Let me tell you about one of my favorite words in the English language - transformation. To transform -- to change the character of someone..I love that word because it gives me lots of hope..that where this world is at - that the pain we see so many people in every day - and that the state our relationships or families or our own lives may be in - can change - can be transformed..to something better..
I think in some small way we all long to feel transformation in our lives..
STORY - my first gun.
You know, I read the Christmas story over and over in the Bible - just to get more acquainted with some of the characters..and to let my heart and mind absorb all that God might have for me and us - to learn from this Christmas season. The characters who stood out the most to me were the shepherds..mostly because they just didn't seem to fit..Let me explain.
The story says this..Luke 2:8 - "That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep." (PICS?) Living out in the fields nearby..shepherds in that day and time were among the lowliest and poorest of people. They were on the bottom rung of any social ladder - the lowest in the pecking order. Many shepherds had once been orphans or criminals..It was a job out of town - in the hills - off the beaten track if you know what I mean..
A job - that no one checked for references on their resumes.
So often they were guys with pretty tough or shady backgrounds..
people just trying to hold down a job and restart their lives..or they were simply born poor without a whole lot of choices in life and they became a shepherd at 18 and could never find fame or energy or money to go and do something else..
Anyways, understanding who the shepherds were was a good thing this week for me - 'cause it gave me hope..lots of hope..because look what happened next:
Luke 2:9-14 - "Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!' Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others praising God: 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to all whom God favors.'"
Listen to verse 8 again - "That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep." So here we have a bunch of shepherds..you pick a number - 4 or 5..maybe 6 - and they've got the sheep bedded down for the night..and there's a campfire going..Maybe they're having a late supper and swapping stories..or singing a few sheepherder country songs..
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At any rate..they're having a pretty quiet evening. And just when it's time to curl up in their sleeping bags and drift off to sleep as they watch stars twinkling and listen to the stillness and try to forget their troubles and sadness..what happens?
BOOM! An angel appears..and not only that, but a really bright illuminated angel right from the throne of God. And the stillness of their night is shattered by God's light. The angel says, "Boys, I've got some great news to tell everybody, so don't be afraid.
Today in the town of Bethlehem, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah..the Holy One everyone has been waiting for."
Now here's the part I couldn't wrap my head around. Why did the angel tell some lowlife shepherds this great news? And why did they hear first? And why did this announcement of great joy for all people come by angel messenger to some shepherds in a field? Doesn't that seem strange? I mean, wouldn't telling someone with power and authority like a government official or the king - have been a more dignified way and a little more effective?
Well, here's where we see the mystery and grace of God at work.
and it's wonderful. Let me give you one or two thoughts on why these shepherds heard from God first..
God is interested in individuals, not just humanity all together.
Notice what the angel said to these boys, "Today in the town of Bethlehem a Savior has been born to you . To you guys- you shepherds with muddy pasts..you there with no education - you there with no money - and you with no parents or home - Jesus was born for you..a Savior for each of you personally. Yes, Jesus is for all of mankind, but God wanted you guys to know that He has come for you too.
In fact, God wanted you to know how precious and special you are to Him, fellas..and so, God sent me to tell you first.."
And people, you need to hear this. God knows your name too. He hears your prayers..even those silent ones you pray before you drift off to sleep. God sees your joy and He sees your tears, and the good news of Jesus isn't just for the whole world..It's for you personally - no matter who you are, where you've been or what state your soul is in -- you are precious to God.
Then our angel is joined by a thousand other angels with a message of praise to God before these shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest..and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."
Here we have another message personally directed to these shepherds who needed some soul calmness. See, these shepherds had a lot of stillness time..they were good at stillness externally, but internally they had no peace. And this message was good news -- a message that changed their lives..and it's a message we need to internalize this Christmas..
Jesus brings peace - inside. Now, let's read how that message created action in those shepherds' lives..how it transformed them.
Luke 2:15-18 - "When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, 'Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished."
These lowly shepherds suddenly became preachers..They ran off and spread the news to anyone who would listen..of how this baby Jesus would bring peace - personal peace to our souls - a transformational peace.
Folks, peace is one of the hardest concepts to comprehend..and yet it is most vitally needed. Peace is often thought of as an emotion or something that simply happens to us during a moment of tranquility. Well, it is much more than that..Peace is defined by action and it is grown by faith.
Johann Arnold, in his book Seeking Peace said this, "Peace has nothing to do with passivity or resignation. It is not for the spineless or self-absorbed, or for those content with a quiet life. Peace demands that we live honestly before God, before others, and in the light of our own conscience. Peace is a relentless pursuit kept up only with hope and courage, vision and commitment. Thus the search for it cannot be a selfish one. It cannot be merely a question of finding fulfillment, achieving closure, or, as Aristotle put it, actualizing our human potential. No! To seek peace means to seek harmony within ourselves, with others, and with God."
