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Monday Meditation-In the Presence of Jesus

At Wilkesboro Baptist Church, we are beginning our theme for 2017, reLIVING the Gospels. Today’s reading from Luke 1 dealt with the announcement of Jesus’ birth and Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth. Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist at the time. When Mary entered her presence, John leapt in Elizabeth’s womb. The event prompted praise from Elizabeth and recognition of the presence of Jesus. 

This story got me thinking about how often I sense being in Jesus’ presence. I know there are times when I’ve sensed Jesus’ presence in worship and at other times in my life. But sometimes it seems I just can’t sense his presence. I wonder if you’ve ever felt that way. 

I wish we could always sense Jesus like Baby John did, but we can’t. What we should all be thankful for is that Jesus is present with us whether we sense him or not. Jesus promised to be with us always (My. 28:20). Take courage, even if you don’t sense Jesus, he is with you. 

Entering 2017 let me encourage you to make time to spend with Jesus. 

  • If you are at WBC, pick up a journal for reLIVING the Gospels and make time daily to read the Bible and write down your thoughts.
  • Be consistent in church attendance. There’s no better time for you to sense Jesus than in corporate worship.
  • Pray for someone else. There’s little more Christ-like than interceding for others in prayer. 
  • Share Jesus’ love and good news with others. Jesus died and rose for people to know him. Sharing him with others guarantees that we’re about his business.

Monday Meditation – The Value of Wonder

One of the most amazing things about Christmas is the wonder it creates. Every parent knows the joy of watching the eyes of children fill with excitement when they open their Christmas morning gifts. One of the most valuable aspects of the wonder Christmas creates is that it tunes the minds and hearts of children and adults alike to hear truth. The wonder of Christmas is a powerful ally to the ultimate truth about Christmas.

Yes, Jesus was born of a virgin. Yes, the events surrounding his birth were miraculous. Yes, Jesus’ birth fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies. But Jesus’ birth anticipated far more than a magical night in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. Jesus was born to live a perfect life, die a substitutionary death on a Roman cross, and be raised from the dead providing eternal life to all who would believe in him.

When was the last time you paused to wonder at the glory of God’s entrance into the world? Wonder is a spiritual reality that reminds us how small we really are and how grand and glorious God is. For example, it is a wonder that we even exist. Eric Metaxas put it this way in his book Miracles, 

As of now, fifteen years into the twenty-first century, we know of so many conditions that are absolutely necessary for a planet to support life that not only is it extremely improbable that any other planets can support life, it’s extremely improbable that our planet should support life. To speak statistically and logically, life of any kind should not exist and we shouldn’t be here (37).

Metaxas proceeded to argue that even the size of our planet is uniquely designed for life. Were earth just a little bigger, gravity would increase causing toxic gasses rather than oxygen to hug the planet making it impossible to breath. Were the earth a little smaller, gravity would decrease making it virtually impossible for water to exist on the planet’s surface causing earth to be inhospitable to life (37). The size of the earth is just one of nearly 150 variables necessary for life to exist on a planet. Makes you wonder?

When we consider that we even exist, we should wonder. When we think that the God who created all humbled himself to be born as a baby, we should wonder. When we realize that Jesus died so that we could know the Creator-God personally, we should WONDER. Wonder stimulates humility and humility is the spiritual necessity for walking with God.

So before your Christmas holiday is over, pause, and WONDER at the God who loves you with an uncontainable glorious love.

Metaxas, Eric. Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life.  Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.