Christmas meets Calvary

 

When angels sang at Jesus’ birth

They proclaimed, to all on earth,

Jesus would bring peace and glory

             For Christmas was Heaven’s story

                                           Revealed in the Name of Jesus

         The cross, unseen, over the manger hovered,

While straw, freshly cut, the babe did cover.

By shepherds and Magi, He was worshipped.

But on the Cross, Jesus revealed His purpose.

Christmas and Calvary forever linked.

 

      That Bethlehem night was bathed in light

Satan’s kingdom prepared to fight

Against He who would be the Galilean,

Their plan climaxing at Calvary’s cross  

Was Christ’s victory, Satan’s eternal loss.

 

     The promise of Christmas is linked with Calvary.

          We can join the Angels’ song of Jesus’ glory

For our eternal salvation Jesus achieved,   

           

            And offered to all who can see and believe

             The manger paved the way to Calvary!

                

©Ray Hawkins Dec. 2020.

 

 

 

Christmas is a declaration of war!

 

 

Reading: John 1:1-18.

 We have made it what it was never intended to be, a sweet, sentimental occasion for people to have nice, warm, fuzzy feelings. Someone is coming permeates the first thirty-nine books of the Bible. In many places there are clues to His identity and purpose, bold statements about His character and strategy. There are also metaphors pointing to spiritual realities the coming One would fulfil. 

The god of this world is no fool. As you study the Old Testament you are given insights into his attempts to prevent the Promised One from coming. This included attempts to destroy the nation of Israel, corrupt and obliterate the genealogical line and mutilate the message. Time after time it seemed Satan came close to achieving his aims. The Lord God of Hosts always came up with an answer, a master stroke, a surprise element.

Herod produced the first martyrs of Christmas. On hearing about the birth of the Promised One he ordered the death of babes two years and under in Bethlehem. The ‘Someone’ is coming was declared by the shepherds, the magi and others, to have come.  The four Gospels present their majestic portrays of the One called Jesus. It becomes clear from their writings they were convinced that this man of Nazareth was the fulfilment of the clues, metaphors and other snippets from their Scriptures. Jesus himself insisted that people examine Him and the Scriptures to make sure they matched. (John 5:39).

Part of the strategy of Jesus Christ for re-conquering the world from the powers of Darkness was to enlist men and women. They had to be convinced about Him and what He was on about. The Lord never bribed people to join his ranks. In fact Jesus spelt out loud and clear the costs involved which precede the victory celebration.

This and the following devotionals want to take you into an understanding of the ‘Battle Zone’. You will follow God’s promise of the One who is to come and how each ‘jig-saw’ piece would ultimately come together at Bethlehem. Being convinced about who Jesus is, why he came and the victory achieved gives us moral and spiritual courage. We need this to face the challenges of being in the legion of the Lord. 

Throughout both Testaments is a third facet of the coming of the Promised One. It is the statement ‘Someone’ is coming again! It is the same Jesus who came the first time to experience the cross, rise again and offer us salvation and a new destiny. When He comes again it will be to judge the world and to reign in righteousness. Those, who by faith now have declared their allegiance, will in that day share in His kingdom. 

Though the contest continues, victory is assured. Be strengthened for the conflict through insights from these devotional meditations!

copyright Raymond N. Hawkins 2020

The photo above is of George and Rita Galieh. He was a speaker and excellent violinist. She a fine singer and artist with chalk. A lovely and faithful couple in Christ's ministry.

Heaven's Life Assessment.

 What would you list as top of Heaven's Assessment Sheet in its evaluation of your life?  I'm taking a 'punt' and saying you, with most others would list 'Love!' Those who know 1 Corinthians 13:13 realise Love is greater that hope and faith. But, there was another life style quality that kept nagging me. It wanted to claim top spot.

I was pushed to my concordance to find Biblical backup to its claim. It has a case worthy of consideration.  What is the distinguishing word? 'Faithful!' Why is this  pushing 'Love' into 2nd place? We know God is Love - but how is that shown and therefore, known? 

We immediately respond with "Christmas and Calvary". So true, but how did those two historical event take place? Because, the Lord God made a promise to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15 about a baby. This is repeated in Isaiah 7:14. Through centuries when God's love and grace were violated He kept His word. Read Matthew 1:18-25 as it is the culmination of God's faithfulness.  Deuteronomy 7:9 is an excellent summary of God's assessment by such people as Abraham, Sarah, Moses and Nehemiah. 'Know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him... '  

Consider Jesus. We believe He loved us and proved it in the crucible of being faithful under severe testing prior to the cross [Hebrews 2:17]. In Revelation the Apostle John records this assessment of Jesus, three times: ch1:5 the Faithful witness. Ch. 3:14, the Faithful and True witness. Ch. 19:11, He who is called Faithful and true'. In chapters 21:5 and 22:6 that which He spoke was deemed to be Faithful and True.

