FBC Independence Podcast

God Uses People: Rahab

I am so glad God changes people and puts them to work in His Church!

 

Several years ago, our praise team needed a drummer in a church where I served as Pastor. These are not easy to find, especially for a Sunday morning ‘gig!’ We played for several months without one, as our drummer, who had played with us for several years, had graduated from High School and gone off to college. Finally, a woman who had started visiting our church told me about her husband. He had been a drummer for many years, playing in bars and ‘honky-tonks,’ and had recently received Christ as Savior. He didn’t seem to ‘fit’ in any church they had visited, and she was worried about him falling away. I set up a time to visit him, and we quickly became friends.

 

I asked him if he would be interested in playing drums for our Praise Team, and he said he would try it – but he was very non-committal, unsure he would like our church.

  

Mike showed up at practice the next week and immediately fit in with our group! He was an excellent drummer and a very kind and gracious person who loved his family and wanted to get involved in a church but didn’t know how. 

 

He played with us for the next several years, sharing bits of musical wisdom gained through years of experience. He taught us, made us laugh with his ‘honky-tonk’ stories, and helped us in a way no one else could have at that time. Too, he learned from us a set of values and beliefs he had not heard before and grew in his faith. He and his entire family were involved in our church until the sons grew up and moved on, and they are still involved in the faith.  

 

It is incredible, isn’t it? God uses people – not just the good people or the ‘religious’ people, but people of faith who respond to His call to service!  

 

There is a Bible story of a woman, Rahab, who had lived as a prostitute in the city of Jericho. She was not a believer but had heard stories of the Hebrew God, who had blessed them and helped them escape from Egypt, where they were held as slaves. 

 

When spies from the Hebrew army came to her house and asked for help as they ‘scouted out’ the city for an attack, she responded in faith and hid them from the city’s police. She helped them for days and even misled the police when they came to her house, looking for the Hebrew spies. As a reward for her service, they promised to spare her and her family when they attacked the city.  

           

On the day of the attack, Rahab hung a red rope out of her window. This was a signal to the Hebrew warriors, who had been told to kill everyone in the city except the family out of whose window the red rope hung. Afterward, Rahab, who gave up her life as a prostitute and the rest of her family, lived with the Hebrew people and adopted their faith in The One God. One of her descendants, Joseph, was married many years later to a woman named Mary, who had a son they named Jesus. Yes, that Jesus is the Son of God, Messiah, and Savior of the world.   

 

Rahab, a former prostitute, was used by God to bring about the Savior of the world!

 

Indeed, God uses people! People with faith who will follow Him. Regardless of past sins or circumstances, when we place our faith in God and listen to His call for service, He can use us for his will to do great things! Let us all learn the eternal truth from this story and from Rahab herself – God uses people to bring about His will!

 

You can best support our Ministry by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our ministries possible. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

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Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

God Uses People: Joseph

While a student in 'Preacher School' many years ago, a guest speaker said something that we young preachers were very pleased to hear. In a sermon dealing with personal devotion, he said, with great conviction, this statement: "God will never use someone who has sin in their lives." We almost cheered! We were young and enthusiastic and often encountered people struggling in their battle against sin. We wanted to preach the truth, and at that very early stage in our ministry, we all wanted to confront sinners and challenge them in their sins. But then, as I had time to think about that statement, it occurred to me – That statement wasn't true! I wanted to believe that God would punish sin. I tried to lead people to reject their sinful lives and follow Jesus, but it occurred to me:  If God would not use people with sin in their lives, who would He use? Everyone has sin in their lives!

 

The more I read and studied, the more I realized that God was working to bring about His will in many ways – but God's ways always included Him working through the lives of sinful people! Of course, they were doing their best, but their best sometimes wasn't very good. God used them anyway! Others were not trying to live with faith at all, yet God used even them!

 

Many stories in the scriptures teach us this truth. The story of Joseph is one such story. Joseph was Jacob's twelfth son and was his father's favorite. He swaggered around, harassing his brothers, and would often 'snitch' on them when they did something their father would not like. Joseph even detailed his dreams that showed that his family would bow down to him in the coming years. It was unbearable for the brothers! Finally, they could take it no more. They sold him into slavery, made up a story to cover their evil, and forgot all about him. This is where Joseph's story takes a turn!

