can I have a baby? I am a virgin.’(2) The angel told me, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. The baby will be holy. He will be called the Son of God.’(3)

“At the same time, the angel told me my cousin Elizabeth, who is very old, was also expecting a baby. So, I  went to see her. When I got to her house, she knew right away that I was expecting a child and that He is the Son of God. Her child was chosen by God to tell the world about the Son I am carrying.

“After I returned home, that same angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him we were to go ahead with our marriage. The angel told Joseph that the child inside me is the answer to the Scripture that says a pure woman will have a child who will save His people from their sins.

“But the angel did not tell us that many of our friends and neighbors wouldn’t believe us.”

“Well, I believe you, Mary,” I said. “I know that you are telling the truth! I know you, and I know that you would not make up this story. You are special to God. Please don’t be sad because of what others think and say. Be happy because of what God has given you!”

“Salome, my little friend,” Mary said, “God brought you here to see me today. Just as He encouraged me through my cousin Elizabeth, He has encouraged me through you!”

When I got home, I told my parents about my talk with Mary. At first, they didn’t know what to think. It sounded like something I made up. But, they also knew Mary and Joseph always told the truth. So, my parents believed them, too.

I started helping Mary with chores around her house whenever I had free time. Mary told me that my being with her cheered her up even more than the work I did. My mother told me that God placed me in Mary’s life to be her friend when she needed a good friend.

A few weeks later, my parents told me we had to go to the city where my great-grandparents were born so we could be counted by our leaders. My family and I were headed to Hebron. Joseph and Mary would be going to Bethlehem. I was sad the day we all left home, but I knew God would give Mary another special friend to cheer her up along the way.

_______________________

About Salome

Salome is not in the Bible. She was made up for this story. Mary would have been well liked in her village before the people learned that she was expecting a baby. Because she and Joseph had not yet finalized their marriage, there would have been neighbors who did not understand that her baby was the Son of God. Some of those neighbors would have treated Mary badly. But there were some, like Salome, who would have continued to be her friend.

You can read about the day the angel told Mary she would become pregnant with Jesus in Luke 1:26-38 in the Bible.

* * * * *

This story is taken from Not Too Little To Know, a collection of ten illustrated short stories written for ages 8 and up for the Advent season. The book is available through Amazon in hard cover, paperback, and for Kindle or Kindle app. It is also available as an audiobook. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain a copy.

(1) Luke 1:30-31 (ICB)

(2) Luke 1:34

(3) Luke 1:35 (ICB)

 

Copyright © 2023 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO-The Gospels for the visual age on Lightstock

A Story for Advent: Isaac

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

NOTE: Those of you who have subscribed to this blog for more than a year know that it is my annual practice to post a weekly story for the season of Advent about the incarnational birth of Jesus. My hope is that the stories become a part of your Advent tradition as you remember and celebrate the Good News of the advent of our Lord and Savior.

This year i have chosen to share the eyewitness accounts of four adolescents, beginning with Isaac, the son of Abraham. i have included his story so that we might be reminded of the promise of a Savior even dating back to the days of Genesis. The remaining three accounts are from fictional characters who represent the nameless individuals who experienced the circumstances surrounding the advent of Jesus. Though some of the characters and details contained in each story are fictional, you will find that the truth they reveal is very REAL!

To that end, let’s look at each part of this story through the eyes of these four very different eyewitnesses:

Part 1 as told by Isaac, the son of Abraham (This week – November 29th)

Part 2 as told by Salome, the friend of Mary (December 6th)

Part 3 as told by Yanzu, the servant of Balthazar (December 13th)

Part 4 as told by Ashriel, the great-grandson of Simeon (December 20th) 

* * * * *

My name is Isaac and I am the fourteen-year-old son of Abraham. A long time ago, God gave my father a promise. He told him, “I will make you the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing to many others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and the entire world will be blessed because of you.”(1)

When God gave my father that promise, my parents were already old and didn’t have any children. My dad believed God would be true to His word, but he wondered how he could become the father of a great nation if he didn’t have any kids.