Yes, we are to love God and our neighbour but an interesting fact emerges from the Epistles. Individuals and congregations are commended on their faithfulness, not their love.. In Colossians, Paul seems to stress 'faithful' to this fellowship, and certain men are referred too: Chapter 1:2 'To the saints and faithful people at Colossae...' In ch 1: 7 Epaphras our... faithful fellow slave. In ch.4: 7 Tychicus and in verse 9, Onesimus, both proven faithful.   To what have they been faithful? The putting into practice the teachings of Christ. This made love for Christ tangible as they reached to win the lost and encourage the saved. The Apostle writing to the Corinthians wrote, 'It is required that Stewards [and ministers/attendants] be found faithful.'

Over and over again  this word is highlighted in both Testaments. In some of his parables the Lord commended the servant, not about worship, sermons even love but about being faithful. Matthew 24:45 and 25:21.

How do you express your love and commitment to Christ as Lord and Saviour? By faithfulness to His word. A wonderful promise is mentioned in Psalm 101:6 'Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me...' 

copyright Ray Hawkins 7/12/2020.

 

I Sing but do I See?

 The Battle Hymn of the Republic stirs the soul  when heard or sung. The story behind it is interesting. However, what the words say seem to have lost their 'punch' to many in America today. 'Mine eyes have see  the glory of the coming of the Lord' is the opening line. It appears to me that there are forces in America and elsewhere   

 

intent on blinding the Nation to the Truths of Scripture woven in that hymn.

The Lord is portrayed as 'meek and mild' by many. They forget the military term 'Lord of Hosts' is His. He is the Commander. His 'sword' is the Word of God with which He judges the nation and individuals. Verse 3 in my hymnal mentions being sifted before His 'judgement seat'. That is our accounting time. How will any of us, and particularly those in Government 'answer Him?' Will it be with 'jubilant feet?' 

In verse 2 is mention 'His righteous sentence'. What would you think that 'righteous sentence' from the Bible might be? There are many from which to chose. From the hymn itself I wonder if it is referring to the singer's relationship of faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour? Read 1 John 3:2-3.

The mention of the death of Christ in verse 4 would seem to me to undergird the whole of the hymn. The cross isn't a piece of jewelry it is what Jesus endured to deliver us from sin, Satan and eternal death. Jesus is our reason, not merely for the season of Christmas, but for holiness, truth and defending the lives of those in the womb. It goes beyond borders to helping the impoverished and seeking justice where there is injustice, to cite a few issues.

Each verse ends with the idea that God and His word are marching. Actually, after His battle on Calvary, Jesus ascended to His Father's presence. He is seated, waiting the appointed time to return. We are the ones called upon to do the marching, the confronting, the living out of His teachings and if need be, to die for His cause.

Christians around the World, and even in America, are facing morally and spiritually difficult and even dangerous days. We need to make sure our vision from our faith is clear. We need to be confident in the person in whom we live and move and have our being, only Jesus. We need to watch out for each other, worship and share the Gospel.

May each and every time we sing 'Mine Eyes have seen the Glory' it thrills the soul.

Copyright Ray Hawkins Dec 2020. 

The Word becomes flesh.

 

God the writer, made Himself known through His creation. Psalm 19:1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. However, whilst they reveal His presence and power we do not meet Him or know what He is like. Our Lord God of Glory had to distance Himself from the descendants of Adam and Eve because Sin came between them. Still our Creator set out to make Himself known and to overturn the barrier. The Scriptures are the record of how He went about doing it.

More than that however, within the pages of our Bibles are ‘word paintings’ and historical encounters which introduce us to the unseen God. Jesus in John 5:39 summed it up so well, “you search the scriptures … and they testify of me.” As our Lord said to Philip “He who has seen me has seen the Father” John 14:9. Most of the New Testament letters give us more and clearer pictures of the unseen God because of the miracle at Bethlehem. The gospel of John puts the Christmas event in most forthright and dramatic manner. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ The Creator was to become the Redeemer. The writer of the plan of salvation was putting flesh upon His words. This was foretold in the psalms and claimed by the writer to the Hebrews to be Jesus. ‘Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “… a body you have prepared for me.”’ (Hebrews 10:5 and Psalm 40:6-8).