 

Joseph went from being a slave to being a respected house steward and then to prison on false charges of rape. He ended up managing the jail and demonstrated an ability to interpret dreams. After several years, he ended up in front of Pharoah, the Egyptian king, who helped him make sense of some bizarre dreams he had been having. After explaining things to Pharoah, the King placed Joseph in charge of the whole nation's food supply – it was almost miraculous! Finally, as an end to the story, Joseph's family came to Egypt for food during a drought. He recognized them, of course, and forgave them for their evil against him. They brought the entire family to live in Egypt and came to know and love Joseph. God blessed them with many children and a huge extended family. This was the beginning of the Israelites in Egypt, from which came the Exodus experience centuries later.

 

God used this long story, with its many twists and turns, to form his people and bring about the nation of Israel! Think about the list of characters that God used: Joseph's jealous brothers, Egyptian slave owners and a lustful, lying woman, criminals in prison, and, finally, the leader of a pagan nation; sinners all but used God to bring about His will!

 

God is sovereign. He uses everything at his disposal to bring about His plan and never gives up. 

 

He uses people who sin – people like you and me, every day. Nothing can stop Him!

 

Let me encourage you to place your faith in the God who loves you as you are and will use you to do His great will. Joseph and his family discovered that God has a plan for every situation and wants us to be involved, even when we are imperfect!

           

You can best support our ministry by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our ministries possible. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

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Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

God Uses People: Noah

Have you ever noticed that many Bible stories contain great ‘life lessons?’  

 

I am beginning a series of messages about how God uses people to do great things. The list is long, of course, of great stories in the Bible, and many of the stories have a ‘star’ in the center: a man or woman of faith who responded to God’s call in a time of crisis. I began with the story of Noah and the great flood.

 

You no doubt remember the story:  In the days after the Fall of man and expulsion from the garden, humanity grew to populate the earth. (The one thing they did according to God!) Unfortunately, man turned his back on God and his ways and quickly devolved into what is described as almost animal-like behavior: Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

 

God searched the earth and only found one righteous man, Noah. He and his wife and three sons were living quietly, following God, and earning their living. God called them into service and asked them to build a giant ship called an “Ark,” when the time came, animal kingdom representatives would come on the Ark. Then, Noah and his family would be closed into the Ark, and floodwaters would cover the earth. All others would be destroyed; only the animals and Noah and his family would survive!

  

Noah and his family obeyed God and worked for many years to build this great ship. He was mocked and ridiculed by all who knew him and saw the great ship he was building; his faith and obedience to God proved to cause him great pain! But then the waters came and swallowed the earth – everyone died. It was an act of profound judgment by God! Finally, the waters receded, and the Ark was opened. Noah and his family, instructed to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth,” went about the task of rebuilding their lives and serving God. Genesis 9:1 The story ends with God offering a covenant with Noah and the new humanity, stating that God would never again destroy man with a great flood. The rainbow was given as a sign so that all would remember that God punished sin and took the issue seriously. The offer of grace, using the Ark, as directed by God, was also a key feature of the story. The Ark was a sign that demonstrated God’s mercy and his patience and concern for sinful man.

  

What a great story, and what a wonder that an ordinary man of faith, with great conviction, can serve God in a way that forever alters the course of humanity! This story is full of eternal truths for us to consider: 

God cares for sinful humanity; God, who is concerned for justice, must judge sin; God offers us mercy and forgiveness simply because of his loving and gracious character; and, finally, God can perform wonderful, marvelous, and eternally life-changing things through the service of his people of faith. Wow!

 

Let me challenge you to consider these great lessons and follow the God who loves you and invites you to serve him in a way that helps others and enriches your life.

 

You can best support our Ministry by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our ministries possible. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here: https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/

 

Thank you for listening. We will see you next week!

A Faithful Stewardship

Just last week, I attended one of my grandson’s basketball games – it was sheer joy! My grandson is a tall boy for seven years and talks a big game when the subject of basketball comes up. 

 

He just knows he’s going to be a big star when he grows up and that his height will be a major plus for him. (His father is 6’7”, so he has a good idea that he will be very tall when grown). 

 

After hearing him talk and knowing how much he wanted us to come to see him play, I just knew I was going to be impressed and walk out of the gym, glowing with pride in my grandson’s abilities and future on the court!

 

The game was a blast to watch! My grandson ran and jumped and even made a basket. 

