Month: December 2017

Extravagant Cost of Love

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Extravagant - Raising of the Cross, by Tissot

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) wrote these words in 1707.  The music was written by Lowell Mason in 1824, and first appeared in The Boston Handel and Haydn Society of Collection of Church Music, third edition. (1825)  Legend has it Charles Wesley, famously known for his hymns, said he would give up all of his other hymns to have written this one.

The extravagant outpouring of God’s grace and love toward mankind, presented in this image, and captured in this hymn… demands my soul, my life, my all.

There’s really nothing left to say… except, maybe… “have you?”

Will you?

 

Extravagant

Cherish: The Greatest Treasure

Dr. J.D. Wilkins3 Comments

top-1

It’s 8:25 a.m. at my home in Texas, and by now families with children have been up a couple hours doing “Christmas.”  The room where they gathered is trashed with torn paper wrappings, boxes, ribbons and bows.  Everyone’s smiling or frowning based on the joy or disappointment of a gift given or received, pre-determined by their expectations of what Christmas would be for them this year.  What I cherish today are the memories of Christmases past, where everyone in my family received something that brought genuine joy resulting in smiles and laughter.  Today I sat looking at the fire, and remembered fondly all those happy times.  In some ways I’m a very rich man, because I can still remember these things, and smile at myself for having been a part of it all.

The greatest treasure is knowing God is not finished with me yet.  I’m making new memories now.  The road is not less difficult or challenging, as anyone who has adult children also knows.  It’s just different, that’s all.  Things change.  People change.  Circumstances change.  But one thing never changes.  God’s love, demonstrated in such a tangible way, with the baby in a manger, who became the man on a cross.  God announced to the universe His great love for all mankind.  And God is not finished with me, or us, yet.

When is Christmas really over?  When the presents are all unwrapped?  When the tree comes down, the decorations are stored, and the house is back to “normal?”  When the returns are made, and you’ve gotten for yourself what you wished for?

For me, Christmas is never really over.  I’m not one of those weirdos’ who keeps decorations and trees up year round, that’s not what I mean.  I mean, I’m only too aware that Immanuel means “God with us.”  I get that when I stepped over the line of faith into Jesus and His grace, the greatest gift to mankind ever offered was mine to enjoy forever.  In that moment the Holy Spirit of God came to abide in me, to set up a permanent dwelling in my heart and mind.  And here’s the thing…

The Grace given at Christmas when this child was born, is the same grace God expects me to dish out lavishly on the people I meet on this grand adventure called life.  Each and every time I answer insults with a kind word, receive each anger charged look and return it with a smile, or give a cup of coffee expecting nothing in return, I’m living out the expectation of God for me. Grace giver.

I may be the only form of Jesus some people ever see, and if this is true, what do they see?

Today, I cherish the idea that Christ did it all for me.  Those who know me, know I don’t deserve this great gift.  But the love God has for me personally, is the greatest gift I’ve ever received, one I will always treasure.  I want to share it with the world; with anyone who will read or listen, that’s what this blog is really all about.

Join me in the process if you agree with me.  Share this blog on your FaceBook, send it in an email, or just share the love of God with someone today.  Be a grace giver.

Cherish

Miraculous

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manger

At this time of year, during the Christmas season, the word “Miraculous” gets passed around more than chips and dip at a Super Bowl party.  I’m convinced few people really have any clue what it means.

The reason I say this is that by definition, whatever event or occurrence this word is used to describe, the word demands the person using it believe in a supernatural power to intervene, and the “miracle” is the manifestation of that power.  It is used to describe the highly improbable, the extraordinary, the “only possible” through divine intervention.  And it usually includes a favorable outcome or consequence to the event.  Since many people using this word don’t believe in God, much less Santa, there’s a bit of hypocrisy in the over-use of this word.

A man and a woman come together to share in the creation of another human being, well that’s a natural thing.  How that process works inside the human body, the design and fulfillment of another human being born into this world, now that’s miraculous.

But think about it from a larger perspective.  That God would use a man of the Old Testament to prophesy about a young girl from a no-name town, who would have a male-child (even though she was a virgin), and then for it to come true 400 years after the prophecy is revealed, now that’s miraculous.