 The Gospels are the account of the one we believe is Emmanuel – God with us.  He became flesh so as to be our Redeemer after being tested in the flesh as we are. The cross was the final act by which the truth of His person would be revealed. Would His righteousness stand the ultimate test? Is Jesus capable of being our sin-bearer and barrier breaker? The empty tomb is His answer. The words “He is risen” are our reply.

However, the Lord has given His followers a mandate. We have to bear testimony to Him and what He has done. There are any number of ways to do this, but as writers we have a great tradition preceding us in bearing testimony to Jesus. John sets the scene for us as he closes his gospel account. ‘These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.’ (20:31)

As writers, in whatever genre you choose, we have the privilege of mysteriously, subtly, overtly, humorously, in rhyme or parable Etc. presenting Him before the reader. (Think of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien) We are to be similar to the woman in John 4. She was a Samaritan and met Jesus at the village well. It changed her life. In a flurry of excitement see raced back into the village and told the men. Her testimony aroused their interest. They came to check out this wandering Nazarene. After two days on investigation they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the World.” (John 4:42)

We have a wonderful privilege to be creators of words on which people can ‘tread’ to meet the Master. What results from their encounter is not in your power to predict. However, as your readers has been reading the way your characters are portrayed there is an identification taking place. Their circumstances, their conflicts of fear, doubt, unbelief and faith with falls and failures perseverance and hope link the readers to the grace of Christ Jesus. It may take more than the two days the men of Samaria needed but when your readers encounter Jesus He has great delight in making Himself known.

Those who put their trust in Jesus will not have many ready answers. However, the words of another man in John 9 is all that is needed, “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” In a sense, as writers we can be the Lord’s ‘clay’ He puts on the eyes, mind and heart of a person prior to washing away their blindness.

 

 

More than a name - Immanuel

Do you know the meaning of your name? There is something fascinating about why you were given your name and what it means. Those I know who have done family history, especially with family links to England, are constantly amazed at who it includes. Of course, Biblically we are not surprised at the importance attached to being given a name, or having it changed. We see that in such cases as Abram into Abraham, Jacob into Israel, Cephas into Peter. There is also the prophetic aspect inherent in names.

As Christmas creeps up on us one name will emerge and linger for a time. Immanuel! However, is this merely a name or is it a prophetic description defining the person? Both! Isaiah 7:14  is where the name emerges and points beyond that moment to a future event. That was fulfilled with the announcement by Gabriel to Mary that the child she was to bear would be Jesus, and also be Immanuel.

In the Old Testament  the Creator is seen as being keen to share in the life of His chosen people. When the tabernacle furnishings were complete the ark of the covenant became the symbol of His presence. When the Nation was on its marches the ark was carried in the midst of the tribes who travelled under their respective banners. That underlies the meaning of Immanuel. It is 'God with us' God in our midst.'

At Christmas time when we apply the name to Jesus it arouses certain strong feelings. Is it merely a name or is it descriptive of the very nature of the Man? "Who do you say I am" was the challenge of Jesus to His disciples. Peter's response showed his growing awareness "You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Living God!" (Matthew 16:16). That would be challenged repeatedly until after the resurrection from the tomb Thomas reaffirmed it most emphatically. He said ""My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). From that moment on the awareness grew about the babe of Bethlehem, the man of Galilee, the Rabbi of Nazareth and the crucified one. He was Immanuel in the flesh. The mystery of the Godhead revealed in the one designated as 'The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world' (John 1:29).

Of course there are those who disagree. That is their privilege. It should be treated with respect. It is also their danger. That should make us sad on their behalf. Why? Because of what Peter talked about from the day of Pentecost. There is no other Name under heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). This is reaffirming what Jesus said about Himself prior to the cross (John 14:6). That salvation embraces numerous factors and most would be expresses of His Christmas name and designation, Immanuel. For it is His desire to turn our lives from 'slum city' into the 'Temple of God' by His indwelling presence. It is His promise that where two or more are gathered in His name, He is in their midst. It is the declaration of Scripture at a future point in God's purposes Jesus will reign in the midst of the Nations  - that will be from Jerusalem!

Jesus is Immanuel in both name and person. The question all will face again at Christmas time is 'do I believe it?' If so how do I live out that relationship in my life?