 

He was so excited when he made the basket that he forgot all about the game and simply stood in the middle of the court looking our way, making sure we saw what he had done. The players got the rebound and ran down the court, and my grandson, still excited and beaming with pride, completely missed the next play. We laughed and laughed! The rest of the game was similar – my grandson ran with the ball (sometimes!). He occasionally got confused and ran in the wrong direction. Sometimes, he played defense when he was supposed to play offense; over and again, he stood and watched the game, forgetting that he was supposed to be going after the ball; it was hilarious! He was doing his best, of course; it was just that, right now, his best wasn’t making his coach very happy – but he was bringing great joy to our hearts. He wasn’t the best on the court (yet), but he was playing hard, giving it all he had, and we were so proud of him! When the game was over, we yelled and hugged and said over and over to the budding athlete, “Good job!”  

 

The reason I tell you this story is because my grandson was doing his best – he was being a ‘good steward’ of his gifts and abilities and a ‘good steward’ of his life.

           

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12, Jesus tells a parable about one that he called a “sensible steward.” He said this, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Blessed is that slave when his master finds so doing when he comes.” vv.42-43  In Jesus’ day, a ‘steward’ had extraordinary abilities in managing a business or a wealthy man’s estate. Often a slave, this person served in a position of great honor and importance. In terms of power and authority, stewards were usually number 2 in the household, just under the owner!

           

Jesus was explaining to his followers that He wanted them to be ‘sensible stewards’ of all that God had given them. Money, talents, abilities, intellect, even their very lives – it was all a gift from God to be used well and for God’s Kingdom! Moreover, when a Christ-follower lived as a sensible steward, God would bless them in ways they could never anticipate!

           

Living your life as a ‘sensible steward’ means that you discern the gifts that God has placed into your life, such as a particular talent or ability or even material possessions, and develop and use those gifts to serve God and his kingdom. The message of the Gospel will be shared, people’s needs will be met, and God will be glorified.

           

Let me encourage all here to choose to become a ‘sensible steward.’ God will use you and bless you. And, you will please your Father-God and make him so proud of you. You might even hear him say, “Good job,” just like my grandson!

 

The best way you can support our Ministry is by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our Ministries a possibility. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here: https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page 

https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/

 

Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

A Scary Church: The Danger Of A Life-Changing Faith

For the last few weeks, I’ve spoken about ‘Scary Church;’ these churches failed their members by not teaching them proper biblical teachings and practices and not leading them in the past of discipleship. These were ‘scary churches’ because the Christians were either uninterested or incapable of sharing their faith and representing their faith in the presence of others!  

              

Today, though, I will talk to you about a different type of ‘scary’ church – a church that takes its responsibilities of training Christians seriously and leading them on a path of discipleship, and service. Let me begin with a true story, as told by a popular campus minister several years ago:

             

In the past, William Willimon, the Campus Minister at Duke Ministry, told of an intense phone call with a student’s father. The father had complained that his daughter, a bright student with a bright future in the business world, had decided to change her life’s plan and become a missionary to Haiti, an impoverished nation between Cuba and the Dominican Republic. He screamed in anger, “I hold you responsible for this!”  What follows is a brief recounting of the conversation:  

             

Willimon asked him, “Why me?” The father stated clearly, “Because you ingratiated yourself and filled her mind with all this religious stuff.” The minister asked the father, “Sir, weren’t you the one who had her baptized?” He replied, “Well, well, well, yes.” “And didn’t you take her to Sunday School when she was a little girl?” “Well, well, yes.” “And didn’t you allow your daughter to go on those youth group ski trips to Colorado in high school?” “Yes. . . what does that have to do with anything?” “Sir, you’re the reason she’s throwing it all away. You introduced her to Jesus. Not Me!” The exasperated father exclaimed at this, “But all we wanted was a Presbyterian.” 

 

The minister closed the conversation by saying, “Well, sorry, sir, you messed up. You’ve gone and made a disciple!”

 

That is the result of a ‘scary’ church! An individual who takes their faith seriously seeks God’s call on their life and then, if necessary, sacrifices their former plans to follow God’s leading – no matter what! 

That is the result of a scary church, and that is the result of a scary faith – a faith that disrupts one’s life plans and leads them to a life of sacrifice, and service. . . and blessing! Jesus said this in one of his sermons, in Matthew 10:37 ff: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 

 

And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 

He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it.”    

 

Jesus fully intended for us to be a part of a scary church that taught us to follow Him and to become a scary Christian who would stop at nothing to follow Him. History has shown that scary Christians are an often unstoppable force behind some of God's greatest movements in history! Let us all be diligent in the practice of our faith and choose to be obedient to God’s call every day.  

 

You can best support our Ministry by sharing these videos with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our ministries possible. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

Thank you for listening. We will see you next week!