My parents still did not have any children when my dad was eighty-six years old. My mom decided they couldn’t wait any longer for God to give them a child. She told my father, “Sleep with my servant, and if she has a baby, it will be mine.”(2) About nine months later, my mom’s servant Hagar gave birth to a baby boy named Ishmael.

Instead of being happy about Ishmael’s birth, my mother became jealous of Hagar. And my parents felt guilty because they had disobeyed God. Instead of trusting Him to provide the son He had promised, they had taken matters into their own hands. As precious as the life of little Ishmael was, he was not the son God had promised them.

Thirteen years later, God again came to my father and said, “By this time next year, your son Isaac will be born – and he will be the son of My promise.”(3)

I was born when my father was one hundred years old. My parents were extremely happy. They praised God for keeping His promise. My father now understood he could trust God to always keep His promises. And that was a lesson my father taught me from an early age.

When I was a teenager, my love for God – and my father’s – was put to the test. God told my father, “Go get Isaac, your son, the one you dearly love! Take him to the land of Moriah, and I will show you a mountain where you must sacrifice him to Me on the fires of an altar.”(4)

So my dad and I, along with our two servants, got up early the next morning and headed to the mountains. We had been traveling for three days when my father told the servants to wait. He and I would go on alone for the rest of our trip. He laid the wood for the burnt offering on my shoulders, and he carried the knife and the flint to make the fire. As we climbed the mountain, I asked him, “We have the wood and the flint to make the fire, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?”(5)

I had never before seen the look on my dad’s face as he tried to find the right words to say to me. He was trusting God for whatever happened next. So he said, “God Himself will provide one, my son.”(6) I trusted him – and I trusted God – so I didn’t ask any more questions.

The first thing we did when we arrived at the top of the mountain was build an altar. The altar was much like a table. We would use it to offer our sacrifice to God. The sacrifice would be our gift to God. My dad and I made the altar by setting a flat boulder on top of a pile of rocks we gathered.  We laid out the wood for the fire on top of the boulder.

When it came time to put the sacrifice on the altar, my dad turned to me. I had watched him tie up the legs of lambs and goats many times when we were preparing a sacrifice. But this time, he began tying up my hands and feet. I didn’t understand why, but I trusted him. I never struggled, even though I could have easily stopped him. After he finished tying me up, he laid me on top of the wood.

Tears were streaming down my father’s cheeks as I looked up into his eyes. He raised a knife over his head like he was going to stab me. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord called out to him saying, “Abraham, Abraham! Don't hurt the boy or do anything to him! Now I know that you honor and obey God, because you have not kept back your only son."(7) Immediately, we saw a male sheep caught by the horns in some bushes nearby. I know the sheep hadn’t been there a moment before!

After my father removed the ropes from my hands and feet, we just stood there holding onto each other. We were so happy! After a while, we offered the sheep as a gift to God. An angel called out for a second time saying, “Because you were willing to offer the Lord your only son, I will bless you and give you more descendants than stars in the sky or grains of sand along the beach. And through them you will be a blessing to all the nations on earth.”(8)

My father had promised that God would provide a lamb – and He had! And one day in the future, God would provide a Lamb as a sacrifice for the world’s sins. But when that day came, the Lamb would be His Son.

My father and I had obeyed God that morning by climbing the mountain. Now as we walked back down, I knew that one day there would be another Father and Son who would climb that hill to offer a sacrifice. And I knew that Son would come as a baby in a very unusual way, just as I had, and He would somehow be a future member of my family.

I will tell my children one day how God kept His promise to my dad and they will tell their children who will pass it on to their children and grandchildren. And the promise of a coming Son will be told from family to family – until the day He arrives.

