God’s Words and Light

Matthew 2:9-12

“ 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

During this time, many Jews were scattered throughout the Roman Empire and the East. With them they carried the hope of the Messiah as promised in the scriptures.

The Magi were aware of these scriptures and prophecies and were eager to see for themselves this promised Messiah.

God guided the Magi to Jesus using a special star that He knew would attract their attention.  With God’s help, they found the holy family who were now living in a house.  They worshiped the Messiah and presented him with gifts.

With God’s help, the Magi avoided another encounter with the jealous King Herod and were able to return home.

God’s ancient words, and God’s light in the heavens, led men from far away to see The Word and the light lying in His mother’s arms.

God incarnate.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Shepherds Keeping Watch

Luke 2:8-11

“8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

The shepherds were watching their flocks on an ordinary night.  There was nothing out of the ordinary.  Some of the shepherds may have been tired and sleepy from the day’s work.  

Suddenly, an angel appeared before them and a strange light emitted from him and surrounded them.  The shepherds were terrified to say the least.   Throughout the Bible, the first words of angels to people they encounter is “fear not.”  Apparently, their appearance is not the appearance of humans.  

Then the shepherds were told the good news.  The Messiah had been born.  The savior of the world was in the world.

The first people, other than Mary and Joseph, that God informed of the incarnation were lowly shepherds.  The greatest news in the history of humankind was not delivered to kings, diplomats, CEO’s, military commanders or religious leaders.

This news was given to people of no influence, no power, no education,  and no material wealth. 

Shepherds, watching their flocks by night, were given the news of all news.

The Messiah had been born.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Perfect Bed

Luke 2:6-7

“6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Have you ever traveled a long distance and arrived at your hotel tired and worn out only to find out that they had not held your reservation or that there was some mix-up and you received a smoking room with no view or balcony? Now, imagine that you had walked or ridden a camel for 90 miles, 20 miles a day for four and a half days and you were pregnant, and this happened.

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, they were probably very tired and in need of a room.  Yet, because of the influx of crowds of people who were in Bethlehem for the census, there were no rooms to be had. So they were relegated to staying either in a stable or a room where animals were kept. 

When Mary gave birth, she laid the savior of the world in a manger.  

The manger bed, normally the symbol of Mary and Joseph’s poverty, actually symbolizes God’s plan for the redemption of all of humanity.  Christ was not born in a palace.  He was not laid in a bed of gold.  He did not have servants attending His every need.  

Christ was born into the world so that all could be saved.  The manger represents the plan of salvation for all humankind.

And there was never a more perfect bed for such a savior.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Caught in the Wind of God’s Will

Luke 2:1-5

“1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.”

Emperor Augustus was Julius Caesar’s great nephew.   He  was also Rome’s first, and some say, greatest Emperor.  His reign was marked by great expansion of the Roman Empire and the building of great buildings and monuments in the city of Rome.

In order to support all of this, the Romans needed to know how many people were available who could pay the taxes that they would use to supply their armies, build new cities, etc.  Each person in the Roman Empire was required to travel back to the town of their birth to be registered (so that they could be taxed).  

Joseph and Mary had to travel approximately 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  If they were able to travel 20 miles per day by foot or by camel, it would have taken them four and a half days of constant travel.   This would have been a difficult journey for anyone.  It would have been especially difficult for Mary.

Is it any wonder that Mary gave birth in Bethlehem?

God’s plan was that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.   He used the needs and worldly ambitions of Rome, the ego of Augustus, the willingness of the Palestinian officials to comply with the edicts of Rome, and the strength and endurance of two very ordinary people (Joseph and Mary) to accomplish His will.

On the surface, Joseph and Mary appear to be helpless feathers caught in the winds of worldly powers.  But in reality, it was God that was working, it was God that was acting, it was God that was the moving force…

and it was Rome and the rulers of Palestine that were the feathers caught in the winds of God’s will.

“for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.” (Psalm 22:28)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

God With Us

John 6:38

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.”

Christ was born into the world to do the will of God.  It was God’s will that Christ be born; God’s will that Christ live among us; and God’s will that Christ be crucified.  This was God’s perfect plan for the redemption of the world.

Christ came so that others might have eternal life.  It was God’s will that all of humanity be saved through the sacrifice of Christ.  But before that sacrifice, Christ had to be born, and come into this world as a child, live in the world, and come to know, first hand, the sufferings and temptations of humanity.

Christ knows our hearts.  He was born as we are born, lived as we live, suffer as we suffer.

And that is why we call Him Emanuel.

God with us.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Son of God

John 1: 18

“18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.”

Christ is the Son.  We, the children of God, know God through the Son; through the life of Christ on earth we know the creator of the universe.

Not only can we know Him, we can have a living relationship with Him.  God will speak to us, guide us, and lead us through His Holy Spirit that dwells in every believer.

God has been made known through His Son, who was born into this world to bring the light of God.

Know Christ.  Know the Son.

And you will know God.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Love of God

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

Christ was born into this world because of love.  