A Scary Church: The Danger Of An Unguided Faith

Several years ago, I mentioned in a sermon that I liked to keep old service manuals for all my vehicles. I used them often and wanted to keep them in case another similar vehicle needed service. I mentioned this fact in a sermon because I likened the Bible to a ‘service’ manual for living the Christian life. We needed to read and study it and, at times, go over it word-for-word to help us ‘fix’ a problem or at least recognize that something needed to be done.  

           

Interestingly, later that week, I had a call from one of the deacons in our church who had heard me mention several of the old manuals I kept in my garage; he asked me if I still had the manual and could borrow it! 

Even though the manual was several decades old, my deacon friend had a vehicle that would be covered in that book, and he needed help figuring out a problem. Of course, I loaned it to him, enabling him to fix his old vehicle. 

 

(He asked me if I would sell the manual to him; I explained with a smile, “No Way!” We both had a good laugh and, for a long time, would talk about old vehicles and the old manuals that went with them).

          

 My approach to vehicle and appliance manuals is 

one that can be applied to our Bibles! 

 

The Bible contains good information about God, man, and the predicaments we get ourselves into. 

 

There are also many instances where, if we pay attention to what God teaches us in scripture, our lives will be better, and we might even be able to avoid some of the negative experiences that others have in their lives.            

           

In one passage in the Bible, the Apostle Paul was writing a letter to a young pastor who was facing a congregation struggling with sin, bad habits, and the struggles that can come to those who resist godly counsel. Paul told this young pastor, “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them and that from childhood, you have known the sacred writings that can give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 3:13-15

           

Paul was acutely aware of how people would often choose to live and suffer for their actions. So, he encouraged the young pastor to be strong in his faith and keep up teaching biblical teachings, showing his people how to apply spiritual truth to their lives. When they did this, their lives would be better, their relationships would generally improve, and God would be more likely to bless their lives.  

           

We are currently in a sermon series entitled, ‘A Scary Church,’ and I think that a church that doesn’t try to teach God’s Word may be scary! Not because the people there are bad or sinful, but because if the Word of God is not taught and applied in people’s lives, the results can be terrifying! 

           

Let me encourage you to study the Word of God and learn to think “Christian” and live “Christian” daily. You will be different, your life will be better, and God will bless your life!

 

You can best support our Ministry by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our ministries possible. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/

 

Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

A Scary Church: The Danger Of An Undeveloped Faith

I had a conversation with a young mother recently that gave me pause. 

The young woman, a successful entrepreneur and mother, expressed her concern about her two young children, ages 3 and 10. They were bright, healthy, and seemed okay but had no interest in school, reading, or books. They played on their electronic devices for hours at a time and were doing "ok" in their classes at school. Her concern was that something was wrong with them and that they would not do well in school in the future if something did not change. I assured her that her children seemed bright and would do well if she nurtured and encouraged them in their development.

 

The mother's face brightened, and she asked me what I thought she could do to help her kids because, as she said, she "really wanted them to do well in school." I then asked her how often she reads to her children and if she has ever tried to create a 'learning environment' for her kids. When she asked what that meant, I explained that a learning environment included several things. Here are a few of the things I mentioned to her: A house with books the kids could read and look at in various places around the house; A structured time, several times a week, where they would all sit in the same room and look at books, and practice reading, and even making regular trips to the library, to check out age-appropriate books for the children to read. I said that one of the most important things she could do was to read to her kids regularly: children's books, Bible stories, and even stories from American history that would interest them and even lead them to ask questions. As I spoke, her forehead wrinkled up, and she made it clear she was not interested in these activities. She said she did not like to read herself and would instead just let the kids figure things out on their own as they watched learning games on their iPads or computers. I was flabbergasted!

 

The sad truth is, if kids are not encouraged to learn and read, they probably will not! Parents are to value their children's development and work to encourage, teach, and expose them to good influences. It takes years for a parent to nurture their children! It is just one part of a caring mother or father's role in preparing their kids for life after childhood!

 

Interestingly, as I heard myself explain this to my young friend, I thought of how any good church functions. More than just a place to worship God and pray, a healthy church is a place that nurtures its people, teaches them what the scriptures teach and how to apply those teachings to life, and encourages them to develop in the practice of their faith! Here is one passage that comes to mind:

 

Speaking of the people God has brought into the faith, Paul says this: "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers. . . As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ." Ephesians 4:11-14  

 

This is God's plan for the church; it is the way Father – God has determined to raise his people, who have pledged to live as followers of Jesus!