_______________________

More about Isaac

Isaac is often referred to as one of the “patriarchs” of the Israelites. A patriarch is one of the first fathers of a family that becomes a large group of people like the Israelites. When Isaac was an adult, he had two sons – Esau and Jacob. It was through Jacob that the promise of God continued. As a matter of fact, God changed his name from Jacob to Israel. It was through the future generations of Israel that Jesus came to be born as a baby.

You can read about the day Abraham and Isaac climbed to the top of the mountain in Genesis 22:1-19 in the Bible.

* * * * *

This story is taken from Not Too Little To Know , a collection of ten illustrated short stories written for ages 8 and up for the Advent season. The book is available through Amazon in hard cover, paperback, and for Kindle or Kindle app. It is also available as an audiobook. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain a copy.

 

(1) Genesis 12:2-3 (TLB)

(2) Genesis 16:2 (CEV)

(3) Genesis 17:21 (paraphrase)

(4) Genesis 22:2 (CEV)

(5) Genesis 22:7 (TLB)

(6) Genesis 22:8 (GNT)

(7) Genesis 22:11-12 (GNT)

(8) Genesis 22:16-18 (CEV)

 

Copyright © 2023 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by PhotoGranary on Lightstock

Don’t Forget to Be Thankful

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Thursday, November 23rd, is Thanksgiving Day here in the U.S. Our Canadian friends celebrated Thanksgiving on October 9th, and our friends in the U.K. celebrated Harvest Festival on October 1st. Regardless of the date on the calendar, we all typically celebrate the day with good food, good fun, and a special time with family and friends. Hopefully in the midst of all the festivities, we make time to be thankful.

Because we all have much for which to be thankful—even in the midst of challenging days. But i fear we tend to forget. We lose sight of all the reasons from days past, and we become distracted by the urgency surrounding days present. As a result, the thanksgiving which should influence our thoughts, attitudes and actions each and every day gets lost in the shuffle.

That was the message Joshua was giving to the Israelites from his deathbed.(1) As his last days approached, he mustered his remaining strength to convey a message that he wanted the people of Israel to hold onto. It was the “if-you-don’t-remember-anything-else-I-ever-told-you-remember-this” message.

More than likely, twenty-five years had passed since God had given the Israelites victory over all the Canaanite kings. Joshua had lived almost forty years as a slave in Egypt, forty years as Moses’ protégé in the wilderness, and over thirty years as the Israelites’ leader in the Promised Land. He had experienced the oppression of Egypt, the dependence of the wilderness, and the victory and rest of Canaan. Throughout that time, he had observed that during the most dangerous and desperate times, the people had striven to stay close to the LORD. However he had also observed that the most dangerous times for the people of God had truly been the times of prosperity. Because, like them, it is during those times that our tendency is to pull away from the LORD and forget what He has done. As a result, our thanksgiving disappears. So on this “last” occasion, Joshua admonished them to not forget what God had done and to make sure their actions reflected their thankfulness.

Do not forget that He has fought for you against your enemies – those that you are aware of and those that you are not. He has battled those  that you have seen on this earth – and He has fought those in heavenly places. He has given you strength to battle with those who are flesh – and He has given His Spirit to battle against principalities and powers. He has given you wisdom, strength and courage to battle those that He has chosen to defeat through you – and He has displayed His might and His power in defeating those He has battled apart from you. He has moved heaven and earth when it was necessary. He has calmed the storm. He has made time stand still. He has held off the rains. He has caused the rains to fall. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”(2) Thanks be to God!

Do not forget that He has given you rest from your enemies. He has held them at bay when you have been unaware. He has confused them and frustrated them. He has defeated and thwarted them. And all the while you have rested soundly and comfortably. You have received physical rest for your body, you have received mental rest for your mind, emotional rest for your heart, and spiritual rest for your soul. You have rested in the shelter of His wings. He has been your strong tower from the enemy. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants your soul for Him.(3) Thanks be to God!

Do not forget that He has given you the land in which to dwell – that which He has already conquered and that which remains to be conquered. Just as He has given the sparrow its nest as a home so has He established the place for you to dwell. He has established the city for your dwelling place.(4) He has made us fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we might be the dwelling place of His Holy Spirit. And He will drive out those yet to be conquered – and He will give us possession. He has said, “… I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”(5)Thanks be to God!

