This last Sunday we looked at Jesus’ words, “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath,” found in Matthew 12.  For most of us, it was a gentle reminder of how Jesus saw the true purpose of God’s Great Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.”  Not out of guilt or pressure, and not in a legalistic or rules-following manner.  But in gratitude and obedience.  Elsewhere in Scripture, Jesus proclaims that “the sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath.”  God has gifted us with the opportunity to stop, take a breath, and re-focus our gratitude upon the One who loved us enough to send His Only Son to die in our place, redeeming us for Himself.  We all need times to sabbath.  It can happen in the sanctuary on Sunday morning, yes.  It can also happen wherever we happen to be when we purposefully pause to rest in Him.  In my studying for our look at Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath, another of my favorite grand hymns came to mind that I have been humming for days.

I need Thee ev’ry hour, most gracious Lord.

No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee ev’ry hour, stay Thou nearby.

Temptations lose their power when Thou are nigh.

I need Thee ev’ry hour, in joy or pain.

Come quickly, and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee ev’ry hour, teach me Thy will,

And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

                  I need Thee, O I need Thee;

                  Ev’ry hour I need Thee!

                  O bless me now, my Savior,

                  I come to Thee.

I would imagine that like me, you read those words to the tune and measure of this great song.

We don’t often think of hymns being written by a thirty-seven-year-old homemaker from Brooklyn, NY.  But that’s the story of this hymn.  Annie Hawks was going about her daily household chores when the words came to her.  She later wrote, “I was so filled with the nearness to my Master that, wondering how one could live without Him in either joy or pain, these words, ‘I need Thee every hour,’ were flashed into my mind.  Seating myself by the open window in the balmy air of the bright June day, I caught up my pencil and the words were soon committed to paper.”  Annie Hawks experienced a sabbath.

The pastor of Annie Hawk’s Baptist church was a musician, and he put the words to music.  Robert Lowry would later add the refrain, but two years after the hymn was originally written it became famous when D.L. Moody discovered it, much to the amazement of Annie Hawks.  Pausing to spend time in the balmy “Sonshine” of God’s love that comes through group worship, and meaningful Bible Study, and private times of prayer and reflection, can often be exactly what we lean on when we, at other times, experience episodes of darkness in our life.  Without a steady dose of sabbath rest, we are not adequately prepared for what the world will throw at us.  God gifted us with sabbath rest.  I’m not speaking of days off, though physical rest and recreation is great for our spirits.  But without intentional, regular times of keeping His gift of the sabbath set apart in our hearts, we can easily lose our dependence on God.  Paraphrasing a familiar line, “The more we miss honoring God’s gift of sabbath, the less we will miss God’s gift of the sabbath.”

How often is “regularly” observing God’s gift to stop and re-focus on His goodness?  I like Annie Hawks definition of regular.  “I need Thee every hour.”

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:19.

Grace,

Tom

In the pastor’s study at FBC, Meadow, hangs a picture called “The One Who Returned,” depicting the event recorded in Luke 17:11-19.  The gospel writer tells us that near a certain village in the frontier between Galilee and Samaria, Jesus is met by ten lepers who call out to Him from a distance saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  These men had but one hope left—a miracle from God.  Luke records that the ten called to Jesus by name.  They had heard of Him.  They knew who He claimed to be.  Why else would they have ever cried out to Him for help?

Jesus responded with a command rather than an act of healing.  He called for their belief.  He sent them away to the priests to be recognized as healed—just as the law required.  All ten were made clean when they obeyed the Lord’s command.  All ten obeyed, and that was a good response.  One returned to express gratitude, and that was the best response.  All ten believed in God, in the possibility of being healed, or they wouldn’t have obeyed.  And the Lord’s compassion was on all of them.  But only one really had faith.  Jesus addressed immeasurably more than the leper’s infirmity when the Master said, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”  Luke’s wording in the narrative makes clear only this one man of the ten was a Samaritan, and that only this one man’s faith had “healed” him.  Faith, then, must involve something more than belief in the power of God.  The Lord’s half-brother, James, wrote, “the demons also believe, and shudder.”

Everything about this story shouts division.  The no-man’s land between Samaria and Galilee.  The cultural divide between God’s “chosen” Jews and the outcasts of Samaria.  The societal banning by the “normal” Jews to the nine diseased Jews left to scorn.  The general population’s rejection of all ten lepers.  AND ALSO, the two different responses, entitlement vs gratitude, to the mercy and grace of the Savior.