Who is the Christ of Christmas

It is a valid point which a questioner raised. Who is the Christ you want to put back into Christmas? How do you know Him or even where to learn about Him? Certainly not from postcards or even lovely Sunday school stories (though they are often tell things about Him). Some pulpits are even dangerous in their explanation of Jesus as the Messiah. The best, safest and most interesting meeting point is the Bible’s account.

From Genesis to the Gospel there is an unveiling of the One promised and how to recognise Him when He arrives. This then leads into the challenge of making Him known to an unsympathetic world. The book of Acts and the following letters present the case for Jesus as the Son of god, the promised Saviour and the only One before whom we bow and say “my Lord and my God.”

A person either meets Jesus or misses Him through the dimension of faith in the Bible’s testimony. I like to say positive faith draws a person into Christ’s realm. Negative faith (a.k.a unbelief) locks Him out. There can be no Christmas without the reality of a person known as Jesus the Christ. There could never have been a Christmas without the event known as the cross of Calvary. There would not be this debate about His person and achievements without His personal resurrection from the tomb.  The following poem seeks to wrestle with the opening question and the choice positive or negative faith has on the outcome.

Jesus, who are you,

Friend or foe,

Beelzebub or Emmanuel,

Blasphemer or prophet,

How can we know?

The cross,

The cross will show

Who you are!

Jesus, what said the cross.

Victor or villain

Hanging in agony,

Fulfilling prophesy.

How can we know?

The tomb,

The tomb will show

Who you are!

Jesus, what said the tomb?

Conquered or conqueror,

Body decayed or glorified?

Guards, disciples know,

He's Risen!

Yes risen, and it shows

Who you are.

Jesus, what can I say

You're Emmanuel

Before whom I bow.

Now all can know

Jesus,

Jesus Christ, Saviour

Is who you are!

Now I understand who is the Christ of Christmas! He is Jesus!

Copyright Ray Hawkins Nov 26 2017.
Bethlehem's Warrior Baby is available at Christian bookshops and as an ebook.

Clues defining Christmas.

Christmas is no standalone festival. It is tied with unbreakable cords to Calvary. Both of these testimonies to Jesus are bound within the Judeo-Christian Scriptures. Cynics glibly dismiss their historicity or speak simplistically of either or both.

Christmas has woven within the books from Genesis to Malachi ‘jigsaw’ clues to the future coming of a Kinsman-Redeemer through Israel. Some are easy to find, others well camouflaged. The possibility of them all merging into one person at one moment in time is astronomical, impossible! Yet Jesus issued the challenge to check Him out through the Jewish Bible and see whether or not the clues point to Him.

Similarly, with Calvary and the events leading up to the cross numerous clues are presented. The challenge of the Bible is for the sincere investigator to assemble the clues, compile a picture and measure it against the Gospel accounts about Jesus.

Truth awaits the seeker. Truth eludes the insincere, the lazy and those happy to be ignorant. The importance of knowing the Truth is always in its power to save from falsehood and living a lie. In regards to discovering the Truth about Jesus the fallout has implications for time and eternity.

Christmas and Calvary actually provide a beautiful unity in which each fulfils the other reason for existing. So, when I celebrate Christmas it is because of the Easter (Jewish Passover) event. When I participate in the resurrection remembrance of Jesus I’m conscious of why Christmas was necessary.

As I close and wish you the wonder, the joy and the promise of Christmas I do it in the certainty of the events of Calvary and the garden tomb. The following poem sums it up.

Christmas and Calvary linked

The cross, would over the manger hover,

Straw, freshly cut the babe did cover.

Yet portraying a tomb, new and unused

Jesus’ body, newly crucified laid inside

Until His resurrection cast death aside.

When angels sang at Jesus’ birth

They proclaimed the One beyond earth

Whose destiny pointed to Calvary!

There, His body would taste death’s savagery,

Leaving scars, His risen body’s testimony.

When the Heaven’s blazed with light

Satan’s kingdom shuddered with fright.

His plan, eradicate Jesus permanently

By crucifixion, on charges of blasphemy

All annulled, when Jesus rose triumphantly!

On the 3^rd day the earth quaked, the stone rolled,

Now shown, the tomb empty, as was foretold.

Christmas’ mission fulfilled at Calvary

Our forgiveness offered through their unity,

Verified by Christ’s resurrection victory!

©Ray Hawkins Dec. 2016.

Christmas mayhem shopping.