Go larger, and see it from Jesus’ perspective.  The Son of God, in eternity past, before the world was ever created, looking across the eons of time, chose to come and be this male-child Savior of the world.  Emptying Himself of His God-ness, and shrouding Himself in human flesh, this baby became a young child who became the Man of God to stand in the gap for humanity.

Now that’s miraculous.

But if you or I were to be able to ask God one question, and actually have the opportunity for God to answer this question, I believe my question would be, “Why did it happen this way?”

And I believe God’s answer to be, “It’s what I do.”  God does things differently than humans.  We define God’s actions to be “miraculous.”  Yet, from God’s perspective, it’s just what God does.  They are supernatural, inexplicable, unaccountable actions that define who He is, and what He does.

Ephesians 1:4
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. 

Miraculous.

Thank you God, for the miraculous work of salvation, found only in Jesus.

 

 

 

 

Miraculous

Bliss: Not Ignorance

Dr. J.D. Wilkins1 Comment

Bliss

Even if angels sit atop our trees, adorned with Christmas ease, all is not necessarily blissful this time of year.  It’s amazing to me that the Son of Man would come to offer grace and forgiveness for a lost world steeped in sin.  I know only too well, that this precious gift is not offered so easily by one human to another human, that’s what makes Grace – a God thing.  But forgiveness is within our reach, if we will but embrace the love He has shown to us in the birth of Jesus.

What a blissful thought…

That this Christmas might be filled with receiving and offering forgiveness, with a touch of grace, because we know the LORD.

This is my Christmas wish.  It is not ignorance, or naivete; just a blissful Christmas wish.

 

Bliss

Weekly Photo Challenge: Ascend

Dr. J.D. Wilkins1 Comment

Psalm 24:3
Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

The golfer who would play this game in Breckenridge, Colorado, must ascend into the mountains of God’s splendor.  This shot taken August 10, 2016 at 10:05 a.m. and what a glorious day it was!

ascend

 

Ascend

Silence

Dr. J.D. Wilkins2 Comments

finished-decorating

In the stillness, late at night, when I look at the crackling fire, the twinkling lights, the reindeer, and the presents all lined up under the tree, my heart glows like the bronze hues of this still and silent image.  These moments are filled with contentment, happiness, and joy that comes from knowing God sees me right were I am.  He knows me.  And He knows that I know Him, so His Holy Spirit comforts me, in those parts of my heart that are not so joyful.  You don’t need to know what those parts are, you have your own un-joyful parts to deal with this year.

My prayer today is that you heart will be filled with God’s goodness this year, during this great Christmas season.  Open your mind and spirit to the call of Jesus, and let Him warm your inner being with His very presence and bring light to the dark places.

John 8:12
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

 

Silent

To What Degree?

Dr. J.D. Wilkins2 Comments

degree

There is an unresolvable mystery surrounding the Christmas story.  It has to do with the illogical proposition that Jesus was fully human, and yet also fully God.  It has to do with the fulfillment of prophecy spoken by the Prophet Isaiah, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (7:14) Matthew’s Gospel tells “Immanuel” means “God with us.” (1:23)

For me there are many mysteries about the virgin birth, the signs of God, the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the star, Herod’s role, and the trip to Egypt then back to Nazareth.  All of this as a part of God’s plan of salvation, just takes my breath away.  But when I consider the duality of the life of the Man/God Jesus Christ, I’m almost speechless.  Notice I said, “almost.”  I am, after all, a pastor/teacher/writer, and you can ask anyone… I am seldom caught speechless.

The question I ponder all year long, but most intensely at Christmas is, “To what degree was Jesus a man? To what degree was Jesus divine?”  It’s easy to take a Sunday School approach, like a child just learning “facts” by repetition, and answer, “Jesus was 100% human, 100% divine.”  These are indeed the facts as presented in Scripture.  Therein lies the mystery.

At age 12 Jesus has traveled with His parents to Jerusalem for Passover, but on the way back home they discover He is not in the caravan.  Going back to the Temple, they find Him sitting with the teachers (Sanhedrin), “both listening and asking them questions.”  When questioned by His parents “why have You treated us this way?”, Jesus responds, “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”  So, even at this young age, Jesus was self-aware of at least some of His own nature of Sovereignty.