In America today, in the church today, there seems to be a growing sense of the same division—entitlement vs gratitude.  Do we Christians see being “chosen” to mean entitled to the compassion and forbearance of God?  Can we be so self-absorbed to honestly expect God to pour His mercy and grace upon us because of who we are, what country we live in, our own worthiness, regardless of our commitment to Him?  Oh, when we want something, when we think we really need something, we might in desperation call out for Jesus to help us, and that is a wonderful, meaningful place to begin.  God’s compassion and love is beyond all measure.  But do we ever acknowledge that our world, our nation, our family, our own selves, still have but one hope left.  It is not having heard of Jesus.  It is not believing there is a God.  It’s not going to church or being a “good” person.  It’s not any of that.  It is a miracle from God.  It is through obeying the command of Christ to be born again.  For every one of us, that involves coming through repentant faith, trusting in His grace for forgiveness and mercy, surrendering with true gratitude—not entitlement—to the promise of the Holy Spirit in our lives, that each of us finds the Savior ready and willing to make us well, cleanse us, and make us whole.  That’s what Jesus means when He says, “Your faith has made you well.”

So, who do you relate to in this story from Luke?  Are you a follower of Christ who, when you are troubled and in need, believe you are somehow entitled to relief from God?  It’s time for you to be “The One Who Returned.”  Or, maybe in this world you feel left out, put down, or rejected.  Lost.  You’ve reached the point of believing there is only one hope left—a miracle from God.  It’s time to obey the command of Jesus to be born again.  That’s a good response.  Come to Him in faith, accepting His grace and mercy.  That’s the best response.  It’s time for you to be “The One Who Returned.”  He’s waiting, and He will make you well.

Grace,

Tom

“Plant shade trees under which you will never sit.”

I first heard that listening many years ago to Dennis Whatley, a Christian psychologist, from his cassette recorded series entitled, The Psychology of Winning.  (Just the idea of cassettes being the principle means of communicating ages those of us who remember them and should bring a smile to our face.)  The meaning of planting shade trees under which we will never sit is not just an encouragement to do things for others.  It involves our doing things, saying things, building things that likely will outlive us, and we might never experience in full.  But others will…eventually.  Planting shade trees under which I would never sit became a part of how I attempted to work for employers and how I conducted business when running my own. It was included in how Diane and I sought to raise our kids.  It even motivated us as a couple to make long-term improvements to the homes we rented and owned.  And, yes, it has influenced me in my Christian Walk, too.

Hebrews 11 is known as the faith chapter of the Bible.  Its first verse says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  After listing so many great people of faith like Enoch and Noah and Abraham, the writer of Hebrews then says in 11:13, “All these died in faith, without receiving the promise.”

These great people of faith lived lives of righteousness and influence, and were busy planting shade trees under which they would never sit.

In Matthew 13, Jesus says, “…many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Those prophets and righteous men lived by faith in the promise of a coming Messiah who would establish His kingdom of peace forever.  Yet those same prophets and righteous people were not around to see Jesus’ ministry of miracles and healing, to hear His teachings on love and mercy, to witness His substitutionary atonement, or His victory over the cross.  But they were faithful to live and teach and build, assured the Kingdom of Heaven would be fulfilled just as God had promised.  They were planting shade trees under which they would never sit...until Glory.

So, what does all of this have to do with our Christian Walk today?  Plenty.  While we live lives helping to guard and preserve nature and our country and the physical blessings we have been given while living on this earth, there are also shade trees of faith and grace and mercy and justice that we are also called to plant.  We have the full revelation of Jesus as the Christ to share.  What has been said is true.  “Christianity is but one generation away from extinction.”

Choices we make today can have eternal consequences for those around us, those we care deeply about and who we would want the very best for.  Our children—even those grown and gone—are influenced by the continued example of love and discipline and faith we exhibit.  Are you planting shade trees that will benefit them, and others after them, and others after them?  Do your children see the priority of faith and worship and Bible Study and prayer in your life?  Do your spouse and your friends see your dependence and trust in God, even in the face of adversity and pain and grief and doubt?  Are these the things your influence is planting and growing?  Shade trees under which you will never sit.