Christmas shopping in our Western World is mayhem and madness. Watching the stampedes as shoppers invade stores for so called bargains is frightening. I wonder how many sing the Christmas time blues throughout the new year as they either repay credit cards or enrich pharmacists for medication to ease battered and bruised bodies. A lot of serious commentary could be said about this mania.  But, we all know about it, a few are fortunate to escape it and others revel in the tussle, bustle and hustle  of competing for the bargains.

So, I resurrected a poem to share. It's light hearted without any moral, pious or hidden meaning. If any men read it, they might relate to it. Women, if they have time from their shopping to read this blog, may see me as a misogynist with a fear of shops and sale persons. Not completely correct - only half true. However, the greater worry for all should be over the commercialising of the beauty of Christmas.

There’s no stopping my wife

When she takes me shopping.

All is fair game.

No sense of shame

In the shopping mall jungle

Where she loves to trundle

With Christmas bundle

Of things marked down

From DVD's to dressing gowns.

Down one floor

Up another,

From basement buys

To roof-top highs.

Methodically,

Intently,

Single file we tramp

To outfit me

For Christmas revelry,
Cost effectively.

Sale persons

Quake in fear

As we draw near.

They’ve seen it before.

Coming through the door

Woman towing man,

She with a gleam,

He fit to scream.

Fearing the worst,

Forbidden to curse,

They guard the racks,

Take children out the back

                                                                    Safe from a wife

Who takes husband shopping. 

Returning home,

Hearing moans,

Seeing tears,
Neighbours peer.

A husband, burdened with gear

From knees to ears.

Women cheer.

Men steer clear.

All seem to know

What I’m carrying
Is not for me,
But for she...
...Who took me shopping.

Then when Christmas comes we sing "Peace on earth, goodwill to men!"
Raymond N. & Mary E Hawkins (C) 4/12/2016

When 'Clay-pots' offend

To offend – or not to offend isn’t really the question. It is impossible not to offend as we live in a diverse and often perverse society. Christmas offends some and others are upset by the Islamic Ramadan or Hindu festivals. Atheists get agitated by' God speak' and evolutionists become frantic when a person believes the Bible’s account of Creation. There are those who cannot abide people from other nations and find it impossible to be courteous to them.

From the Christian perspective in trying not to offend those who disagree with us is actually offensive. We denigrate our faith and thereby our Lord. The issue isn’t about what is in the Christian faith that riles others, but our response when people react. It has been apparent over the Christmas season that some, wanting to be nice, sold out their faith or heritage. Appeasement never solves the problem, it simply pushes it into another issue when the offended person is upset again.

Jesus on earth was the great offender! He upset people’s belief system, elitism, taboos regarding eating with the socially unaccepted. (Check Him out with the Tax collector, Matthew – The Samaritan woman and others such as Luke 7:36-50 – Roman soldiers Etc). Jesus unmasked hypocrisy with strong words (Matthew 23), yet at the same time with grace. The Lord felt sorrow, not glee for those whom He had to rebuke. His example is a tough one to follow, yet by His grace and presence, that is what we must do.

The great offence Jesus caused was not what He said, but what happened to Him! It causes people to be upset ever today because it speaks against their ‘goodness.’ It challenges their religious views of god, salvation and worship. What happened to Jesus? He was crucified! Politics and hatred were the human factors for this event. However, God used it to make His Son the Saviour of all who put their trust in Him. This faith isn’t in a dead corpse but in the risen Lord. Jesus took our deserved judgement so that He might bestow upon us undeserved righteousness and eternal life. Read about it in the New Testament.

The cross offends. When you read the history of the Church the message of the crucified and risen Lord stirs up self-righteous indignation. This is still happening even though Christians return good for evil, feed the hungry and care for the sick. How does the Lord want us to respond? To pray for those who are offended and become aggressive. To turn the other cheek (if that is hit what then?) But not back away and thus deny the Lord. To be gracious in response and caring by helping those who oppose the cross is not weakness but Christlikeness. Jesus did tell His followers that they would be similar to sheep amongst the wolves. The fact was the wolves would be afraid of the sheep (and their message).

We offend without even saying a word. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 says Christians are similar to clay pots filled with a precious perfume. It seeps out. That fragrance is the saving, transforming, forgiving, rejoicing and eternal presence of Christ. When we move amongst people they will be affected by this spiritual aroma. Some will appreciate it. Some will wonder what it is. Others will be offended and want to get rid of it. Over the years many, many, many ‘clay-pot disciples’ have paid a high price for simply being fragranced by Christ and His word.

