Christmas Family Devotional Guide

The Image of the Invisible God

“Who is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15a).

God is an invisible spirit who exists in a realm outside of our normal dimensions. Our minds are unable to go to such places. Our minds can’t transcend the barrier between the finite and the infinite.

John Philips says, “We can visualize God as One who never gets tired, never gets hungry, never gets ill, never grows old, and can never be tempted. We can even visualize One who dwells in quite a different relation to time than we do, One who transcends time, who describes Himself as the I AM. . . We can likewise visualize One who is absolutely holy; incapable of sin and of unfailing love, But eternal and invisible? Here our finite minds draw back” (John Phillips, Exploring Colossians and Philemon, Pg. 47).

Jesus is the visible proof given to us of an invisible God. Jesus came to us in human form. God became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is everything God is. Jesus said in John 14:9, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” He is the exact image (likeness) of the Father. This is the wonder of the Christmas story. God came to us wrapped in human flesh. God became one of us so that He could redeem us through His death, burial, and resurrection.

As we celebrate the Christmas season, let us meditate on the glorious truth that the Lord Jesus is not a baby in a manger, but He is the image of the invisible God. So when we’re in need “to see, touch, hear, or talk to” (John Phillips, Exploring Colossians and Philemon, pg. 48), someone, then we have Jesus, God Himself, right with us to guide us and help us through every temptation and trial we face. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that “we have not an high priest [Jesus] which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

So the next time we are tempted or enduring a trail, we don’t have to worship any god of this world, nor create a god who will meet our need. What profit would it be? Nothing! God sent us Jesus as Himself to provide us an escape from every temptation, as well as meet our every need we have.

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The Seven Day Challenge

As a pastor, there are several challenges I can think to issue to our church. As a matter of fact, I have issued a few. Each year I issue a challenge for the congregation to read the Bible through in a year. Last year I challenged us to memorize one key passage each week. We (notice I said "we") didn't do too well on that one so we'll try again this year.

Recently, I heard about a pastoral challenge that I must confess I've never considered. Pastor Ed Young, Jr. of Fellowship Church has gotten a lot of attention with the challenge he issued his church a couple of weeks ago. As he stood before his 20,000 member congregation, Pastor Ed challenged the married couples in the church to commit to seven days of sex. And all God's children said....

Seriously....

Is this what it has come down to? Is this what the act of preaching has been reduced to?

Don't get me wrong—I’m not a poor caricature of a raging puritanical fundamentalist. The Bible is clear in its teaching that the marriage bed is to be pure and undefiled and is a gloriously intimate gift from God. (If you don't believe me, read the Song of Solomon by candlelight to your wife—now THAT'S a gift!)

My concern is not with God’s gift of the marital act. My concern is with God’s gift of the preaching act. How does this seven day challenge speak to hearts of the people’s sin? How does it speak to them of a righteous and holy God? How does it speak to them of their need for, and God's provision of, a Savior? Frankly, after seeing more Cialis and Viagra commercials than any human being should have to endure, I don’t think our society suffers from a lack of emphasis on sex. The problem with our marriages is not a lack of sex. The problem with our marriages is a lack of grace. We don’t understand the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ and how He has designed marriage to portray that Gospel. If anything, that should be the challenge issued from the pulpit.

So here it is—Men, for the next seven days, I challenge us to love our wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25-29). That means you need to be willing to empty yourself of everything you are for her. No pride, no position, no ego. In short, no self. To the point that even if she were to take advantage of you and abuse you and berate you—you will be silent as a lamb led to the slaughter. For the next seven days I challenge you to show your wife your love for her by being willing to sacrifice everything you have and everything you are for her—even to the point you will be willing to die for her (Philippians 2:5-8).

Men, if I'm going to issue a challenge to us, I must offer one to our wives as well. So, ladies, for the next seven days I challenge you to graciously submit to the headship of your husband (Ephesians 5:22-24). Erase from your mind all of the mitigating and self-exalting definitions of submission you've heard in the past. I’m talking real, unvarnished submission. The kind of submission that willingly and joyfully places your wants, needs and desires in his hands. The kind of submission that sees his plans as your plans and faithfully works to support and execute them—no matter the personal cost, no matter the personal sacrifice. All for the joy that is set before you (Hebrews 12:2).

That is the challenge I’m issuing. And if we as married couples respond to that challenge, we won’t have to worry about being challenged to physically enjoy our spouses. Physical intimacy will flow as passionately as it did between the Beloved and the Shulammite in the Song of Solomon.

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Christmas Family Devotional Guide

Righteous Servant
Isa. 53:11; Matt. 20:28

When I think of Christmas there are many thoughts that race through my mind. I think of the sounds, the lights, the decorations, the music, family gatherings, gift giving and most importantly God’s gift to us. God’s perfect gift to us was His son, Jesus Christ. He came into an imperfect world as the perfect gift for the atonement of our sins.

And when He came, He did not come to be served or to overthrow the government, rather He came to serve. The God of the cosmos lowered Himself into human flesh to serve. He served the sick by healing them. He served those who sought to understand Him by taking time to talk to them. He served the hungry by feeding them. Why did He serve others, because He saw their desperate need and He loved them.

