The Alabaster Box

(To read more articles on Christmas, type Christmas in the search box to the right).

Often people today mystify, canonize, enthrone, revere and worship the people we’ve come to know as the characters in the Nativity. Although two thousand years after the birth of Christ, these people are perceived as poignant personalities, they weren’t always well-known and respected somehow made to be just a bit more divine than human. The so-called Nativity characters were mere people who “heard the Word of the Lord” and did it! Such depictions of the birth of Christ were first introduced by Saint Francis around the year 1223 AD and are known today as manger scenes, crèches, nativity scenes, and various other labels.

Dr. Luke and Tax Collector Matthew both recorded the story. Unfortunately the events described in the above scripture narrative were not featured on the front page of the non-existent Bethlehem Morning News. Both men were intimately acquainted with Jesus’ family and wrote the accounts based on what Mary told them as confirmed by the Holy Spirit. There were a precious few people in their lives who really knew the miracles surrounding Jesus’ birth.

Many of us have vivid childhood memories of specific activities that took place at Christmas time. One of my earliest and fondest memories was assembling the nativity in the barn stable and placing Baby Jesus in the manger. I was intrigued with the china figurines. My mother treasured them yet she entrusted them to my little hands and allowed me to place them wherever I wished on the table. So it is with God. He created a “baby shower” of eternal dimensions the night His Son was born. He treasured His Son, yet He gave Him to us and gave us freedom to choose where to place Him in our lives. Jesus was DIVINE. All the other people that figure into this Christmas story—no matter how significant they may appear to be—were mere people. Nevertheless, their desire to live godly and practice obedience to hear and act on the voice of the Lord, they became giants in the Kingdom of God. Did they know it? No. They faced the daily joys and difficulties and complexities of life just as we do.

Let’s take a closer look at some of these mere people.

Mary and Joseph are mere people

Mary was espoused (engaged) to Joseph. What we know is that Mary “found favor with God” and Joseph was a “righteous man”. Nothing else mattered. We are told absolutely nothing about the circumstances surrounding the engagement of this couple or about their parents and family life. We can fit the pieces together by studying the culture of their day with regard to engagement and marriage.

“Espousal among the Hebrews was something more than what a mere marriage engagement is with us. It was considered the beginning of marriage, was as legally binding as marriage itself, and could not be broken off except by a bill of divorce. Hence we find that Joseph is called the husband of Mary. The betrothal was usually determined by the parents or brothers of the parties and the engagement was made between a friend or legal representative of the bridegroom and the father of the bride. The espousals were made very early in life, though marriage did not take place before the bride was twelve years old. Even when the age was suitable, the marriage was not consummated for some time after the betrothal. At least a year, or sometimes more, elapsed between the betrothal and the marriage of a maiden, to give time for preparing her outfit.

“The engagement, to be binding, must be either by written contract, or by the reception of presents by the bride from the bridegroom. The bride remained at her father’s house until the time of marriage, when the bridegroom came after her.”

These simple people, Mary and Joseph, each “heard” the message from the Lord and “acted” on it. They were mere people through whom God was able to accomplish His purpose.

Shepherds are mere people

There have been many books written about shepherds because they figure so prominently in the Bible. David was watching his father’s sheep on this very same hillside in Judea the day Samuel came to anoint him as King over Israel. It is no surprise, then, that God chose to give the first birth announcement of the arrival of His Son to the shepherds on that hillside. Jesus loved the analogy of shepherd and sheep. He said, I am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

“The Eastern shepherds give names to their sheep, as we do to dogs and horses. Every sheep recognizes his own name, and comes when called. Travelers have noticed the wonderful readiness with which the sheep of a large flock will recognize the shepherd’s voice. Though several flocks are mingled they speedily separate at the command of the shepherd, while the word of a stranger would have no effect on them. Porter thus describes a scene he witnessed among the hills of Bashan: ‘The shepherds led their flocks forth from the gates of the city. They were in full view, and we watched them and listened to them with no little interest. Thousands of sheep and goats were there, grouped in dense, confused masses. The shepherds stood together until all came out. Then they separated, each shepherd taking a different path, and uttering as he advanced a shrill, peculiar call. The sheep heard them. At first the masses swayed and moved as if shaken by some internal convulsion; then points struck out in the direction taken by the shepherds; these became longer and longer until the confused masses were resolved into long, living streams, flowing after their leaders.”

The shepherds on the Judean hillside reflected the character of the sheep when they “heard” the message from the Lord and “acted” on it by immediately going to Bethlehem. They were mere people through whom God was able to accomplish His purpose.

Wise Men were mere men

Today we know that these “wise men” were wise because they sought out the Savior. The idea that they were kings and three in number is based on legend. The Bible does not say how many there were. We know there were at least two because it says “men” not “man”. There may have been one hundred or more because these so called wise men often traveled in groups. “These wise men, or, more properly, Magi, belonged to a numerous and influential order of men. We find in the Old Testament several references to the Magi. In Daniel’s time the Magi were very prominent in Babylon. As the Magi were men of learning, devoting special attention to astronomy and the natural sciences, it happened that after the lapse of years, men who became celebrated for learning were called Magi. The Magi who came to visit the infant Savior were no doubt of the better class…They were evidently skilled in astronomical knowledge and were earnest seekers after the newborn king. Where they came from is a disputed question. Various writers have suggested that they were Babylonians, Arabians, Persians, Bactrians, Parthians, or even Brahmins from India. Matthew says they were from “the East” which was a geographical term of very elastic meaning.”