 

A healthy church will take this seriously and will produce 'children' who can read and understand scripture, think for themselves, and resist the cultural trends and temptations they might encounter in our sin-tainted world. It is not an easy task, but when taken seriously, it is a task that can produce young men and women who can live out their faith in a way that honors God, helps them in this life, and enables others to discover that life that is in Jesus. 

 

A church that does not take this seriously but instead spends its energies on entertainment and making people feel good is a dangerous church. It leaves its people helpless in their battle against sin and unaware of the spiritual dangers of this world.  

 

Let us all learn, develop our faith, and face this world with faith!

 

You can best support our Ministry by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our ministries possible. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/

 

Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

Images of Christmas: Calm in the Chaos

We always want everyone to be happy – especially in the Christmas season!

 

We hope and pray that people are healthy, that no families will experience the loss of loved ones or accidents during this time of celebration, that children, especially, receive gifts that give them joy, and that they will be safe and secure with their families.

 

We want that to be the case – but it does not always happen, does it? In my small circle of concern, involving my family and friends, my church congregation, and the families that attend our Child Care ministry, I see a mix of good and bad experiences in life.

 

Some are healthy and happy, but there are others: one family is struggling to recover from the loss of their father earlier this year; another family bears the burden of their young mother’s struggle with life-threatening cancer, and the miserable treatments that now drain her of all her energy. Sadly, in the last two weeks, we have experienced the loss of 3 members in our church to the ravages of cancer and old age.

 

This is all to say that no matter who you are or your age or faith, life on this earth can be challenging! And, no matter how hard you try to ‘keep it together’ and do everything right, chaos sometimes comes into our lives, and we are left to deal with it! This is how Joseph and Mary felt as they experienced the events surrounding Jesus’ birth.

               

Mary was very young and unmarried, yet she was with child. There was fear and uncertainty, of course, and let us not forget that people in small towns gossip and judge! Joseph’s family probably wanted him to get rid of his young and pregnant bride-to-be, but he was committed to her. And then, on top of this situation, the government decreed that he and others would make the journey to their family’s hometown, which in Joseph’s case meant a walk with a pregnant young girl nearly 90 miles over rugged terrain!

 

There were visits from strangers after Jesus was born, both shepherds and Magi from another land, and then the warning that came in a dream to Joseph – get out of town, now! Herod, their ruler, wanted to kill the baby Jesus because he was supposedly the young “King of the Jews,” and therefore, a threat to Herod!

 

They had to pack their bags, leave for Egypt, an unfamiliar land, and wait for word of Herod’s death; then, they could go home. Talk about chaos!

 

Amazingly, though, God got them through it.

 

They trusted and followed God’s plans and instructions for their lives, and they lived for many years and saw the fulfillment of the life of Jesus in both his death and resurrection. And in this life of chaos and uncertainty, they experienced God at work and felt the peace that only God could give.

 

This is just one of the great messages of the Advent Season! No matter how hard life is or what one’s circumstances are, God can work and bring about a sense of peace, purpose, and even security. Here is how the Apostle Paul spoke of this great truth just a few years after the resurrection. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

 

As we go through the final days of the Advent Season and enter with hope and anticipation the new year, let us approach what comes with faith. God can help us and give us peace that defies explanation. God is with us!

 

You can best support our Ministry by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our ministries possible. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/

 

Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

Pictures of Christmas: Wonderful Gifts

I guess my two youngest grandchildren said it best when asked what Christmas is all about: “Christmas is all about Jesus, and Santa Claus and decorations, and presents. And then, screaming while jumping up and down and with big smiles on their faces, ‘Christmas is about presents!’”

          

 For a lot of us, the idea of presents seems to dominate most of our thoughts and actions during the Christmas season. We think about what we will buy, who we will buy for, how much we can or should spend, and then we sometimes worry if we have gotten the right gifts or the big question, “How am I going to pay for all these gifts?” It’s gotten a little out of hand if you ask me!

 

This Christmas season, let’s talk about the subject of Christmas gifts from a very different perspective. Instead of discussing what we will purchase for others, let’s discuss the ‘gifts of Christmas’ first mentioned in the Bible. You know, the event that started it all! Here is a short passage from the story of the Wise Men’s visit to the Christ-child: “And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary, His mother; and they fell and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11  These scholars and philosophers visited Jesus from a land far from Bethlehem; they did not understand everything about Jesus, but they knew He was a gift from God and would change the world. So, they brought him valuable gifts, perfect gifts, rich with meaning.