Don’t forget! But regrettably the people did forget. Regrettably we forget and we fail to be thankful. Sometimes we remember until the next crisis occurs. Some of us even remember through the crises. However, our greatest difficulty is often the lull of peace and prosperity. Our minds and hearts become dulled to the memories of God’s grace and goodness, and we begin to drift—most often subtly.

As many of you know, i grew up in South Florida and spent a lot of time at the beach. i often would set down my towel away from the water’s edge,  walk directly out into the ocean, lay on my back in the water, close my eyes and float. There is nothing more relaxing than floating in the ocean! When i was done, i would swim or wade back to the shore. Most often, i would find that the spot where i stepped back onto the shore was different from the spot where i entered the water.

Invariably i was downstream. Even though i had been floating in the water, and not swimming, the water current had caused me to drift. And the distance of that drift depended on how long i floated in the water and how strong the current was. i didn’t need to do anything to drift. All i had to do was just lay back and relax. Occasionally i would look while i was floating to see if i could see my towel, and as long as i could see it, i wasn’t concerned if i had moved downstream—because it was only a short distance. It was only a subtle change—no big deal!

The beach patrol used flags to warn swimmers of swimming conditions. The red flag meant “don’t go in”, the yellow meant “swim with caution”, and the green was an indication that the waters were calm. When the flag was red, i wouldn’t go into the water to float. i knew to avoid those strong currents. When the flag was yellow, i would be careful and cautious, making regular “course corrections” to offset the current and stay closer to where my towel was. But when the flag was green, i didn’t pay much attention.

That’s often how it is for us in life. The days that the warning flags are red or yellow, we are more attentive to where we came from. But on those other days when the green flag is flying—those days of warmth and sunshine—we can tend to drift and not even be concerned.

That’s what Joshua was trying to tell the people. Don’t be lulled away by the current. Don’t lose sight of where you are. Don’t forget… keep your eye on Him… and don’t forget to be thankful!

* * * * *

You can read about Joshua’s message to the Israelites in the Book of Joshua, chapter 23.

 

This post is taken from chapter 37 of my book, Possessing The Promise. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Joshua 23:1-16 (NLT)

The years passed, and the LORD had given the people of Israel rest from all their enemies. Joshua, who was now very old, called together all the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel. He said to them, “I am now a very old man. You have seen everything the LORD your God has done for you during my lifetime….”

(2)  Romans 8:31 (NKJ)

(3)  Psalm 42:1 (NKJ)

(4)  Psalm 107:36

(5)  John 14:2-3 (NKJ)

 

Copyright © 2023 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Pearl on Lightstock

Two Trumpets

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

i have always been partial to the trumpet. My grandfather gave me my first trumpet when i was nine years old. He got it used, and it had seen better days. The bell was bent and the brass finish was pitted, but there wasn’t anything more beautiful to me. i can remember, however, the dreadful sounds it initially made, due in no part to the instrument itself, when i first put it up to my lips.

Gratefully, perhaps out of self-preservation, my parents soon arranged for me to receive lessons from Mrs. Finkbinder. i thoroughly enjoyed those weekly lessons. i envisioned myself becoming a trumpet virtuoso like my instructor. But sadly, i must confess, during those early years, i was less enthusiastic about my daily practice times between lessons. So, though my knowledge of the basics soon improved, my playing was less melodious and more mechanical.

All of that changed, however, when i entered middle school. Suddenly i had the opportunity to play in a band . . . and soon a jazz band . . .and then an orchestra, and suddenly my desire to hone my skill escalated. i relished the versatility of the trumpet – its capability to be used to play a wide variety of musical styles from classical to contemporary, from fanfare to farewell, and from melodic to harmonic. It is one of the few instruments that is as much at home on the battlefield as it is at the pep rally, in the concert hall as it is in the cathedral, and in the wedding procession as it is on the burial ground. Since its creation, it has been used to sound the charge as well as the retreat, the joy of victory as well as the mourning of defeat, and the melodies of celebration as well as the dirges of commemoration.