The fact is these men heard the message from the Lord and acted” on it. They were mere people through whom God was able to accomplish His purpose.

Christmas Story

When we say Christmas Story, we’re really talking about the account of Christ’s birth which is relevant every day of the year—not just in the December season. The persons that figure prominently in the story of Jesus were mere people who seem great to us because of the biblical and historical accounts the have followed them. They remind us each day if we’re faithful and obedient to the Lord we will be GREAT in the Kingdom. That’s our reward though we may not realize it until we hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord!” Our goal and aspiration is to be faithful and obedient—not to be great. “Great” is a by-product of having obeyed.

Many people we read about in history did not become famous or textbook worthy until after their death. In the same way, the people who played such a major role in the birth of Jesus Christ were not esteemed, famous, or popular during their lifetime because their peers did not know or comprehend the eternal impact of the action of these mere people. God takes insignificant people—teenagers like Mary, single men like Joseph, outdoorsmen like the shepherds, and educated men known only in their immediate circle like the Wise Men—and makes them significant. He takes mere people, pours in His Spirit and makes them tributaries through which the River of Life can flow from His throne to others bringing salvation, deliverance, life, and hope,

We all realize we’re just mere human beings—simply ordinary and totally insignificant. They may never make a figurine of our body and place it on a table in remembrance of some event, but when our Heavenly Father makes us a into new person and places us at His Table as His honored guest, all heaven rejoices—just as they did on the night of Jesus’ birth!

NOTES

1 Corinthians 3:3-4, NAS

Manners and Customs of the Bible, p. 330-331

John 10:11

Giant Cities of Bashan, p. 4 quoted from Manners and Customs of the Bible, p. 428-429

Manners and Customs of the Bible, p. 330-331

Matthew 5:19

1 Corinthians 3:3-4, NAS

Manners and Customs of the Bible, p. 330-331

John 10:11

Giant Cities of Bashan, p. 4 quoted from Manners and Customs of the Bible, p. 428-429

Manners and Customs of the Bible, p. 330-331

Matthew 5:19

(C) C Yvonne Karl, East of Bethlehem, Chapter 6, Brentwood Press, 2003. For permission to reprint, email yvonnekarl@cox.net

Filed under: Christmas on November 30th, 2011 | No Comments »

Biblical Thanksgiving

From Genesis to Revelation we have one big picture of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and if this weren’t enough, I discovered that God set Jesus at His own right hand in the heavenly places—far above everything else in the natural and in the spirit worlds, and He has lifted me up to sit with Jesus. This means that I never again have to be “under” the circumstances. Just as everything is under His feet, so everything is under my feet because I am seated with Him (Ephesians 1:20-23,2:6-10).

Knowing this, I see myself before the Throne of God, right there with Jesus. I exalt Him. I give Him thanks for giving me the gift of Life—both present and eternal. Then I minister to Him, that is, I serve Him with my love, my life, and my worship. He is the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Wonderful Counselor, the Alpha and Omega, the Root of David, the Lion of Judah, the Author and Finisher of my faith, my Messiah, the Truth, the Lamb of God, Lord God Almighty, the Bright Morning Star…Soon my words are inadequate to express the feelings my spirit wants to release and I must let the Spirit communicate for me. How true it is that times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).

When we know who Jesus really is, we begin to live a life of thanks-giving.

(Quoted from Yvonne’s book, East of Bethlehem, Chapter 25.)

*Click on Thanksgiving category to see more posts about Thanksgiving.

Filed under: 2010 Issues, Brief Thoughts, Current Issue, Thanksgiving on November 20th, 2011 | No Comments »

A flurry of questions arrived in my mail this week on the subject of mentoring perpetrated by a certain pastor’s sermon last Sunday. His initials are JRW! Please note that he often talks about his mentor. He points out that he learned much from observing him; but he’s also quick to let you know that he’s not a carbon copy.

Let’s look at a few of the questions:

Where does the term “mentor” come from? It comes from a character in Greek mythology named Mentor who Odysseus put in charge of his son when he went off to war. The man named Mentor became “like a father” to the son. Hundreds of years after Homer wrote The Odyssey, the name Mentor surfaced again. In recent years church leaders adopted the word mentor along with corporations, businesses, and academia to define a relationship between a well-seasoned or highly trained individual and one who needs/desires knowledge of that expertise.

What does a mentor do? In a sense, the mentor is like a teacher with an apprentice. If an electrician, the goal is for the apprentice to become an electrician. The mentor is someone experienced or trained in a specific area. Those who learn from the mentor are often called “mentees” or “protégées.”  This relationship could be called teaching, training, role modeling, or equipping.

What is a mentor in church? Mentor is not a biblical term. The closest term in the Bible would be Disciple. Jesus commissioned us to “Go, make disciples.” The Apostle Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” In the modern definition of the word, Paul was saying, “Let me mentor you;” “Let me disciple you.”  However, he didn’t want people to become duplicates of him. He made it very clear that he wanted them to become followers of Christ’s teachings. This involved both hearing Paul teach and watching how he lived—how he dealt with good and bad circumstances according to how Jesus taught. Paul points out that no human being is perfect including himself.