It is so easy to lose the importance of Christmas to commercialization. It is so easy to get caught up in having to buy just the right gift, but this year I want to challenge you to look at Christmas through a different lens—that of a servant.

This Christmas give a gift that cannot be purchased off a shelf at a retail store, give the gift of service. Look for needs in your neighborhood, community or church and make it your goal to reach out and serve others who are in need. That is a gift that will continue to give long after the last gift under the Christmas tree is unwrapped.

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Time Flies

Today marks the second anniversary of the first sermon I preached as the pastor of Brushfork Baptist Church. In some ways it seems like we have been together much longer than that. But in other ways it feels as if we are just getting started. In that sense, I suppose my relationship with the people of Brushfork is like my marriage of 22 years. Two years into our marriage, Miranda and I were just getting to know each other. We would take a lot of pride in the fact that we could whip any other young couple in The Newlywed Game. But no matter how well we knew each other at the time, we still had a lot to learn—and that was a good thing. Because had we known all the things God had in store for us at the time, we wouldn’t have been able to handle it.

Throughout the ensuing years God has used each of those things to grow us more intimately close than either of us could imagine. We have endured difficult times together and are the better for it. We have enjoyed blissful times together and are the better for it. Some times have been dry and difficult while many times have been wonderfully rich and sweet, but God has used both to bring us closer to each other and closer to Him. I pray that is the plan He has in mind for Brushfork Baptist Church and me.

I have a quote written on the whiteboard in my office that has been attributed to Mark Dever. It is the quote that is before me every day of my ministry and is the challenge I strive to meet. Simple in its eloquence, it says what I pray I will be reading 20 years from now as the pastor of Brushfork Baptist Church: “Preach and pray. Love and stay.” Here’s to the unknown glories of this continuing adventure.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:3-11)

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Top That Hillary!

Anything you can do I can do better....

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Christmas Family Devotional Guide

What's in a name? (Part 3)

And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortst me. Behold God is my salvation: I will trust and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore, with JOY shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that His name is exhalted. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. (Isaiah 12:1-5)

Of the eight aspects to Jesus’ claim to deity, the first would be the use of the Jehovistic, “I AM” (Exodus 3:1-14). Moses was told, when he ask God What is your name? What shall I say to them? And God said, “I Am that I AM” thus say “I Am” has sent Moses.

Jehovah: He is faithful, Promise keeper (Psalm 102:27)
1. Jehovah Jireh: God provides (Genesis 22:14/Hebrews 10:4)
2. Jehovah Rophi: God heals (Psalm 103:2-3/Matthew 11:47)
3. Jehovah Nissi: The Lord is conqueror (Exodus 17:15-16/I Samuel 15:3)
4. Jehovah Shalom: God is our peace (Judges 6:24/John 16:33)
5. Jehovah Tsidkenu: The Lord is righteous (Psalm 119:137/Jeremiah 23:6)
6. Jehovah Rohi: God is our shepherd (Psalm 23:1/I Peter 2:25)
7. Jehovah Mekaddesh: The Lord makes us holy for service (Leviticus 20:8)
8. Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is here (Exodus 24:16-17/Revelation 21:1-3)

Jesus made bold claims and He has proved Himself to be the great provider. “Jehovah Jireh” can be seen in Jesus, and by His own declaration. “I am the bread of life”, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”, “I am the good shepherd”, and “I am the light of the world”.
Genesis 22 reveals a real problem! Isaac says to his father Abraham; We have fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? Abraham replies, My son “God will provide” himself a lamb for a burnt offering.

John the Baptist also sees a problem and the solution at the same time, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world (John 1:29). God does provide for you and me and to whosoever will come to God through Jesus (Romans 10:9-13).

God has provided a way to forgive us and to give us a hope of eternal salvation.

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This is News?

This just in… the Bible is true.

In search of the next “new” headline grabbing discovery about evolution, Oxford’s Dr. Justin Barrett discovered that man has no excuse if he refuses to believe in God. Even though he didn’t exactly phrase it that way, that is what his study reinforces.

It’s a shame how Dr. Barrett spent all of that research money on his study—all he really had to do was read Romans 1:19-20.

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Christmas Family Devotional Guide

What's in a name? (Part 2)

Do you know anyone who has received a proper name at birth and that at one point in human history their evil acts caused the world to feel a darkness settle in?

These names have fallen off the preferred list of birth names because they tend to personify evil and carry such detest. Ahab, Judas, Adolf and Lucifer, all these names live in infamy.

Names that are on the preferred list for centuries would be names like Adam, Seth, Jacob, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These names are respected. So what’s in a name? Say George Washington? What comes to your mind first? (if you are having this devotion with children, let them share about some famous person they know of like Abraham Lincoln).