Use us, Lord, as instruments of Your peace.  Use us, Lord, as Your hands and feet and voice.  In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Grace,

Tom

The amount of loss, both in life and property, which is seen in California due to what may become the costliest wildfires in US history is hard to grasp.  At the time of this Meadow Minute, authorities had confirmed twenty-four dead with more expected and many unaccounted for now that Rescue and Recovery can get into the area.  It has been estimated that the cost to those directly affected will be over $150 billion.  So many are hurting.  So many are in danger.  Devastating.

Nothing in this mortal life, including life itself, is safe from being taken away.  No matter where we live or how we have planned or prepared.  No matter how wealthy or how self-important we might think ourselves.  No matter our age or our health or education or status.  Should the Lord tarry, every one of us will face the same certainty.  Death.  And then, where we stand with Jesus is all that will matter.  And until we face Him, we will be counted with those left behind to grieve.  Many people will never deal with their grief at all, choosing instead to carry the pain of loss around with them indefinitely as their last memory of a cherished relationship.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  There is hope to be found for those left behind.  Not hope in “moving on” from the loved one but hope in “moving forward” with the memories and joy granted by God who made that individual special and a part of our life.

One source of such hope is available in GriefShare, a Christ-centered, 13-week support group of people who are grieving the death of someone close.  And while every one of us grieves differently—even within the same family—everyone sitting together in a GriefShare session “gets it.”  Whether your loss is recent or from years ago, GriefShare can aid you in confronting the lingering, debilitating aspects of grieving.  First Baptist Church in Meadow is committed to being a part of that healing process for those in our area ready to make the “Journey from Mourning to Joy.”  The next cycle of GriefShare offered in Meadow will begin on Tuesday, January 28th, at 6:00 p.m.  You can find our group on-line to pre-register at GriefShare.org.  During our time together each week, there are three ways you will benefit most.  First, there is a video for us to view.  Ministry and Health Professionals, as well as people like you and me who have experienced the death of a loved one, offer exceptional information and practical tools that will apply to your specific situation.  Secondly, you will be provided with a workbook to use on your own between sessions that will give insight and direction for moving forward.  The book’s cost is $20.00, but scholarships have been provided by the church to purchase books if necessary.  Please don’t let that cost keep you from looking into GriefShare.  And finally, we spend time each week in group discussion.  Some find comfort in sharing their personal situation and experience.  Others go through the entire 13-week process without saying a word.  (We all grieve differently.)  What matters is consistency, and we encourage you to commit to at least three sessions in deciding if GriefShare is right for you.  Several in our church are praying even now for those affected by the death of a friend or family member that may be searching for answers to dealing with grief.

Each cycle of GriefShare, I am brought back to the same verse of Scripture that meant so much to me in the loss of my parents and others.  I Thessalonians 4:13 reminds us that while we as Christians do grieve, we do not grieve as those who have no hope.  May God grant His presence and comfort to all affected by the current raging fires on the west coast, and may He also comfort you should you be dealing with the death of someone important in your life.

Grace,

Tom

Those who know me best know of my deep love for the great hymns.  On occasion in 2025, I plan to share some of my very favorites of the music that shaped my life through years of worship.  As we have just begun an extended look at the Gospel of Matthew, who taught of Jesus as the Messiah, I immediately knew where I wanted to start.

In just a few days, our country will inaugurate a new president, and with a peaceful transfer of power, a new administration will begin to govern the United States.  Presidents, kings, and other ruling officials should be honored and prayed for.  Both apostles, Paul and Peter, lived under oppressive Roman emperors, yet wrote of the Christian’s responsibility to be good citizens.  But we must never forget that the King of kings and Lord of lords deserves our ultimate honor and our complete allegiance.

The hymn below appeared anonymously in a hymn book published in 1757.  Often, it is attributed to Charles Wesley, but with its glorious subject of God as King of all, it was likely published anonymously on purpose.  I can hear the organ my mother played in the church where I grew to cherish this grand and lofty hymn.  See if you can read these lyrics without including the tune from your memory.

Come, Thou Almighty King,

Help us Thy name to sing,

Help us to praise.

Father!  All glorious,

O’er all victorious,

Come, and reign over us,

Ancient of Days.

Come, Thou Incarnate Word,

Gird on Thy mighty sword,

Our prayer attend!

Come, and Thy people bless,

And give Thy word success.

Spirit of holiness,

On us descend.

Come, Holy Comforter,

Thy sacred witness bear

In this glad hour!

Thou, who almighty art,

Now rule in ev’ry heart

And ne’er from us depart,

Spirit of pow’r.