How do I find a mentor at church? Ask the Lord to lead you to someone “full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom” who is doing what you need help with. Observe that person from afar and from up close. It is not often necessary to say, “Will you mentor me?” They will do so by their example.

*Are you seeking to be a godly parent? Pray to find someone whose children are mature, godly, honor their parents and now live like you would want your children to be living when they are grown. Listen to them talk about their child-rearing days. Listen to their children talk about how their parents raised them.

*Have your children gone astray? Pray to find godly parents whose children have also gone astray and observe how they respond to the situation.

*Are you seeking to be a godly wife or husband? Pray to find someone who has been married for many years and is loved, honored, and respected by their spouse. Observe how they treat one another; listen to what they are saying.

*Are you seeking to be successful and fulfilled in your calling/vocation? Pray to find someone whom you admire. This person doesn’t have to be the same gender as you. Among others in the Bible, study Lydia and Phoebe who learned from Paul, and Apollos who learned from Priscilla and her husband Aquila.

Who is eligible to mentor? Wow. That’s a loaded question. “Eligibility” should be earned in a positive sense by successful experiences. However, remember that everyone has someone observing them, thus we also have negative mentoring. As a result we have alcoholics because their parents were alcoholics. We have child abusers because their parents were abusers. We have screamers because their teachers were screamers.  But if these same people find positive role models—mentors—the ultimate outcome can be significantly different.

In most churches you will find experienced people leading programs or teaching classes which are designed to train and equip (mentor) their congregants in various areas of church service including choir, ushering, preparing the elements for communion, greeting, nursery, and many more.

Spiritual mentoring: “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ” (Eph, 4:11-12, NLT).  This summarizes Paul’s focus in all of his epistles: equipping the Christians. This is one way to define mentoring.

Since the intrinsic meaning of “mentor” is “like a father for a son,” let’s also consider that Jesus said:  “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9, KJV).  I’ve personally had problems with calling pastors “Father” because of this scripture; however, in his epistle the Apostle Paul called Timothy his “son in the faith”  (1 Timothy 1:2). This would seem to indicate there was a “mentoring” relationship between them. There is no confusion here. Paul is acting like a father to care for and teach Timothy. He is not trying to substitute himself for God, the Father—the Heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus also said: “Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ” (Matthew 23:10, KJV). Some translations substitute “teacher” for Master. The Greek word used here is kakthegetes or a guide. Perhaps we should view this scripture in the light of 1 John 2:17, NLT: “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and He [the Anointing] lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what He teaches is true–it is not a lie. So just as He has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.”

What these scriptures tell me is that as we study and meditate upon the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us how to live and conduct the affairs of our life.

However, we cannot throw out Romans 10:14-15a because not everyone reads and studies Scripture. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?”

The mentoring process: All of us who are older and have been through the gamut of life’s experiences are aware of the truth of the old adage: Attitudes and values are caught not taught. The same is often true of truth, wisdom. It’s the principle of: “Your actions speak louder than your words;” or “Stop the talk and walk the walk.”  For this reason, we are being “mentored” in some way by nearly everyone we associate with regularly. We begin to act like them, talk like them, even dress like them and decorate like them.

There are varieties of mentoring: some by association, some by observation, and some by instruction. At work, we may have a mentor who helps us learn how to function in our position there: pouring cement, laying brick, plumbing the bathroom, typing correspondence for the boss, teaching the special needs children, and so forth. The best mentors are those you can readily observe in a variety of life’s situations and with whom you can also interact and ask questions.

While we can be equipped, trained, taught, or mentored—whichever word you want to use—God made us each individually unique and we are responsible for developing the gifts, talents, and interests that He has placed within us. (See 1 Cor. 12).  We do this first and foremost by praying and reading, meditating, and studying the Bible—training ourselves to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, we surround ourselves with spiritual people of integrity with whom to communicate, interact, and thus sharpen our senses to discern what is holy and what is profane.

Paul writes: “I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him” (Romans 12:3, Msg).

Finally, Chip Brogan expresses the Romans 12:3 caution in the following article:

“Peter made a splendid beginning by frankly acknowledging himself as a sinner, and so the Lord took him just as he was and began to disciple him.

After making some progress, however, Peter started to lose touch with himself. He had followed Jesus for three years and enjoyed close fellowship with Him. He had both seen and performed miracles in Jesus’ Name. To all outward appearances he was no longer a “sinful man,” he was a “spiritual man.” Before, Peter considered himself unworthy to be in the presence of Jesus. In just a short period of time you find this “sinful man” arguing along with the other disciples about which one of them will be the greatest! (See Luke 9:46).

This ought to show us that there is a deeper death for us to die, and the more “spiritual” we become, the more easily we are deceived by our own spirituality.  (http://InfiniteSupply.Org/july20

(c) The Alabaster Box 2601, C. Yvonne Karl. ykarl@alabasterbox.org

Filed under: 2011 Issues, Current Issue on July 21st, 2011 | No Comments »

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying,…‘What shall we eat? Or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.[i]

As Jesus was teaching one day walking along where lilies were growing, He stopped and picked one and used it as an object lesson. He said, “Consider the lilies…” When Jesus says “consider”, what should we do? Consider! That means we should note carefully and learn thoroughly what He is about to teach.