First, there was the love of God for the world.  God’s love for His creation was so great that he sent His son into the world.  

Then there was the love and trust of Joseph and Mary for God.  The news of Mary’s pregnancy must have been shocking to both of them, yet they trusted God’s message to them to be the truth because of their love of God.

Mary and Joseph allowed themselves to be led by this truth, despite their doubts or the hardships that they knew they would face.

God’s love is born into the world because of ordinary people.  People like you and me. 

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Children of God

John 1:9-14

“9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.  14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.”

The light of God came into the world.  Most people who saw the light rejected it.  Some, such as Herod, tried to put out the light, but the light shone through the darkness.  

Those who saw the light and believed became children of God, born of God through faith and the Holy Spirit.

It is the children of God who now shine the light of Christ into the world.  It is through our example of love that this light shines forth.  

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Light

John. 1:4-5

“4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

The light of heavenly bodies and of angels served to guide people to the Christ child and when they saw Him, they saw the light of God in Him.

The light of God is life. The light of God shone in the life of Christ on earth, and this light was offered to all of humankind.

This light shone a light into the darkness of the human heart.  Many people came to faith,  others plotted to kill the light.

But the light shone forth.

And it shines even today.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Word Was Love

John 1:1-3

“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

Christ is the word who is and always has been God, the creator of all things.  And the Word became flesh and lived among us, the only Son of God.  

On earth, Jesus was God’s visible word.  He healed the sick.  He raised the dead.  He made the blind to see.

He was the example of kindness and forgiveness.

The word was born into this world.

And the word was love.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Wait with Assurance

Micah7:7

“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”

At some point in our lives, we make the decision to follow the Lord.  This involves embracing the life to which we are called, and listening to the voice and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Many times during our spiritual journeys we come to a standstill, to the valley of dry bones.  During these times, we must wait and pray, with the assurance that the God of all creation is present, that God’s love and mercy is never ending, and that God hears our prayers.

During our times of waiting, let us look to the Lord.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Waiting in Faith

Hosea 12:6

6 But as for you, return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.

An integral part of our relationship with God is waiting.  Not just waiting when we feel like it, but continually waiting.  

Waiting on God helps us to focus on God.  Being still before Him is an act of humility and submission.  When we wait, we submit ourselves to God’s will, God’s time, God’s plan and God’s purpose.

When we wait, we recognize our dependence on God and acknowledge that it is not our will or our strength, but God’s.  

Waiting on God speaks of our love for God.

And in that love we dwell continually.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Wait on the Lord

Psalm 27:13-14

“13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

As a child, it seemed that Christmas would never come.  Between the time that we decorated the tree and Christmas Eve seemed like an eternity.  Of course we were waiting and yearning for material things; for the gifts that Santa would bring.

Now, as an adult, it seems that the season of Christmas passes too quickly.  Before I know it, it has come and gone.  Something in the speed of Christmas seems wrong.  We are no longer waiting, but struggling to keep pace.

Dallas Willard, a professor known for his writings on spiritual formation, once wrote that you cannot be in a hurry and develop spiritually.  “We should take as our aim to live our lives entirely without hurry. The peace and joy and strength which God intended for human life, the well-being and health of mind and body, is inconsistent with living in a hurry.”

As Christians, we are to wait on the Lord.  In all things, we are to wait. In this waiting, we will find God’s goodness. And in this goodness will be strengthened.  

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

A New Song

Psalm 40:1-3a

“1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

Advent is a time of waiting.  We wait in great anticipation and joy for the day that we celebrate the birth of the Messiah.  Before Christ’s birth, the Jews cried out to God for help.  God’s answer was to promise them a Messiah; a Messiah who would offer them a faith that would be their source of inner peace and stability; a Messiah who would sing a new song.

Christ was rejected by the Jewish people.  They rejected the song of faith that he offered.

We now wait for the second coming of Christ.  How hungry are we for His return?  Do we cry out for Him?  Are we living our lives according to His teachings?  

Are we singing His song?

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 53:5-7

“5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth,like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

God told Isaiah that the long yearned for, long awaited Messiah would be rejected and would suffer.  He would be led as a sheep to the slaughter but he would say nothing in his defense.

God told Isaiah that this was all part of his plan for the redemption of humankind.  He would lay all of humankind’s sins on Him,  so that His suffering would be for us all.

The Messiah did not come to this earth for fame, or to be crowned King and live in luxury in a palace.  He came to serve, to be rejected, to suffer, to die, and to rise again.

For us.   For our sins.

For our salvation.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Freedom

Isaiah 61:1-2

“1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn”

That Jewish people waited for the Messiah who would free them from the darkness.  For the captives in Babylon freedom meant a return to their homeland.   For God, freedom meant faith and a transformation of the heart, and the freedom from sin and death that that kind of  faith would give to the world.

The Jews did, eventually, return to Jerusalem, but they did not find spiritual freedom in that return.  Their faith was rooted in laws, regulations, and rules, not in the heart.

Christ came to redeem us, to change our hearts, to transform us…

to release us from the darkness.

“I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.” John 12:46

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)