Therefore, if you are a Christian don’t be surprised that you are offensive to some one. However, let it draw you closer to Christ and His word so that His grace in you might be the way you respond.

Ray Hawkins 28/12/2015.

God's Special Day(s)

We all have special days. Some we celebrate, others bring back unwanted memories. Some, such as birthdays, are individual. Wedding anniversaries involve two. Society has its special days also. For Aussies it is Australia Day and Anzac day (for some there is the Melbourne cup – a horse racing event). God also has His special days.

Psalm 118:24. ‘This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ What was this day alluding to? We could in all honesty say “Christmas” but in this case we would be wrong. However, without the Bethlehem birth event God’s special day could not have happened – at least the way it did. Before we have a quick look at ‘this day’ we will take the time to consider the fact of other special God days.

The precise day and date are not recorded for our benefit, I believe. The fact is! The Son of God came into this world on the day the Lord had made. Paul refers to it as ‘in the fullness of time.’ Galatians 4:4. It was the culmination of various prophecies such as Isaiah concerning the virgin (Isaiah 7:14 and Micah revealing the town of Bethlehem (Micah5:2).

Another specially marked day is called ‘The Day of the Lord.’ In fact, this term can apply to a number of different days but all are associated with wrath and judgement. The prophet Joel in his short book stresses these days. ‘The great and terrible day of the Lord [has] come.’ Joel 2:31. What would be needed in a place of safety! We are unable to build it, therefore, God must become the master builder Himself. God told Noah to build an ark as a safe place to ride out the promised world-wide flood. That’s grace preceding judgement. So too, the Lord provides a safe place from the great and final day of holy justice.

That is the day the Lord made according to Psalm 118. In fact that day had a lot of preliminary preparation so it could be recognised. Its shadow is in the Jewish Passover and also expressed in their daily sacrifices. Isaiah 53 gives it a more frightening dimension as it involves ‘the Servant’ taking upon Himself the role of the Passover lamb. When did that day take place? When Jesus was crucified at Calvary. I find it interesting and quite emotional at times to know Jesus read this psalm in the upper room.

In Acts 2 Peter’s sermon about the cross and the risen Lord explains ‘this day.’ To anyone looking at the arrest and crucifixion it would appear earthly authorities were in control. Peter, in effect says what they did was used by God the Father to achieve His plans through the life and death of His Son. It was ‘the Day the Lord had made!’ Just as was the very day of Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost (Feast of Weeks). Because Jesus had conquered death, one of the purposes behind Christmas, it was possible for the Holy Spirit to come to us.

That brings us to the final mention (though not the final list of ‘days’) for this blog on the day the Lord has made. ‘Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ (2Corinthians 6:2) It is the day of grace. It has been extended beyond 24hours so you and I could take advantage of it. As with any day it has a cut of time to it. Therefore, as we dwell upon the wonder of Christmas become aware that was the day the Lord made. Why? So we could find a place of safety from the judgement of God on that day known only to Him. How do we enter into that safe refuge? By acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God, the promised Messiah and the One who paid our death penalty. When we believe in our heart that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to His Father we will cry out to Him to forgive and keep us. He will hear and receive.

When you do that – or whenever you did it – You actually allow God to make another day. This time it is all about your day with God. You are able to say, on the assurance of God’s promise ‘This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!”

©Ray Hawkins Dec 28 2015.

Assassins of Christmas

They hide behind legal jargon with godless intent. Once they were covert in their opposition to Christian festivals, now they are running rampant. Those would be Assassins of Christmas are part of a wide spread movement which seems to have hit the news lately.

Some in authority want to call Christmas holiday season or festival of lights. One Government official didn’t want the Christmas tree called by that term. Banning Nativity plays and Carols about Christ under the pretence it offends other religions is spurious nonsense. The latent animosity within the World system towards Christ, the Bible and Christian concepts and morality has broken out, with gusto!

I call such people King Herod’s kith and kin. In Matthew’s Gospel chapter 2 is the account of his endeavour to kill the Baby Jesus. To do that he was indiscriminate. All boy babies two and under were to be killed in Bethlehem. Jesus was whisked away to Egypt by Joseph and Mary. Bethlehem means ‘house of bread’ but Herod made it the town of tears.