Flowers grew abundantly in Palestine—on hills, in valleys, in gardens, beside water, and in open fields—yet the Lily was one of a kind. Scripture mentions it specifically more often than any other type of flower. Some commentaries try to persuade the reader to believe what Jesus called a Lily could have been any of the common flowers growing in that region. However, from what we know about Jesus, if He had meant just any flower He would have said, “Consider any flower.” He didn’t. He said, “Consider the lilies”.

When we think of a Lily, usually the white Lily of the Valley, the field Lily, or the yellow, pink, or white Easter Lily comes to mind. Difficult as it may be for us to picture it, the Lily Jesus held may well have been the red flower known today as Anemone,[ii] which would symbolize the blood that He would spill on the cross as the provision for forgiveness of sin. This Lily is also called a “wind flower”[iii] and reminds us that the Holy Spirit is often referred to as the Wind.

It is laughable to us that Jesus would exalt the beauty of the Lily above Solomon’s glory. “If we saw a lily and Solomon standing together, we would doubtless give all our attention to Solomon. That is true from the simple fact that so many of us are more interested in the counterfeit than in the genuine. We like tinsel better than real gold. We thrill more over glass beads than we do over diamonds. We prefer the glow worm to the star.”[iv]

The Lily is the preacher in the church of the open field. Likewise we are a preacher of righteousness wherever the Lord plants us. The Lily’s glory is not that of external adornment or wealth. It is not that of power or rank in authority—Jesus didn’t call attention to the flower pot but to the flower—Her glory is that she is what she is: genuine, sincere, transparent, with nothing to hide. She does not make a plot-graph of her growth or weight or accomplishments. Her roots are deep in the soil from which comes the nourishment to grow, and as the sun shines on her she is drawn to it and thus being rooted has the strength to stand tall. For us, this soil is the Word of God and the sun is the Son—Jesus Christ.

By being submissive to the Divine will of God, the Lily grows. We can’t even imagine a Lily rebelling and wanting to be a rose. Ridiculous. Yet much of our worry and fretting come because we want to be something or someone we’re not. The Lily is natural through and through, while Solomon wore his glory on the outside only.

The Lily only lives for a short time. If God would do all this for that one Lily, will He not much more do this for us, O we of little faith?

Cease to worry

and begin to believe.

Cease to struggle

and begin to obey.

Cease to doubt

and begin to have faith.

The worthy of the Lily

is not in what it puts on

but what it is.

Consider the Lilies!

LIFE APPLICATION - Am I pure inside and out, content to be what God created me to be, and to accept His provision for my life?

PRAYER – Heavenly Father, Bend down and pick me as an example to teach others, and show them how to cease their worry and be at peace knowing that You are the ultimate Provider. In Jesus’ Name, I pray.

UBP-Chapter 2 from Shoes, Silk and Salt – The Fragrance of Provision Fragrance Series by C. Yvonne Karl E-mail – ykarl@alabasterbox.org

COMING NEXT: Bedecked in Hand-me-downs

[ii] Packer, Tenney, White, p.260.

[iii] Webster’s Dictionary, p. 44.

[iv] Chappell, Clovis, More Sermons on Biblical Characters, “The Field Preacher—The Lily”, Baker Book House, 1923, p. 82.

Filed under: 2011 Issues, Current Issue, Shoes, Silk and Salt on May 14th, 2011 | No Comments »

Do you believe in angels? I do. Have you ever been led by an angel? I have. One night after visiting in a hospital for several hours, I left to discover a heavy snowfall. I asked the Lord which route to travel home. At that time, a little yellow car appeared in front of me. Its tail lights were shining brightly and since there were no visible car tracks on the road, I just followed that car. It proceeded steadily at 30 MPH without changing lanes, and led me from one highway to another for 25 miles—right to my house. I knew for a fact that the Lord had sent an “angel out before me to keep me in the way and to bring me into the place…” (Ex.20:23).

Throughout the Bible, we read about ministering angels who lead, guide, protect and strengthen God’s people.

“For He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psa.91:11).

“But…the angels…are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb.1:13-14).

Jesus said, “I am the Way…” God says that the angel will keep us on the Way and bring us into a place—a place that He has prepared, a place of victory, a place of restoration, a secret place of the Most High—under the shelter of the Almighty (Psa.91:11).

“Beware of him and obey his voice…for my Angel shall go before thee…”(Ex.23:21).

The Lord commands us to pay close attention to his angel and do what he tells us.

The Apostle Peter also had experiences with angels. One specific account in Acts 12 tells how the angel of the Lord led him. He had been apprehended and put in jail with sixteen soldiers placed around him to keep him from escaping. In addition, he was bound with chains and there were other guards placed at the doors. Obviously, his enemies wanted to be sure that he could not escape. “The angel shall go before thee and keep thee in the way…”

Do you ever feel like you have guards all around you? Like your hands and feet are tied? You feel bound and helpless against the obstacles and circumstances in your life? Peter was in that situation; he knew he needed help and he trusted the Lord to send it. So he went to sleep! Please note in verse five that while he was sleeping and allowing his body to be restored, the church was praying for him without ceasing. When you see a brother or sister in bondage, you need to pray until he/she is delivered.