To Thee, great One in Three,

Eternal praises be,

Hence evermore.

Thy sov’reign majesty

May we in glory see,

And to eternity

Love and adore.

Psalm 95:1 says, “O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.”

Grace,

Tom

While searching for something light and inspiring to share in this final or first of the year Meadow Minute, I was instead reminded of a disturbing theme found in the New Testament—the danger of misplacing our spiritual priorities, letting idleness and worldliness and selfishness keep us from all that Christ can do in us and through us.  In our busyness, in our packed-full schedules, the faithful can find themselves becoming nothing more than a “Religious Action Figure.”  Acting the part of a follower of Jesus, we really aren’t accomplishing anything.  We look good but do nothing because our faith is not alive, like a child’s new action figure left among the clutter of Christmas morning.

In his second letter, the Apostle Peter called such people “springs without water” (2 Peter 2:17).  The Lord’s half-brother, Jude, had two names for these individuals— “clouds without rain” and “autumn trees without fruit” (Jude 12).  Both are speaking to the failed potential and unkept promise of someone drifting from God’s purposes.  Recall, too, that our Lord Himself cursed the barren fig tree for appearing to be healthy and fruitful but then being found empty and wanting.

Oswald Chambers wrote succinctly, “Woe be to the man who mistakes leaves for fruit!”  In one sense, the leaves of a plant ARE fruit, but they only feed the tree itself.  While on the branch, they absorb the sun for the tree’s benefit, and by falling and replenishing the soil, the leaves feed the roots.  I suppose one could consider leaves as “self-serving fruit.”

So, how about this for inspiration as we “Turn the Page” and move into 2025.  Let’s not leave God on the edge, at the fringe of our lives.  Busy is going to happen.  Busy is a part of our culture and a part of our very DNA.  But in all the busyness, may God grant an authenticity, a genuine-ness to our faith.  May we serve others with sincerity and love.  May we give sacrificially from our plenty to the cause of Christ.  May even the less busy times in our lives not be useless periods of idleness and worldliness, filled only with self-serving fruit, but rather restful times of gratitude and recognition for the blessings granted to us by our Creator.

Romans 11:36 says, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be the glory forever.  Amen.”

Are you producing only self-serving fruit in an overly busy life?  Even when God in His grace and wisdom grants you times of refreshment and repose—a sabbath—are you misusing His blessings of rest with more and more busyness, more and more self-serving fruit, while making no room for Jesus?  Right now, in this moment, are you comparable to the Bethlehem inn keeper who had no room for the King of kings?  We seem to make room for other things and other people, for self-serving fruit, but not for Jesus.

“Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown, when Thou camest to earth for me; but in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room for Thy holy nativity.  O, come to my heart, Lord Jesus; there is room in my heart for Thee.”

Grace,

Tom

(Originally posted the third week of December 2023)

This last Sunday at FBC Meadow, we celebrated the fourth and final week in the Advent Season, the week of Love, culminating in our Christmas Eve service.

“The Storyteller,” Tom T. Hall, has given us many simple country songs with straightforward messages.  It’s hard not to identify his unique voice.  “The Year that Clayton Delaney Died,” “Old Dogs and Children, and Watermelon Wine,” “The Homecoming,” and “Me and Jesus” are just a few that come to mind.  Without googling it, I can only recall the first verse to one of my favorite songs by Tom T. Hall entitled, “I Love”.

“I love little baby ducks, old pickup trucks, slow moving trains, and rain.

I love little country streams, sleep without dreams, Sunday School in May, and hay.

And I love you, too!”

We throw that word love around quite a bit, don’t we.  In the same sentence we might say we love our spouse and our kids and then add we love our favorite sports team or fried catfish or “little baby ducks.”  I’ll go out on a limb and say we don’t mean the same thing in all those examples.

1 John 3:1 says, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are.”

Those of us who by faith in God’s grace have surrendered our hearts and lives to Jesus are children of God not because of anything we have done.  He loves us so much He sent His son on that first Christmas to be Immanuel, “God with us.”  Of course, Jesus didn’t remain an infant.  He grew to manhood to teach us and redeem us through His death on the cross, rising from the grave and ascending again to the Father to intercede for us.  And one day, we’ll go to Him.  “See how great a love the Father has for us.”

Jesus said it like this.  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

My very dear friend, Robert Henson, died at home here in Meadow last week with his loving family around him.  He was 81.  While his family leans into their grief, I am certain they have been overwhelmed by the number of people who attended his service and the volume of tributes and memories so many have shared about this amazing man.  Here’s my chance to share one more of mine.