One day in the wilderness, the Lord said to Moses, “Make two trumpets of beaten silver.”(1) The trumpets were to be used for summoning and signaling, as an alarm and a reminder, as an announcement of celebratory gladness and reverent rejoicing. But most of all, the trumpets were to serve as a reminder to the Lord of His covenant with His people. It is interesting to me that these trumpets were forged and formed in the wilderness. They were not brought from Egypt. They would have purpose in the wilderness and they would have a continuing purpose in the Promised Land.

i’ve come to believe, there is greater value in instruments formed in the wilderness. They are more durable and resilient; they are made to take more of a beating. The journey and the conditions are such that the instrument isn’t pampered; it must endure greater hardship. But that hardship results in a heartier instrument – one with greater strength and stamina.

God chose to have the trumpets made out of silver. Silver is strong – once formed, it will hold its shape. It is ductile; it can be elongated and stretched beyond its original confines. It is malleable; it can be molded and shaped into any form. It can endure extreme temperature changes. The maker will use extreme heat to remove any impurities, or dross, in the silver. And as the dross is removed, the instrument will take on an attractive shiny appearance, a finish that reflects radiated light and the image of its maker.

The purer the silver becomes, the clearer the reflected image becomes. It is interesting to note that when all of the impurities are removed, silver does not radiate its own image, it purely reflects the image of the one who made it, and those around it. Silver also gave the trumpet a richer and more resonant sound over other metals. It gave it a “voice” that was distinctly different and sounded with a superior consonance when used by the instrument’s player or maker.

God continues to form His instruments through our life journeys as well. He is forming His trumpets – you and me – for His purpose. As His instruments, we will have even greater value having been shaped by the wilderness experiences of our lives. The Maker is molding us and shaping us for His express purpose. The stress that He uses in the process will be sufficient to bend us without breaking us. (He may even choose to bring us to a place of brokenness – a complete dependence upon Him – but He will not leave us in pieces.)

The heat of the fire He uses will be sufficient to remove all of the dross without scalding the silver. He will leave no blemish, though He will probably leave His fingerprints. God leads us on our journeys of faith through the wilderness, and part of His purpose is to form us into just such an instrument – an instrument formed by the Master and forged through faith.

James writes, “For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”(2)

Yes, God will use us as His instruments in the wildernesses of our lives, but He will also use those experiences to prepare us for His use in His land of promise for our lives. And His handiwork will be a reminder to Him of His covenant with us that He is our God and we are His trumpets – formed and forged in the wilderness.

* * * * *

You can read about the two trumpets in the Book of Numbers, chapter 10.

The post is taken from chapter 7 of my book, The Wandering Years. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Numbers 10:1-2, 6-7, 9-10 (NLT)

Now the LORD said to Moses, "Make two trumpets of beaten silver to be used for summoning the people to assemble and for signaling the breaking of camp… You must sound short blasts to signal moving on. But when you call the people to an assembly, blow the trumpets using a different signal… When you arrive in your own land and go to war against your enemies, you must sound the alarm with these trumpets so the LORD your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies. Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month to rejoice over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind the LORD your God of his covenant with you. I am the LORD your God."

 

(2)  James 1:3-4 (NLT)

 

Copyright © 2023 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Image by Midjourney

A “Shur” Way

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

My wife and i are currently reading through the Bible in a year together with a group of friends in our faith community. We started midway through September and are now in the Book of Deuteronomy. Since we have spent the last several weeks reading about and discussing the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and their journey through the wilderness, we decided to all get together and watch the movie The Prince of Egypt.