“And behold the angel of the Lord came upon hi, and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, ‘Arise up quickly.’ And his chains fell off from his hands” (Acts 12:7).

The angel of the Lord showed up just as the Lord said. The light shined on the man in bondage. The angel smote Peter. That’s the beginning of cutting off the bondage. When it happens to you, it feels like you are being slapped around when really it is the angel of the Lord trying to get your attention. Peter obeyed the voice of the angel and got up. Immediately his chains fell off.

“And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on they sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee and follow me” (Acts 12:8).

The angel didn’t say “Come here, and I will dress you.” No. He commanded Peter to dress himself and to follow him. And Peter did! He obeyed the voice of the angel!

Peter had spent time with Jesus and had been aware of the angels ministering to him. I believe Jesus had taught Peter about the angels and therefore he just knew to obey.

“And he went out and followed him; and didn’t know it was true which was done by the angel; but he thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and second ward they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord; and they went out, and passed on through one street and forthwith the angel departed from him” (Acts 12:9-10).

The angel led Peter out of bondage, through two wards and through the iron gate. Iron stands for judgment and the Lord says that for iron He will give us Silver (redemption!). The iron gate could not hold him; all the judgment against Peter just melted away. The angel had come to lead him out of prison. He led him into the city. I believe this is symbolic of Zion, the city of our God. And he led him right through a street—onto Praise Avenue! Now the angel left because Peter knew where he was and could again go free.

I wonder how often the Lord has sent angels to lead you out of bondage and you didn’t recognize them. You just thought they were a yellow car, a unique circumstance, another person. But now you are free. You know where you are. Jesus said, “Blessed are you who believe and have not seen.” The angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to you as an heir of salvation.

You are not fighting a battle single-handed. There is a host of angels encamped around about those who love the Lord. Prepare for an angel of the Lord to lead you, to protect you on the way, and to bring you to a place of victory.

“All night, all day, angels watching over me, my Lord.”

0101 (c) c yvonne karl, the Alabaster Box

Filed under: 2011 Issues, Current Issue, Past Issues on July 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »

We read the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke with awe and reverence. Angels. Mary. Holy Ghost. Joseph. Donkey. Bethlehem. No room in the Inn. Manger. Shepherds. Angels. Star. Wise men. Gifts. Our spirits soar as we join our voices with others to sing the carols of celebration:

It’s Christmas again;

The church bells are ringing.

It’s Christmas again;

The children are singing.

The hills and the valleys

Sound out the refrain;

Oh come to the manger,

It’s Christmas again.

Sadly the story also is often mere repetition of the familiar. The true meaning lies hidden in the luster of the heavenly description. Nearly every Christian home has on display at least one nativity scene with the Baby Jesus in the manger and the kneeling shepherds. Do we really know the significance of the manger or is it just part of a menagerie?

Jesus Humbled Himself

To Jesus, the manger meant leaving His perfect home where there were no problems, no trials, and no suffering. It meant giving up comfort and glory. In order to allow you and me the opportunity to come live with Him forever, He was willing to be like us—born as a baby, live, suffer, endure temptations and trust God to bring Him through.

When He was born, He was placed in a manger because there was no room for His family in the Bethlehem Inn. Neither the townspeople nor the travelers recognized the life-changing event that was taking place. Jesus went from riches to poverty—from heaven to earth—in order that we might go from poverty to riches—from earth to heaven.

The Apostle Paul challenged us: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation taking the form of a servant and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself…”

Be humble as He was humble

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” This means humbling ourselves to the point of being like a newborn babe—totally dependent on God Almighty and not at all self-sufficient. It means a willingness to let self die in order that Jesus might live in us. It means esteeming others more highly than ourselves. It means sacrificing our wants and desires to serve others. It means changing our clothes—taking off our self-righteous robes and putting on the garments of salvation.

In our day, it is rare to find the principle of humility operating even in the lives of Christians. Yet that one principle reflects more than anything the true spirit of Christmas. How many times do we see people letting others go in front of them in line at the grocery store? Opening the door and holding it for another to enter ahead of them? Submitting to opinions of others when convictions are not compromised?

Putting others before ourselves—the manger experience—is totally absent from the mind-set of most people. In its place is the “me, my, and mine” syndrome. It’s so easy to recognize it in others but not in ourselves.

May we know it is neither the angels, nor the heavenly miracles, nor the star of the east, that gives us life everlasting; rather it is that Jesus humbled Himself to come in human form, be placed in a manger, and die on a cruel cross like a common murderer.

May we not be distracted by the starry sky, the angelic visits, the animals’ presence, the royal visitors, or the gifts. If we focus on the menagerie, we will miss the significance of the manger. Let’s come to the manger like the shepherds and fall down to worship our Lord. Let’s come as wise men bringing our possessions, our personality, and our pride in exchange for His glorious Presence.

May we experience the awe of innocence, the joy of new beginnings, and the reality of emptying ourselves of selfishness, His life on this earth, His death on the cross, His burial in a tomb, His resurrection from the dead, and His ascension into heaven where He waits for us to join Him.