It was not that Robert didn’t love, but he didn’t throw those words around.  His daughter Cindy mentioned that during the Memorial Service.  Love was there.  He just didn’t say it out loud much.  His love came much easier in other ways.  When he and I first met, Robert told me never to be offended by the fact that he found it difficult to express himself in that way.  He told me how he had written his love out for his children so they would always have a record of knowing how proud he was of them and how much he loved them.

But in the fleeting moments of final visits, when events of the day and normal discussions are no longer important or relevant, there is most often an honesty and openness unlike at any other time.  I sat in conversations with Robert several times in recent days fully aware that each one could be our last chance to say what we both truly felt.  His voice was soft and low, and his sentences were mostly broken.  But as I rose from beside his bed to leave for what became the last time, he reached out from under the blanket to grasp my hand with unexpected strength.  The words came easily from me as I said, “Robert, I love you.  You know that.”

And I will never listen to the music of Tom T. Hall the same.  Clear as a bell, Robert’s last words to me were, “And I love you, too!”

Grace,

Tom

(Originally posted the second week of December 2023)

This past Sunday at FBC Meadow, we celebrated the third week in the Advent Season.  The week of Joy!

How we all long for abiding joy in our lives.  Yet it’s possible that our feelings and expectations of what we call joy can change in an instant.  We look for situations or things or people that may bring us a fleeting sense of joy—a vacation, a new pet, a visit from a friend or loved one.  If we are honest with ourselves, we would call that feeling “happiness,” not abiding joy, for such a feeling can quickly fade.

Ernest Lawrence Thayer gave perhaps unwittingly a great example of the fickleness of most people’s joy.  In his most noted poem, Thayer tells of the great expectation that was placed upon “the Mudville Nine that day.”  If only the town’s sports hero could get a chance at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, all would be well.  And then, beyond their wildest dreams, the hope of having Casey come to bat started to materialize.  A calmness settled over the fans, and they became more and more confident that all would work out once Casey took a swing.  Finally, their swelling joy could not be held back any longer.

“Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;

It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;

It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,

For Casey, might Casey, was advancing to the bat.”

I believe I know some folks who could be from Mudville—individuals who mistakenly define joy in their life as some thrill or expectation attached to a fallible person, place, thing, or moment.  And because of that, such people are often better acquainted with what joy is not.  Events of the day, a single phone call or text message, a recurring thought circling in a cluttered mind can immediately take any pretense of joy from their lives.  Perhaps we’ve all visited Mudville at some point.  Have you ever experienced misguided joy in something or someone who eventually, invariably let you down?

“Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright,

The band is playing somewhere; and somewhere hearts are light;

And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,

But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.”

Christian joy IS NOT based on or influenced by circumstances of this life.  Christian joy IS based upon Jesus and all He has done to grant us hope and peace in Him.  Jesus will not ever let you down. The follower of Christ with the Holy Spirit in his or her heart can say, “I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart?  Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay!”  (Bet you just sang that!)

That first Christmas Night began with no expectations or growing hope.  In fact, the Bible says the land had lived in darkness for 400 years.  There were not thousands of screaming people in attendance at Jesus’ birth.  There were only a few lowly shepherds who were given hope and peace and joy by the words of an angel.

“And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the City of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:10.

Talk about ABIDING JOY!

Grace,

Tom

(Originally Posted November 2023)

This coming Sunday is the beginning of the Advent Season.  Week One, Hope.

There is not room in this Meadow Minute to cover all the great lines and scenes crammed into the 1 hour and 34-minute classic film, “A Christmas Story.”  It has become somewhat of a tradition for our family to watch it at least once, while together on Christmas Day.  Depending on the memories you have as a child during the holidays, watching “A Christmas Story” just might become a tradition for your family, too.

Care must be taken here not to spoil it for any of you who have never watched it.  The main character of the film is a 9-year-old boy by the name of Ralphie Parker who has his heart set on one thing for Christmas—a “Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle.”  Ralphie says the line a dozen times or more in the film!  I can relate to Ralphie because I remember attempting a variation of something he does in the story.  Ralphie inserts an ad for the BB gun into the middle of an issue of his mom’s LOOK Magazine so she will “accidentally” find it.  (In my case, it was the hope of a “GI Joe action figure with his own storage footlocker, underwater diving gear with a speargun, and an extra M-1 rifle with an ammo belt thrown in,” but I digress.)