The Bible teaches at the very name of “Jesus” everyone should exalt, kneel and bow. For he has received a name (recognition) above every name Philippians 2:9-11. This name “Jesus” employees forgiveness, power and strength. No other name under heaven has the power to save the wretched human soul. Acts 4:12

This name “Jesus” is so glorious it is “far above every principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that world which is to come. Ephesians 1:21

Read Luke 2:8-20

Mary kept all these things in her heart and with great wonderment explored the meaning of them. As the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen as they heard these wonderful words. Wow, could you imagine what that day must have felt like? (ask the children to share their feelings)

Read Luke 2:21
Ask, why his name was to be called Jesus and not Sam?

Read Matthew 1:20-25
This name “Jesus” brings light into our heart and the world. And you know that the darkness cannot keep this light suppressed. John 1:5, Isaiah 9:1-7

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Rebel Without a Soul

Ladies, meet the 21st century James Dean. His name is Edward Cullen and he’s… a vampire.


Being old and out of touch, I was late in realizing the phenomenon that is the Twilight book series. The premise of the series is simple enough—teenage girl falls in love with a boy she’s not supposed to fall in love with. Forbidden fruit is a romantic premise that is older than Romeo and Juliet. But here’s the difference—in the Shakespearean world of four centuries ago, Romeo was wrong for Juliet because of familial disputes.

Fast forward to James Dean in the 1950s. Same story, new chapter—teenage girls fawn over a boy they’re not supposed to. But by this time, society had “progressed” to the point that the forbidden fruit had nothing to do with his heritage. Instead, the illicit attraction had everything to do with the boy’s rebellion against the puritanical rules of society. James Dean was forbidden fruit because he smoked. He drove fast cars. He was disrespectful and slightly dangerous. He wore the clothes of street gangs and didn’t fit into the straight-laced structure of Mom and Dad’s world. He was sexy because he broke the rules.

That formula worked to create teen idols of young men from Dean, to Elvis, to John, Paul, George and Ringo. It moved from the anti-establishment rebellion of cigarettes and leather jackets to long hair, love beads and psychedelic drugs. It continued past the ‘60s into the ‘70s and ‘80s and blossomed into free love relationships, “friends with benefits” and even homosexuality. Each illicit attraction enticed by the sexiness of forbidden fruit.

But in today’s age of tolerance, none of that fruit is considered forbidden. Society says it is now normal to be rebellious. It is acceptable to lead an immoral lifestyle. Society says that sex is just a physical act with no consequences or even moral implications. As long it is consensual and “protection” is used, anything and everything is okay. And because everything is now okay, teenage girls have to plumb even lower depths to find their forbidden fruit.

And they have—except Romeo is no longer in the land of the living. They’ve found him in depths of the spiritual underworld. James Dean smoked cigarettes—the forbidden fruit of today drinks blood. James Dean didn’t fit into the structure of Mom and Dad’s world. Today’s forbidden fruit doesn’t fit into the realm of God’s creation. James Dean was always on the brink of breaking young girls’ hearts. Today’s forbidden fruit wants more than the girl’s heart—he wants her eternal soul. As the young girl told the interviewer on the Today Show a couple of weeks ago—he is sexy because it is wrong. James Dean was sexy because he broke the rules of society. Edward Cullen is sexy because he breaks the rules of God. The worst thing James Dean could steal was a young girl’s heart. The unseen spirits behind the vampire novels want to steal her soul.

2 Timothy 3:1-7
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;

Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Here is another review you might find helpful.

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Christmas Family Devotional Guide

What's in a name?

Many cultures in our world have practiced giving a name that is representative of their life or actions they have undertaken. Today in America we see little of this because our names have become a legal entity. Civil governments need to track U. S. citizens. We have both a legal name (your name) and a series of numbers to help identify who we are (Social Security Number 000-00-0000 e.g.).

During Bible times name were descriptive, this is seen in both the Old and New Testament.

1. Adam, meaning earth man or red; Genesis 1:26-31/Genesis 2:7
2. Eve, life or life-giver; Genesis 2:21-25/Genesis 3:20
3. Moses, saved from the water; Exodus 2/Hebrew 11:23
4. Peter, a stone or small rock; but Peter had another name before Jesus started calling him by the name Peter! Ask, does anyone know what that name was? Clue, it starts with a “S” and ends with a “N”. Matthew 16:17-18/John 1:42
5. Simon, or (Hebrew) Shimeon, “a hearkening”. Cephas is the Greek equivalent.
6. Paul, meaning “little”. This Apostle of Christ’s birth name was “Saul” which means ask for or sought for. Acts 13:9

Even your name has value of meaning to your parents, a brother or sister or your grandparents. We seem to put characteristics with a name that represents a person and their personality. So it is possible when someone calls your name, they may have happy thoughts, or sad thoughts immediately upon hearing your name.

Ask the question; When you have been really good and someone calls your name out, how do people feel as they hear your name? Ask the question; well if you have been really bad, how would they feel?

The name of Jesus should always make us feel safe, loved and not alone. Jesus means Savior.

Ask: What does a Savior do? Read Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:8-20. Explain to them that we all need rescued!

For further reading: Emmanuel, Isaiah 7:14, 8:8, Matthew 1:23 “God with us” Ask; What kind of name are you making for yourself? Proverbs 22:1

Conclude with a simple prayer. (ask one of your children to pray)

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