Composer unknown

Philippians 2:5-11

(C) C. Yvonne Karl, East of Bethlehem, Chapter 3, Brentwood Press, 2003. For permission to reprint, email yvonnekarl@cox.net

Filed under: Christmas on November 21st, 2008 | No Comments »

(To request a copy of this article in English or Spanish, email the title to yvonnekarl@cox.net)

Several years ago a couple of my students, Noah and Laura, gave me a treasured Christmas gift: a Santa kneeling at the manger worshipping Jesus. No matter how good people may be, how perfect, how jovial, or how benevolent, they still must recognize Jesus as the reason for these characteristics for He alone is the giver of life.

There are those who would like to eradicate the legend of Santa. While it is Jesus that we need, Santa does typify what every Christian should be like for he is described as being full of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, and faith. This legendary Santa actually began as a person named Nicholas who was born around the year 300 A.D. in what is now Turkey. He was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. When his parents died and he inherited their wealth, he simply gave it away. If the recipient discovered the source of their gifts, he would request that they tell no one. This generous gift-giver was a church leader throughout his life and known for his warm personality, his compassionate spirit, and boldness in preaching. In later generations his death on December sixth was celebrated by giving gifts. At the same time, Christians were already giving gifts on December 25 which had been designated as the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. At some point along the way, the St. Nicholas remembrance became a part of the Christmas celebration, with the exchange of gifts as a reminder of the greatest gift of all-Jesus Christ.

The wise men recognized Jesus as God’s gift to them, but they also brought gifts to Him—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We, too, must bring our gifts to Jesus. What do we have to offer him? Our life! We acknowledge the gift that others are to us by giving something appropriate to them. It may be a gift of time, thanksgiving, a card, or something of substance. A gift is not given with the expectation of receiving one in return—but in the spirit of having already received. St. Nicholas’ life reflected this attitude of heart, and therefore so does the “Santa” legacy that is with us today. He is known as Santa Claus, Papa Noel, Father Christmas, and various other names in different countries

It is hard to find a person who looks happier than “Santa” with his twinkling eyes and joyful laugh. It is difficult to find a person so eager and ready to give to others without the thought of getting something in return. It is difficult to find a person so willing to forgive and be gracious to the smallest of offenders. Yet, these are precisely the characteristics that we Christians are to have day after day—they are gifts of the Holy Spirit. If people all ages are drawn to these characteristics in Santa, how much more are they drawn to spirit-filled Christians who are in circulation 365 days a year rather than just a few days around Christmas time.

During the Christmas season, let’s not discard Santa, but receive him as a gift to our life. Each time we see his symbol, let’s remind ourselves of his characteristics and what he represents to others. Let’s remember the life of St. Nicholas who gave himself and his wealth and time to those around him as he served Jesus. Perhaps someone will look at us and say, “Hi Santa, I see Jesus in you!”

The Santa Ho-Ho-Ho in our house is filled with laughter which does our heart good like medicine. That joy can only come from knowing Jesus and can only be kept in manifestation by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thank the Lord for men like St. Nicholas whose unselfish life continues to point us to Jesus Christ—the Great Gift ever given.

Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12, 14

(C) C. Yvonne Karl, East of Bethlehem, Chapter 13, Brentwood Press, 2003. For permission to reprint, email title to yvonnekarl@cox,net

Filed under: Christmas on November 21st, 2008 | No Comments »

My Experience at the Tomb

…from Jerusalem
by Yvonne (5 April 2006)

After walking through the empty tomb at Calvary, we followed the path up to the park benches and sat down with others to discuss what we had seen and await the communion service we would soon experience together. Throughout my time in Israel, I had been thinking how wonderful it would have been if my late husband could have shared this experience of traveling through the Holy Land—walking through the land where Jesus walked two thousand years ago.
Then my ears perked up. Could it be? Yes, a group of people assembled by the open tomb were singing “Fairest Lord Jesus”—in German! It was the first German I had heard in Israel, and this happened to be my husband’s favorite hymn. I sang along on the first verse, but by the time they began the second verse the reality of the words and the incident began to well up within the depths of my soul. This group sang all five verses in German—my husband’s native tongue.
It had been a while since my tears came gushing with this magnitude. You see, my husband is buried in the Resurrection section of the cemetery in Livonia, Michigan. Right beside his grave is a replica of the tomb with the stone rolled away and a sign reading: “He is not here; he is risen!” The German group was singing beside the open tomb—under the exact same sign. No one else in our tour group knew German. In fact, most of our people were oblivious to the singing. A few people later told me they thought the melody sounded familiar but couldn’t place it. Why? It was just for ME! That’s how much my Lord loves me!
After returning home, I shared this story with my children, and they cried with me. My daughter asked, “Mom, what day did this happen?” I thought back and realized it was Wednesday. You guessed it—April 5th. my husband’s birthday! But He, too, has risen and is very much alive with his Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Oh how HE loves you and me!