Today’s brood of Herod sympathisers cannot get their hands on the risen Christ Jesus. So, they resort to trying to eradicate expressions of His reality and message. In extreme cases this is the ideology of IS in their killing of Christians. In less graphic ways lawsuits are filed against Christians standing for Christian marriage and morality. One non-Christian religious leader even said to his people, to wish others a “merry Christmas” was worse than murder. Even having Christian prayer breakfasts are now anathema.

Whether they realise it or not, such assassins are creating for their communities ‘township of tears’. Why do I think that? By looking into the regions where the Christian faith and heritage are either unknown or are a persecuted minority. Fatalism rules and corruption is ‘king.’ There is a hopelessness unrelieved by the compassion and promises of Christ Jesus. There isn’t anything to sing about which could rival the joy and message of Christmas carols. We hear in Australia a lot about violence against women without appreciating how the Christmas event has elevated the status of a woman. What the virgin birth tells us should flow into the mindset of a community.

What do we gain from looking at Mary as the chosen vessel for the Messiah’s coming? Women are held in high esteem by the Creator and Redeemer God. The beautiful imagery of The Church as the Bride of Christ, New Jerusalem portrayed as a bride, plus the esteemed women in biblical history reaffirm that conviction. Any man who violates a woman offends his manliness, his biblical mandate and denies the Lord Jesus Christ’s example and teachings. How superior is this to Islam’s treatment of women in their judicial system, not to mention the use of young girls as bride material!

How are we to respond to these Assassins of Christmas? By standing our ground! By expressing our Joy in the Lord! By sharing the merriment and message that the Promised One has come and his name is Jesus! By inviting the assassins to share in the celebrations we enjoy! By living out the quality of life and the treatment of each other as taught by and lived out by Jesus, the warrior babe of Bethlehem.

Ray Hawkins Dec 14th 2015.

Star! Stable! Saviour!

When 'Star! Stable! Saviour' arrived I opened it and then lost it. Mary took it. Read it and said "This is great for us to read to our grandchildren." Mary loved the way the letter 'S' took you through the story.

I wanted some of my Grandchildren to pass their comments on the book by Cameron Semmens.

Serena aged 8 said "I really liked the rhyming, my favourite part. It was weird to have scientists, rather than the wise men come to see Jesus. I thought it was a nice book."

Clint aged 10 said "Nice, cleverly set out book. I really liked the rhyming. All together a good book."

Adam aged 6 read some of it and had some read to him. He enjoyed it, especially the pictures. He did say the letter 'S' was used a lot and it was fun.

All in all, this is a well produced, easy and fun to read for children about the most wonderful event of Christmas. Even better, according to Mary, is to read it to the young children.

Highly recommended by those for whom it was written. Also, by we who would read it to them.


About the Author

Cameron Semmens is a poet, entertainer and poetry educator with 15 books to his name. He makes his living through words: performing, running workshops and book design. He lives in the Dandenong Rangers with his wife and two children.

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This book was received by me from ACRBA for reviewing purposes.
You can check out there website for further information.
This book is published by Wombat Books. Should be available in Christian bookshops.
See Wombat Publishing website

the Christmas Sign

Moses captured the enslaved Israelites' attention through the signs and wonders Yahweh did through him. Until then, it would seem that the people were in a dejected and defeated mood. The Lord God also revealed the impotency of Egypt’s idols at the same time. The ten plagues were God’s declaration that He, and He alone, is sovereign. As such, He will bring judgement upon the gods of the nations (Exodus 12:12).
    
Signs became a feature of the Eternal God’s dealings with the people of Israel. The apostle Paul expresses this in 1 Corinthians 1:22: ‘Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom.’  Time and again in His ministry Jesus was asked for a sign, presumably from Heaven, that would verify who He was and what He did. Why they couldn’t grasp His miracles as such is beyond understanding. Jesus, however, did give them one sign, the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:38,39).

There is another sign, God given, which validates Christmas for all – especially a Jewish person. It was given at the Lord’s direction through Isaiah to King Ahaz that a virgin would bring forth a child and call his name Emmanuel (7:14). The sign would be from Yahweh and done by Him. Somehow or other, God would bring this sign to fruition without the power, cunning or strategy of man.

It was that glorious night the angels shattered the Bethlehem darkness when the promised sign came into being. Luke 2:11-12: ‘Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manager.’ What was so striking about this birth? We know the story so well that we miss the emotional aspects of it. How would anyone have known the details of Jesus’ birth unless Mary and Joseph, at God’s direction, told Matthew and Luke! The intimacy of pregnancy and, in Mary and Joseph’s case, the potential for embarrassment and misunderstanding, reveals how important the uncovering of this sign was. It remains so today!

