Longing For Peace?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

Peace

We are in the midst of the Christmas season. It’s a time to be merry. A time to celebrate with family. A time to give. Most importantly, it is a time to celebrate and learn more about Jesus’ birth. The church calendar commonly refers to this time of year as Advent. With Advent in full swing, I have been studying a lot about Jesus’ birth.

Jesus’ Birth Announcement

As we all know Jesus was born in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem. After his birth, an angel appeared to shepherds in a nearby field revealing to them the good news. As the angel wrapped up his report, a multitude of angels appeared singing praises to God.

Here is what they sang,

“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!“

What is in a Song?

Among other things, their song reveals Jesus brings peace to the world. His subsequent death on a cross will, and now has, purchased peace for man.

Peace, the Longing of Man

If we are honest with ourselves, we all want peace. We look for it in all sorts of ways. Some seek peace through drugs or alcohol. Others through the neighborhood in which they live. Still others through meditating, self-help books, or vacations. 

But you know what? The peace we seek cannot be found in earthly things. No matter what we do, we will never experience true peace until our relationship with God is restored. The only way to restore our relationship with God is through Jesus.

It’s Christmas, and I am an evangelical, so I have to ask: Do you believe Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior? Have you experienced the peace only He can offer? If you haven’t turned to Jesus, turn to Him. Repent of your sins. Submit your life to Him. The peace you are seeking is found only in Him.

Question for Reflection

  1. Have you experienced the peace only Jesus can provide?

Resource

Image

On Isaiah 9:6 & Jesus’ Incarnation

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, QuotesLeave a comment

The Son of God did not want to be seen and found in heaven. Therefore he descended from heaven into this humility and came to us in our flesh, laid himself into the womb of his mother and into the manger and went on to the cross.

This was the ladder that he placed on earth so that we might ascend to God on it.

Question for Reflection

  1. What should our response be to Jesus’ incarnation?

Resources

Martin Luther on Isaiah 9:6 via Stephen J. Nichols, Peace: Classic Readings for Christmas, 56-57.

Image

4 Reasons Christian Community is Important

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Practical5 Comments

People in Transit

Some see Christian community as optional.  They don’t see Christian community as a necessary part of their Christian life. It is a take it or leave it sort of thing. They go to church when they want, and they associate with other Christians on their terms.

I, however, believe Christian community is an important and necessary part of our Christian life. It is something all Christians should strive to cultivate.

4 Reasons Christian Community is Important

First, being apart of a Christian community is important because it’s vital for Christian growth.

We need other Christians to teach us, encouragement us, pray for and with us. We need other Christians to hold us accountable and provide us with godly counsel. All of which are vital for Christian growth. Without them, we might grow some, but we aren’t going to become fully mature disciples of Christ.

Second, being apart of a Christian community is important because it’s vital for our well being.

Being apart of a Christian community means that when we fall on hard times, we have somewhere to turn. We can count on the church for financial assistance and general care. All of which are vital to our well being.

Third, being apart of a Christian community is important because it’s vital for our mission.

As Christians we are called to make disciples. Making disciples includes winning people to Christ, baptizing them, and teaching them, so that they become fully mature followers of Jesus Christ. In order to be an effect witness, we need Christian community. In order to effectively teach others, we need Christian community.

Lastly, being apart of a Christian community is important because community is a Grace.

It is a gift God has given us. Sadly many in the American church don’t recognize it as a gift of God. I think that’s because we are free to worship as we please, where we please, and with whom we please. We have taken for granted what we have. Commenting on this one writer says,

“It is true, of course, that what is an unspeakable gift of God for the lonely individual is easily disregarded and trodden under foot by those who have the gift every day. It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us… Therefore, let him who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians praise God’s grace from the bottom of his heart. Let him thank God on his knees and declare: It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren.” [1]

Conclusion

Christian community is important and its something we should desire. All believers should want to be apart of a Christian community. To gather together with other believers. To fellowship with them. To do life together with them. To worship with them. By nature Christians are a communal people. God has set it up that way, and we should honor God’s design. We should be apart of a community of believers.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do you believe Christian community is important?
  2. Would you add another point to my four above?

Resources

Want to learn more? You should check out:

Image

[1] Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 20

How Should We Respond to the Good News of Jesus During Advent?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals1 Comment

Sycamore Baptist Church Snow

Advent is the season leading up to Jesus’ birth. During this time of year we will exchange greetings of Merry Christmas, send Christmas cards to friends and family, and post many sayings on Facebook and Twitter such as: ”Jesus is the reason for the season” or “Let’s keep Christ in Christmas.”