Filed under: Past Issues, Personal Stories on January 24th, 2009 | No Comments »

My Experience at the Tomb

…from Jerusalem
by Yvonne (5 April 2006)

After walking through the empty tomb at Calvary, we followed the path up to the park benches and sat down with others to discuss what we had seen and await the communion service we would soon experience together. Throughout my time in Israel, I had been thinking how wonderful it would have been if my late husband could have shared this experience of traveling through the Holy Land—walking through the land where Jesus walked two thousand years ago.
Then my ears perked up. Could it be? Yes, a group of people assembled by the open tomb were singing “Fairest Lord Jesus”—in German! It was the first German I had heard in Israel, and this happened to be my husband’s favorite hymn. I sang along on the first verse, but by the time they began the second verse the reality of the words and the incident began to well up within the depths of my soul. This group sang all five verses in German—my husband’s native tongue.
It had been a while since my tears came gushing with this magnitude. You see, my husband is buried in the Resurrection section of the cemetery in Livonia, Michigan. Right beside his grave is a replica of the tomb with the stone rolled away and a sign reading: “He is not here; he is risen!” The German group was singing beside the open tomb—under the exact same sign. No one else in our tour group knew German. In fact, most of our people were oblivious to the singing. A few people later told me they thought the melody sounded familiar but couldn’t place it. Why? It was just for ME! That’s how much my Lord loves me!
After returning home, I shared this story with my children, and they cried with me. My daughter asked, “Mom, what day did this happen?” I thought back and realized it was Wednesday. You guessed it—April 5th. my husband’s birthday! But He, too, has risen and is very much alive with his Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Oh how HE loves you and me!

Filed under: Uncategorized on April 18th, 2011 | No Comments »

The fragrance of provision

How could I forget those thirty-minute childhood trips to the capital city of Charleston to visit Morrison’s Department Store where my parents routinely purchased my shoes. Perhaps my memory is vivid because of the x-ray machine that sat in the middle of the shoe department. After the clerk put the shoes on me, I stood up on the machine so he and my parents could look at the x-ray picture of my feet in the shoes to be sure they fit. It’s been over half a century and I’ve never seen another such machine anywhere. The shoes were a provision for my feet—to see that they were protected from harm as I walked here and there. The machine was a provision to see that they fit properly. There is a wide variety of shoes to protect the feet, comfort the feet, keep the feet from slipping on ice or sand dunes, or even to complete the clothing and make the feet look nice.

When we think about the concept of “provision” the accompanying nouns are usually food, drink, clothing, and housing. Certainly these are the physical comforts we desire. However, there are spiritual provisions that are far more important because their value is eternal rather than temporal. Almighty God used His heavenly x-ray eyes to look deep into our heart and see that it was hurting and needed provision for healing. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be that provision which comes in a variety of styles and sizes including mercy, grace, love, forgiveness, and redemption. It provides spiritual, psychological, and physical healing as well as eternal well-being in heaven.  For this reason, God is often referred to as Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.[i] Ah, how plenteous are the provisions of our Heavenly Father.

COMING NEXT:  ”Clothed with Silk and Purple”

UBP. Copied from, Shoes, Silk,and Salt: The Fragrance of Provision, by C. Yvonne Karl, published by Brentwood Press, 2002. book is out of print but used copies are available on amazon.com and abebooks.com.

Filed under: 2011 Issues, Current Issue, Shoes, Silk and Salt on April 30th, 2011 | No Comments »

Many women have been directed to read Proverbs to find a description of the ideal woman. Among other things, the King James Version of the text says she is clothed with silk and purple.[i] The Hebrew word here translated as “silk” (sheshi) refers to the pure white, finest linen fabric which Jews used for their inner garments or underclothing. Fine white linen was also a symbol of innocence and moral purity.[ii] Women wore clothing that was very similar to that of men. However, the law strictly forbade a woman to wear anything that was thought to belong particularly to a man, such as the signet ring and other ornaments. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, women were also forbidden to use the weapons of a man. By the same token, men were forbidden to wear the outer robe of a woman.[iii] The inner garment, worn by both sexes, was made of wool, cotton, or linen.[iv] A man wearing only this inner garment was said to be naked.[v] So it is that there are two parts to all of us: the outer and the inner—the physical and the spiritual; the soul and the body.

This word study reveals not only that her underclothing is of linen, pure white and fine, but also her outer clothing was made of purple—such as hallowed cloths of the temple are made. Great value was placed on purple by the Hebrews, and purple garments were considered a sign of distinction, royalty, and wealth. The name Canaan—“land of the purple”—was derived from the dye and we know it as the “land of plenty”. Even in the New Testament references to purple suggest its economic importance and symbolic character. Purple clothing denoted wealth and royalty;[vi] and they dressed Jesus in purple, mocking his claim to be king of the Jews.[vii]

From these glimpses into cultural history, we conclude that the Proverbs 31 woman’s under clothing was pure white and fine. Perhaps the author wished to convey the provision God makes for all of us to be completely whole and clean, in our spirit, soul, and body. Her inner motives were pure. She was just as beautiful inside as she was outside. This happens, as Scripture tells us, when our sins, though scarlet, are made white as snow by the blood Jesus shed for us on Calvary.[viii] Once our sins are forgiven, we are kept clean through obeying the Word.[ix] What people see on the outside is important. We should always put our best foot forward. We should be concerned about how others perceive us within the context of being a credible witness for our Lord Jesus Christ. However, appearances can be deceiving and do not necessarily reflect what is in the heart. How often have we been fooled by someone nicely dressed with a charismatic personality and smooth talk? It is such a shock when we hear they have acted in a manner contrary to the way we perceived them to be.