From what point during His childhood, did Jesus start becoming self-aware of the duality of His nature?  Scripture teaches that He was “tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin,” and this temptation was directed at the MAN – Jesus.  At the same time, the Bible says that Jesus claimed, “I and the Father are one.” so the MAN-Jesus claims to be God-Jesus.  Anyone who spends much time considering the implications of these two phrases, will find themselves in a mystery so rich and deep it cannot be fathomed.

A few years ago, I was introduced to a Christmas song, that has become my absolute favorite.  I listen to it often every year around this time.  It speaks to me.

To what degree was Jesus a Man?  100%

To what degree is Jesus God? 100%

It is a…

Mystery

The child was born on Christmas day
Born to save the world
But long before the world began
He knew His Death was sure
The pain and strife secured

Mystery… how He came to be a Man
But greater still…How His Death was in His Plan
God predestined that His Son would die
And He still created man
Oh what Love is this
That His Death was in His Hands

The Christmas trees they glow so bright
With presents all round
But Christmas brought a tree of life
With Blood that sacrificed
The greatest gift in life

I am just a man
And can’t begin to comprehend
When You look into this traitor’s eyes
What do You see that justifies the Lamb

God predestined that His Son would die
And He still created man
Oh what Love is this
That His Death was in His Plan

Mystery…

Mystery…

 

click on the Title – “Mystery” above, then watch and listen on YouTube.

 

Degree

Gorge: The Deep Divide

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gorge-1

The two images, set side by side above, were taken within moments of one another.  While taking the Royal Gorge Route Railway Tour a few years ago, I was struck by the deep gash into solid rock, punctuated by a river at the bottom of the gorge.  As we stood on the flatbed railcar to take photos of our trip, I was able to gain some perspective of the moment, and of my life. And while looking up at the people standing on the bridge high above us, some spiritual clarity descended into my mind.

Here’s a great description from the website for this tour:

“West of Canon City the Arkansas River cuts through a high plateau of igneous rocks forming a spectacular steep-walled gorge over a thousand feet deep. At its narrowest point shear walls on both sides plunge into the river creating an impassible barrier.”

It is those two words “impassible barrier” that grab my heart.

Every day during this wonderful month of December, right up to the day we designate to celebrate the birth of Jesus, I’m reminded of why He came.  My SIN once separated me from God, like the bare 1,000 foot sheer rock divide of this gorge.  I had no way of crossing over to God, nothing I could do or say would change my condition or position.  But God.  Don’t you love those words?  Romans 5:8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The impassible barrier between God and me was overcome by Jesus coming to earth as a human baby, wrapped in cloths, and laid in an animal feeding trough.  I looked up and out of this gorge into the blue sky, and saw the bridge.  In my mind I saw the cross where Jesus died for me, spanning the great divide my sin had caused.

The birth of Jesus in inextricably connected to the cross of Jesus.  We can’t have one without the other.  For in this wonderful image we are saved by the Grace of God.

The gorge no longer has any power to hold me separate from God.  It has been conquered by the only One who could.

His name is Jesus, and He came to save us.

Hallelujah!

 

Gorge

 

Relocate: Nazareth to Bethlehem

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relocationYes, there are many reasons people relocate their residences.  They move to be closer to their families.  They move to take on a new employment opportunity.  They move for a change of scenery.  People move.  People change.  In the case of Joseph and Mary, they really had no choice.  Based on an edict from the reigning Caesar (Augustus), Joseph and Mary walked the 70 miles or so from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be counted, and pay the census tax.

We’ve dreamed up a pretty good story, that makes for a great children’s tale, but perhaps a look at the facts will help us some here.  The story of Jesus’ birth is told in Matthew’s and Luke’s gospel records.  Neither of them mention where Jesus was born, just that it wasn’t in the Inn, because the owner didn’t have any more room.  He wasn’t evil, he wasn’t being rude, he didn’t have a hidden agenda… there just wasn’t any more room.