Arnold would tell us that peace is a quest. It isn't something we realize and attain suddenly..but instead peace is gained as we walk hand in hand with God - every day - it's a process. Again, it comes from our awareness that God is with us - Emmanuel - God with us - inside - so all is well. And that fact - that God is with us (Emmanuel) -
that Jesus was born for us..to find that peace - When we really get that and what it can mean for us, there's a change that happens within us..a transformation if you will..
Let me tell you another story of transformation. Skip ahead about 32 years in Jesus' life..Jesus is now traveling with his followers from town to town - city to city..spreading the good news of God's love and healing many people physically and spiritually.
John 9:1, 6-11 - "As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.He spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and smoothed the mud over the blind man's eyes. He told him, 'Go and wash in the pool of Siloam' (Siloam means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing! His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, 'Is this the same man - that beggar?' Some said he was, and others said, 'No, but he surely looks like him!' And the beggar kept saying, 'I am the same man!' They asked, 'Who healed you? What happened?'
He told them, 'The man they call Jesus made mud and smoothed it over my eyes and told me, "Go to the pool of Siloam and wash off the mud." I went and washed, and now I can see!'"
I love that story because it's a story of transformation..and hope. A man that was blind from birth had spent 20 or 30 or 40 years living in darkness - is transformed in a moment and in a single encounter with Jesus. But the story isn't done there..
Some of the religious leaders of the day had a problem with the process by which Jesus did this miracle..He didn't follow the exact protocol and He healed a man on the Sabbath - a holy day when you were supposed to rest - not work..Well Jesus did it anyway..He looked through the red tape and into the heart. And so they (the religious leaders) condemned the act, downplayed it, and degraded Jesus and the man who was healed..And when he tried to defend what had happened by simply saying, "Well guys, say what you want - but now I can see".they said this (v.34) - "'You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!' And they threw him out."
Now look at Jesus' response:
John 9:35-39 - "When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' The man answered, 'Who is he, sir, because I would like to.' 'You have seen him,' Jesus said, 'and he is speaking to you!' 'Yes, Lord,' the man said, 'I believe!' And he worshiped Jesus. Then Jesus told him, 'I have come to judge the world. I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.'"
I love this - Jesus actually goes back and finds the man..
because he knew what the man would be feeling - confused, beaten down, questioning. "I mean, maybe I'm not worthy of God's love.
Maybe it wasn't God who healed me..Maybe I am a useless beggar, even if I'm not blind now."
So Jesus goes back and helps him to "see" in other areas of his life - emotionally, relationally, and especially spiritually..And so the man is not just transformed physically, but spiritually as well - by an encounter with Jesus.
So, here's what I got thinking about this week..There's lots of ways to be blind - to walk in darkness in this life..And there's lots of us that stumble through life because we're blind or impeded in some way. Some of us are physically hindered. I talked with someone this week who has had a long term severe illness since 1988. Another - heart disease - fatigue. Another - cancer..again. Another - chemical imbalances. Here's the deal - people that are hurting physically are often clearer spiritually - They know Jesus is the only thing that keeps them strong..They ask every day for transformation..Their faith usually picks up during illness.
But what about the rest of us who have blindness in other ways? Like a past that needs healing and it's affecting everyone around us that we love. Or an addiction to booze or work or food or sex that we can't beat and it's running our lives and our families and our future. Or what about success - yes that's what I said - More clients, more sales, more money, more assets, more stuff, more time, more focus. Success, depending on how you define it, can be a huge area of blindness..
because the pursuit of success - if success is based on money and career and very little other than that..will eventually wither your soul and your family and your relationships..And you will have success, yes..but significance and soul nourishment will be dead. Folks, there's lots of ways to be blind..but what did Jesus say? "I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they can see that they are blind." (John 9:39)
Folks, let me tell you the truth. If you ever feel lost in life - or confused about the future - and lacking a little direction..If you question whether your family is gonna hold together over the long haul..or whether you are..
or if you have this longing deep within you to find answers to some nagging spiritual questions..Maybe an encounter with Jesus is what you need..
Maybe if you could just stop for a minute - slow it all down and have a good look into the eyes of Jesus..Maybe if you could just sit with him for a while..he'd begin to take the blinders off of life - physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally. He might show you the real meaning of success..
I want you to listen to a series of verses from the Bible..They are promises from God to those who humbly seek Him with their lives.
And I won't explain them - they do a pretty good job on their own.
Psalm 103:1-5, 8-13 - "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's..The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the lord has compassion on those who fear Him."
Psalm 32:7-8 - "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."
Jeremiah 29:11 - "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'"
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
Isaiah 30:21 - "Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"
Luke 11:9-10 - "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks."
Folks, Jesus is the answer. What's your question? And He has the ability to change your life..in ways you would never be able to imagine. Seek Him - Step into deeper faith this Christmas. |