You may recall the movie was produced by Dream Works back in the late 90’s and is an animated portrayal of the first fourteen chapters of the Book of Exodus—following the life of Moses from his birth to his God-appointed task of leading the Israelites out of Egypt. The movie concludes right after the dramatic crossing of the Israelites through the parted Red Sea, as they flee the approaching Egyptian army. Though fictional license is used in the telling of the story, the scene when the people make their journey across the dry sea bed in the path God has provided for their escape inspires thoughts of what the actual experience must have been like for them.

Whether or not they were able to see sea life swimming on the other side of the walls of water that bordered their path as the movie depicts, it is still a reminder of the awe they must have felt as the majestic hand of God parted the waters to make the way for their escape. There could be no denying the miraculous workings of God on their behalf. Imagine the silence of the million-plus people as they stood there on the east bank of the sea, probably with their mouths open, watching the sea come back together covering the path they had just walked and defeating their approaching enemy. It is a moment one could never forget.

And yet, three days later they did forget.(1) Scholars have different opinions as to the actual date/day of the week of the crossing, so let’s say it was Monday. The silence had turned to reverent praise of the One who had saved them as they sang, “Who is glorious in holiness like You – so awesome in splendor, performing such wonders?”(2) Then by Thursday they had turned against Him. On Monday they had experienced one of the greatest miracles of God, but by Thursday they had again lost hope. On Monday they had walked through walls of water without even getting their feet wet, but by Thursday they were crying out that they had been left to die of thirst.

As the people walked away from the Red Sea, they journeyed through the Shur Desert, or the Wilderness of Shur. The name “Shur” means walled enclosure. On Monday, God had led them through a walled enclosure of water; and for the three days thereafter He had led His people through a walled enclosure of wilderness. God’s way was straight; God’s way was sure. He provided the walls surrounding their way in order to direct them and protect them. As long as they walked in His way, they were assured of His presence, His protection, His provision, and His power.

They could be assured that though enemies and circumstances had entered their path and had threatened to defeat them, He had permitted the intrusion for the sole purpose that His glory be demonstrated through it. He had allowed the Egyptian army to enter the walls of water through the Red Sea so they might be defeated for His glory. And now He had allowed Marah (bitter waters) to enter the Israelites’ way through the wilderness for that same purpose. Was the God who was able to defeat the one enemy on Monday able to overcome the other on Thursday? Was the God who had declared Himself to be their God, who had promised to redeem them, deliver them and lead them able to see them through any and every hardship or trial? Did that include the bitter waters of Marah?

How quickly we too forget—that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God who turned the bitter waters sweet, is the same God who has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He is the same God who has promised to make our way straight and sure. He has ordered our steps before us and made a way in the wilderness. We can walk in His assurance that nothing can enter into our way that He has not permitted. And if He has permitted it, He has done so with the assurance that He will use it for His glory and for our good. There is nothing too minor and there is nothing too big. And that promise is not only for Monday; that promise extends to Thursday and every other day.

Let us remember that God took that bitter water, that bitter circumstance, and didn’t just make it drinkable or palatable – He made it good. You see, whatever God transforms, He reshapes in such a way that it is ultimately for our good. That is the assurance that Paul writes about in Romans 8:28. Everything that God ever created or transformed, He has declared to be good.

So, let us continue to boldly walk in the path that He has set our feet upon – His “Shur” way for us – with a confidence that as we walk in His way, our way is sure!

* * * * *

You can read about the parting of the Red Sea and the Israelites’ travel through the Shur wilderness in the Book of Exodus chapters 14 and 15.

The post is taken from chapter 8 of my book, The Journey Begins. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Exodus 15:22-25 (NLT)

Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the Shur Desert. They traveled in this desert for three days without water. When they came to Marah, they finally found water. But the people couldn't drink it because it was bitter. (That is why the place was called Marah, which means "bitter.") Then the people turned against Moses. "What are we going to drink?" they demanded.

So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a branch. Moses took the branch and threw it into the water. This made the water good to drink.

 

(2)  Exodus 15:11 (NLT)

 

Copyright © 2023 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Image by Kevin Carden on Lightstock