These things are good. They not only cause us to think about Jesus, but they cause others who may never consider Jesus to do so.

While it is good and right for us to do these things, what I’m afraid of is that even though we speak about Jesus, write about Him, and celebrate His birth this time of year, we may not really know how the Bible calls us to respond to the good news of Jesus Christ.

How should we respond to the good news of Jesus Christ? In other words, what should we do after hearing the message of the gospel? The shepherds’ response in Luke chapter two acts as a model.

The Shepherds’ Response

The First Way They Respond is Immediately

In verses 15-16, Luke writes,

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.”

Our response should be identical. When we hear the good news of Jesus – that He has come to save us, to restore our relationship with God, and make peace for us – we should respond immediately by seeking to confirm the truth of the message.

If we are apathetic and lackadaisical, it means we have not yet grasped the magnitude of the message, or our need for a Savior. As well as it means we don’t understand that this world cannot offer us the peace that only Christ can offer.

The Second and Third Way They Respond is by Believing and Telling Others the Good News.

In verses 17-18, Luke writes,

“And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.”

We should not only believe the gospel message, but we should also respond as the shepherds did by telling others. That is the proper response, and it should be our response.

The Last Way They Respond is by Glorifying and Praising God. 

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” (Luke 2:20)

We too should respond by glorifying and praising God. In other words, God’s beauty, splendor, and majesty should capture our imaginations and thought, as well as we should obey His commandments, submitting to His rule over our life, and telling others about Him.

Why should we respond in this way?

Because God Himself has come to this earth to rescue us from death and destruction.

He planned out His rescue mission before the foundations of the world. Directed history to fulfill His plan. A plan He Himself fulfilled by leaving His throne in heaven, being born as a man in a manger, and going to the cross to die the death we should die, so that we might have life.

Isn’t that amazing? The King, the Creator of this world has come to rescue us from death and destruction while we were His enemies.

That is why we should glorify and praise God. That is why the message the Angel brought to the shepherds was good news. That is why we should respond to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Have you responded to the good news by searching out the truth?
  2. Have you responded to the good news by believing in Jesus?
  3. Have you responded to the good news by telling others the gospel?
  4. Have you responded to the good news by glorifying and praising God?

On Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, Quotes3 Comments

Repentance and faith are heart postures you take toward the finished work of Christ. You might express the beginning of that posture in a prayer. But don’t make the mistake of equating that prayer with the posture.

The sinner’s prayer is not a magic incantation or a recipe you follow to get a salvation cake.

The real stuff – the stuff that matters – is the posture of repentance and faith behind the words you speak. The prayer is good only insofar as it verbalizes the posture.

Questions for Reflection

  1. What do you think of the sinners prayer?

Resources

J.D. Greear, Stop asking Jesus into your heart, 7.

Image

4 Reasons Vacationing is Important

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Family, PracticalLeave a comment

Savannah

Thanksgiving was a time of rest and relaxation for me. I traveled back home with my wife and 7 month old son. It was an adventure. An ice storm threatened to keep us grounded and Camden’s first flight. Did I mention he is 7 months old?

When I started my vacation, I decided I was actually going to vacation. I wasn’t going to work remotely. Instead I would leave my work at home, avoid emails, and let my blog go dormant (you might have noticed).

For the most part, I succeeded. There were a few odds and ends I had to take care of. A bit of forward planning for my Christmas series. But mostly I vacationed. As I did, I realized how important it is to take time off. With that said, I want to give you 4 reasons vacationing is important.

4 Reasons Vacationing is Important

(1) It gives you time with your family.

The demands of work, especially work as a pastor, can easily monopolize your time. Vacation gives you an opportunity to put your family first, catch up on what’s been going on, and be there to enjoy every moment with your family.

(2) It provides time for some much needed fun.

Having fun is important and some could even argue necessary. Reports have shown those who laugh live longer than those who don’t. What better time to laugh and have fun than on vacation.

(3) It recharges you.

I love what I do. I wouldn’t want to do anything else. Even so, pushing hard week in and week out can be draining. It wears on you, which is why you need time to recharge.

(4) It allows your mind and body to recuperate. 

Preparing sermons, writing, and counseling take a toll on your mental faculties. It wears them out, which is why vacation is important. It gives your mind and body time to rest and recuperate, allowing you to work at 100% again.

Question for Reflection

  1. What reasons would you add?