Are you old enough to remember how exciting it was for the Sears Christmas Catalogue to show up in the mail?  Those catalogues were the “bomb-diggity!”  Hope was found on every page of the toy section.  Hope was all over the sporting goods section.  Okay, so there were new clothes and appliances in there, too, but my brothers and I simply flipped through those areas to get to the hope parts.  To get Mom’s attention, I circled what I was hoping for in crayon, and left the catalogue laying around open so she would see it.  Once I saw the catalogue had been moved, I did it again somewhere else.  It must’ve worked.  Joe showed up that year!

In Western culture today, we hope for a lot of things, don’t we?  We hope it rains.  We hope our team wins.  We hope things work out for us at school or at work.  But in Hebrew thought, hope was an established reality and not something that might or might not happen.  We should use that word more as the people of Israel did.

If you are a Christian, your hope is in heaven, and it’s not a wish.  Your hope is eternal life.  Not that it might happen, but as an established reality.  Your hope is in Christ.  Not that His taking your place on the cross might get you forgiven, but as an established reality that you are forgiven.

Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Early Christians openly, publicly confessed what they believed about Jesus.  Not as wishful thinking, but as an established reality.  In this verse from the Book of Hebrews they were told to hold on to what they had previously claimed “without wavering.”  Our hope in Christ truly is an established reality.  God can be trusted to keep His promises because “He who promised is faithful.”

Beyond some new furniture or the latest electronic device, what are you hoping for spiritually this Christmas?  You don’t have to wonder if God keeps His promises.  You can have the hope, the assurance, the established reality that what God promises will come to pass.

Grace,

Tom

(Originally Posted November 2023)

This coming Sunday is the beginning of the Advent Season.  Week One, Hope.

There is not room in this Meadow Minute to cover all the great lines and scenes crammed into the 1 hour and 34-minute classic film, “A Christmas Story.”  It has become somewhat of a tradition for our family to watch it at least once, while together on Christmas Day.  Depending on the memories you have as a child during the holidays, watching “A Christmas Story” just might become a tradition for your family, too.

Care must be taken here not to spoil it for any of you who have never watched it.  The main character of the film is a 9-year-old boy by the name of Ralphie Parker who has his heart set on one thing for Christmas—a “Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle.”  Ralphie says the line a dozen times or more in the film!  I can relate to Ralphie because I remember attempting a variation of something he does in the story.  Ralphie inserts an ad for the BB gun into the middle of an issue of his mom’s LOOK Magazine so she will “accidentally” find it.  (In my case, it was the hope of a “GI Joe action figure with his own storage footlocker, underwater diving gear with a speargun, and an extra M-1 rifle with an ammo belt thrown in,” but I digress.)

Are you old enough to remember how exciting it was for the Sears Christmas Catalogue to show up in the mail?  Those catalogues were the “bomb-diggity!”  Hope was found on every page of the toy section.  Hope was all over the sporting goods section.  Okay, so there were new clothes and appliances in there, too, but my brothers and I simply flipped through those areas to get to the hope parts.  To get Mom’s attention, I circled what I was hoping for in crayon, and left the catalogue laying around open so she would see it.  Once I saw the catalogue had been moved, I did it again somewhere else.  It must’ve worked.  Joe showed up that year!

In Western culture today, we hope for a lot of things, don’t we?  We hope it rains.  We hope our team wins.  We hope things work out for us at school or at work.  But in Hebrew thought, hope was an established reality and not something that might or might not happen.  We should use that word more as the people of Israel did.

If you are a Christian, your hope is in heaven, and it’s not a wish.  Your hope is eternal life.  Not that it might happen, but as an established reality.  Your hope is in Christ.  Not that His taking your place on the cross might get you forgiven, but as an established reality that you are forgiven.

Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Early Christians openly, publicly confessed what they believed about Jesus.  Not as wishful thinking, but as an established reality.  In this verse from the Book of Hebrews they were told to hold on to what they had previously claimed “without wavering.”  Our hope in Christ truly is an established reality.  God can be trusted to keep His promises because “He who promised is faithful.”

Beyond some new furniture or the latest electronic device, what are you hoping for spiritually this Christmas?  You don’t have to wonder if God keeps His promises.  You can have the hope, the assurance, the established reality that what God promises will come to pass.

Grace,

Tom