Manger is the Greek word phatné (fat’-nay… φάτνη) and it translates into English, “feeding trough.”  The fact is that these troughs are found anywhere animals are sheltered or kept.  It could have been a stable, a lean-to, or a cave.  The bible doesn’t say where Mary gave birth, only that she wrapped the baby Jesus up, and laid him to rest in a feed trough.

We like the image of the crèche we’ve grown comfortable with, including the different figurines in the story.  However, the moment of Jesus birth is held as a very private matter and closely guarded secret.  The Bible doesn’t describe hovering angels, stinky shepherds, or wise men in attendance.  All those elements came afterward.  The Bible doesn’t describe God’s voice from heaven.  The Bible implies that it was Joseph, Mary, and the smelly, noisy animals holed up for the night, and a feed trough.  In my mind, representing the most primitive conditions on earth for a young girl to give birth to the Savior of the world.

By the decree of the Emperor, Joseph and Mary left the comfort of their home in Nazareth, traveled 70 hard miles relocating in Bethlehem just in time to deliver the child.  In Luke 9:58 it says, “The Son of Man had nowhere to lay His head...” This was never more true than at the moment of His birth, when Mary laid his head (body) in the smelly trough the animals ate out of.

Why?

Because… “although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”  Philippians 2:6-7

Jesus relocated from Heaven to Earth, by way of Nazareth to Bethlehem, to accomplish a single task.

“By bearing our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” 1 Peter 2:24

We, through His great love and life, relocate from darkness to light, from death to life.

This is the Relocation story of Christmas.

Relocate

 

Sparkle: Don’t Blink

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Woods returns 11-30-17

For those with even the slightest amount of moral balance, it’s easy to look at Tiger Wood’s fall in the world of professional golf, and judge the man harshly.  Tiger has struggled over the last few years on and off the golf course, and many, including Golf Channel host Frank Nobilo, didn’t want Tiger to come back to the PGA competitively.  And we all know that one round of golf doesn’t make a season or a career, yet, Tiger played yesterday at Albany like the Tiger of old.

At times his game sparkled like the sun beating off the clouds in this image.  Like the #2 iron he striped from 269 yards to within 25 feet of the hole.  Other times, chipping for instance, well let’s just say there’s still some work to do, huh?

Love him or hate him, we can all learn some things from the very public roller coaster ride we’ve been on watching Tiger Wood’s life.  I mean, we often learn through our on mistakes or successes, but all too often miss the lessons from someone else’s mistakes and successes.  And with Tiger, there’s lots to learn.

Here’s one thing, accepting that Tiger isn’t perfect isn’t very hard for any of us.  But, accepting that Jesus Christ died for Tiger’s SIN, just like he died for yours and mine, is just so hard for some folks to choke down.  Take a moment and let that sink in, because it has implications you might not have considered.

Since Jesus died for all Sin, for all humanity, did that not include Tiger Woods?

Spending some time in chapter 5 of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome will help you understand this better, but for now just consider the concept of reconciliation, in Colossians chapter 1:20…through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

What Jesus did on the cross for me, he did for Tiger Woods.  If I was reconciled to God at the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross, so was Tiger Woods.  If through this act I can move from death to life in Jesus Christ, so can Tiger Woods.

When you look at the man, Tiger Woods, do you see a low-life womanizer, drug user, foul-mouthed professional athlete who is beyond redemption?  Take another look in the mirror, we’re the same in God’s eyes.  Yet, because of the great love of God, Jesus reconciled us all to Himself, and to God.

Is Tiger Woods saved?  Not that I can see.  There is no evidence that he has received or accepted this great gift of reconciliation, or sees any need to do so.

So, here is the final thing to learn.  And we really need to get this.  It is not Tiger’s foul-mouth, past marital sins, or drug and alcohol abuse that will cause him to suffer at the wrath of God.  The one thing, the only thing, that will condemn any man, including Tiger, is to refuse to accept God’s free offer of grace, found only in Jesus Christ.

We are all reconciled through Jesus.  We are not all saved, until we individually choose (on God’s terms) to receive his gift of life.

Tiger’s back.  Good for him.  I love to watch his ball-striking brilliance.

One day, Jesus will be back.  Tiger better figure it out before He comes, because by then, it will be too late.

In the sparkling twinkle of an eye, Jesus will return.

Be ready.

Sparkle