You can imagine the innuendoes, wagging tongues and slander that erupted when the Gospel began circulating. Who would put themselves into such an emotional and religious cauldron if the birth of Jesus had not taken place this way? Then again, if He had never risen from the dead, no one would have been interested. Therefore, what is recorded about the birth of Jesus is to authenticate it as the fulfilment of the Isaiah declaration. Matthew makes this quite clear when he writes what the angel of the Lord said to Joseph: ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, because he will save his people from their sins all this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, 'God with us.’ (Matthew 1:20-23).

Some think it unimportant to stress the virgin birth of Jesus. Part of their claim comes from the paucity of direct reference to it in the Epistles. However, the necessity for such a birth is everywhere inferred. Without it Jesus could not have been the second Adam; Jesus could not have been sinless, for He would have had a soul nature corrupted by the fall; His human spirit would have been dead to God (Ephesians 2:1-4); if He was born of ‘the flesh’ then He would be blemished in the sight of God the Father. There is no way Jesus’ crucifixion would be able to deal with humankind’s sin through substitution and identification, for He would have been in need of saving Himself.

R.N.Hawkins

This is a chapter from the 31 day devotional 'Bethlehem's Warrior Baby' available from Christian bookshops, Amazon etc and as an ebook.

Subversive Prayer of Jesus

The Lord’s Prayer.

Prayer made headlines in the past week. An advertisement for the Lord’s Prayer to be played in cinemas was denied. Reasons given included it might offend people who are not Christians, or sympathetic to the Christian Faith.

Predictably, a furore arose because the cinema’s fear of offending was doing just that. It was also breaking anti-discrimination laws. Some other religious bodies and an Atheist organisation supported the Church of England’s right to have it screened.

That is great for Freedom of speech and freedom of Religion. What was shown up in all this was the stupidity of Political Correctness. It also unmasks the subtle changes taking place to isolate Christ, the Church and weaken our Christian heritage. This can be seen in the demeaning of Christmas by certain intolerant Imams, weak city councils and indifferent politicians.

As I thought about the cinema’s reaction to the Lord’s Prayer advertisement they had a point. This finely crafted prayer, loved by many, is subversive, exclusive, prophetic and challenging. This should be a reason for not showing it, but it does say something about the human heart. Within all of us there is an awareness we all have to meet the Lord God, Creator and judge one day. There is either a fear or a joy in this prospect.

This prayer points to a future event as well as God’s expectation of us and ours of Him. Jesus gave this Rabbinic styled prayer to His disciples. It is therefore Jewish in nature and builds on what the prophets of Israel foretold. The Christian Church has claimed it for its own, as it has the right to do, without forgetting the original presentation and environment.

How is it subversive? Because it talks about ‘Our Father!’

We often forget that God is creator of us all, but He is the Father of the nation of Israel (Isaiah 64:8).

The Church is the creation of Christ through His death on the cross and resurrection. He is our Head and Lord.

Jesus didn’t have to prayer ‘our Father!’ Jesus is the Son, eternal, unique and the One who reveals the Father. (John 14:6-13.   10:30.) It is this very fact that upsets Islam. They call Jesus a liar when they say ‘God has no Son!’ However, they are correct when they say ‘Allah’ has no son – for he isn’t the eternal God of creation, redemption and Love.

It is prophetic because it points to a time when the Son of God sets up the promised Kingdom and rules the world from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2 and Zechariah 14. Etc). This kingdom is not wanted, except by those who belong to Christ. It is opposed by a counterfeit caliphate which is doing everything in its power to prevent its coming.

It is challenging because of its implied and explicit demands. The requirement to forgive can be very difficult, yet it holds within it the wonder of grace, liberty and and inner healing.

The Lord’s Prayer is exclusive. To be able to say “our Father” means a person has been spiritually born through His power. This comes about by a personal faith in Jesus as the Son of God, the promised Saviour who was crucified, entombed and rose again on the third day (John 3. Romans 10).

Maybe, just maybe, unseen forces were at play endeavouring to prevent this well known, well-loved prayer being shown. Behind political correctness and other anti-Christian actions lies the power of Darkness.

 However, John1:1-5 tells us about Jesus coming into this World and being the Light of the Word. Verse 5 reminds us of ultimate victory: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not (will not, cannot) overcome it.”

Ray Hawkins

Nov 29^th 2015.