          

The gift of gold symbolized Kingship on earth. 

 

Jesus was ‘King of the Jews,’ and they recognized his royal stature. He is the Eternal King overall, seated at the right hand of God on his throne. The gift of frankincense (a popular incense) was taken as a symbol of deity. Jesus was Messiah, the anointed one from God. 

Christians later were taught by God that Jesus was ‘God in the flesh,’ “fully God and fully man.” The last gift of these Magi was an embalming oil, myrrh, which symbolized his coming death as part of his mission to earth. It was later understood that Jesus would conquer death through his resurrection; death would no longer be something to fear; it would also not be able to hold anyone down!  

           

Other gifts have come out of the story of Jesus’ birth. We can call them “The Gifts of Christmas.” The first was a gift from God and was God’s greatest act of love. 

 

God sent Jesus to us all to love and teach us but also to die for us. This loving gift offers us our salvation and eternal life – it could only come from God! Another gift of Christmas is the gift of grace, God’s favor towards us. God not only loves us; out of that love, He acts to save us, bless us, and give us hope – in this life and in the life to come. 

The final gift of Christmas was a gift of ultimate value. The magi started it with their expensive gifts, ascribing great worth and value to Jesus. God wanted us to understand that He valued us so much that He would give the ultimate gift of Jesus to save us!  

           

Let us all receive, with a thankful heart, the gifts of Christmas! These gifts come from God, who loves us and has given us the best and the most perfect gift. It is a gift of life, joy, and hope.

 

“Merry Christmas!”  

 

You can best support our Ministry by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our ministries possible. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

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Pictures of Christmas: Warmth in the Cold

When I was a fresh-faced kid in our local Boy Scout troop, my first camp-out came in early December. The leaders told us to "be prepared," so to me, that meant wearing a coat, bringing gloves, and buying the cheapest sleeping bag I could find. What a mistake!

        

That weekend's weather turned freezing, with a light covering of snow on top. I was freezing and found comfort only when standing beside the campfire. I couldn't wait to go to bed, knowing I would be warm and cozy in my new sleeping bag.

 

Much to my surprise, my new bag was not warm at all! It felt all warm and fuzzy at home on my bed, but it was worthless that first cold night in the tent! I literally shivered all night, and before the night was over, I had put all my clothes back on, including my coal. I was miserable, a bit afraid, and missed by Mom and Dad!

 

The next night was better: I borrowed a couple of blankets from a friend who had brought extras, put on extra socks, filled my pillowcase with rocks, and heated it in the campfire. I was much warmer that night and slept well. The warmth had made all the difference in the world!

There is a story in the Bible of a young couple who had an experience similar to how they felt. Mary and Joseph were engaged and had to make a trip to Bethlehem to take part in the government-mandated census. The night air in the desert was chilly; they were apart from their family and were afraid, as Mary was due to have her first child. They spent their nights in a stable with some animals, as all the rentals were full. Joseph did his best to comfort Mary and keep her comfortable and may have been able to build a small for warmth. It was a challenging situation! However, God worked to change things and comfort them during the night.

 

Mary had her baby, the baby Jesus, and the light and warmth of God's presence gave them peace and comfort. By morning, Mary was snuggled in bed with her new baby, the Christ-Child, and Joseph was thankful that God had blessed them as He had. They were in a cold place and afraid, but they had hope – they had made it through the night, their son was born, and he and his mother were healthy, and they both realized – despite the cold and darkness of the world, God had given them warmth and comfort, and hope for the future.

 

The story of the birth of Jesus is more than just a story of a child's birth, of course; it can also serve as a sort of 'parable' of our experiences on this earth. No matter how hard we try, we can find ourselves in difficult situations, feeling cold and even slightly afraid. These circumstances can come because of mistakes or choices on our part or someone else's actions; even a simple accident can affect us!

 

But, when we turn to God in prayer and trust Him to get us through, He has a way of giving us guidance and direction; sometimes, He even works to change the situation and encourage us somehow! When He does this, we can feel the warmth of his presence and experience His power at work in our lives. And, just like Joseph and Mary, we can gain a new perspective on our lives based on God's gracious and loving acts in our lives.

 

This Christmas, if you find yourself struggling with something and feeling alone in what can be a very cold world, turn to God and invite Him to work. He will be there for you and give you hope!

 

You can best support our Ministry by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our ministries possible. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook pag https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/

 

Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.