In Michigan there is a lovely autumn display of color. We drive for miles just to enjoy the vivid and assorted colors of leaves. Sadly, although they are in full color and beautiful to the eye, these leaves are dead. There is no life in them; they’ve fallen away from their source of life. They may be beautiful for a short time, but their lack of real life will catch up with them and soon they’ll dry up and blow away—or clutter up our gutters and sewers. Some may even serve as fertilizer for the grass and garden, but their color will fade and they will disintegrate.

DIRTY UNDERWEAR

During my many years of teaching, I often ran across students who did not bathe regularly and were shunned by others because of their bad odor. On one such occasion, we investigated the home situation and found that the young man had no running water in the house and hadn’t bathed or showered for weeks. He had only one set of underclothes and had to wear them for a least a week before his mom went to the Laundromat. The sad thing is that he couldn’t smell himself (We’re somehow immune to our own body odor), and was somewhat offended, or noticeably embarrassed, when we approached him. Nevertheless, it seemed the loving thing to do.  The administration purchased new underclothes for him and arranged for him to shower every morning in the school locker room. This took care of the problem.

On the spiritual side of the application, I’m reminded of a lady in her eighties whose death was imminent when she called me to her bedside. She asked me to pull a chair up close to her. She wanted to whisper so her husband in the other room would not hear what she had to say.  For more than fifty years she had covered her sin. As a newly wed she had fallen into a prolonged intimate, adulterous, affair with a man in the church. Her husband became suspicious and began to question her. She and the other man agreed to cut off the relationship but continued to deny the allegations. Over all these years she had put on a spiritual show for others remaining active in the music and teaching ministry of the church, but inside she was devastated from living with unconfessed sin compounded by lying. Based on the Proverbs 31 verse, we might say she was wearing purple for all to see, but her underwear was dirty—her innermost being was contaminated with years of deceptive living.

Any system of religion that puts on from the outside and covers with rite and ritual is false. All our righteousness is as filthy rags.[x] Anything not completely transparent is fateful to us because we know we have not spoken the truth. We know exactly what God thinks about us. We know that to have peace we will have to confess our sin. It will cost our pride and perhaps relationships, but we cannot deceive ourselves. The closer we get to the end of our life without “coming clean”, the more stringent the Lord may deal with us. We need to pray as David did:

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies and loving-kindnesses blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin! For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me. Against You, and You only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Your sight…Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied…Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right, persevering and steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.[xi]

How can we apply this prayer and keep our innermost being clean so that our good works are not done in vain? Confess and forgive immediately.

Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention), and slander (evilspeaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, along with all malice (spite, ill will or baseness of any kind) and become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, lovinghearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.[xii]

How important a matter is this? No more dissention, no more falsehood, no more make-believe, no more mockery, no more going on as if everything were all right. No more using external means of covering, no more going to meetings and doing all the right things without cleaning up the inside. The heart requires attention. It requires a good bath and a change of clothes—spiritually.

Wives, especially, often keep things inside them until they reach the boiling point and then BOOM! Like putting soda in hot vinegar water, there is a volcanic explosion.  The unsuspecting husband might have only been five minutes late for dinner, or he didn’t voluntarily change the baby’s dirty diaper. If she allows these offenses to become bitterness in her heart, they will mount up until they totally choke out the Word of God and make it of no effect in her life.[xiii] We cannot keep these offenses from coming, but we can deny them residence in our minds and hearts. Whenever any of the attitudes mentioned in the above scripture come into our lives, we must immediately confess them and forgive those by whom they came—even as Christ has forgiven us.[xiv]

I have been called to counsel with couples that became intimate with each other before marriage while both were professing Christians and active in leadership roles in the church. Both allowed it to happen yet neither asked forgiveness of the other for this fornication. Bitterness grew. It took up a part of the heart that could never fully love the Lord or the spouse. Criticism began and eventually strangled the relationship. Although the criticism was not directed at the moral failure, it had its source in that activity. Neither partner believed the other had a real relationship with Jesus Christ and both became suspicious of each other’s motives in all good works. When they, like David, confessed their sin and forgave each other, they had a wonderful new beginning, a clean slate, and for the past several years have been used of God in the ministry in awesome ways.

Keep the heart pure with “personal” devotions not just public behavior

But when you pray go into your most private room, and closing the door, pray to your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you in the open.[xv]

Too many Christians pray only when they are in an assembled group of worshippers. Corporate prayer is wonderful, edifying and powerful, but private prayer is like a giant washing machine. Perhaps what most of us need more than anything is a higher level of life. We are too bogged down in the circumstances of everyday routine and problems. Evil forces are immensely concerned with getting us down and holding us down—mentally, physically, and spiritually. They play havoc with us, tear us to pieces, harass and worry us day and night trying to bring us down. Our deliverance comes when we flee to the Lord in the secret place—in the closet of prayer. Here I pour out my heart to Him, often with many tears. I share my deepest hurts and disappointments. I empty myself and allow Him to fill me again with hope and renewed purpose. I come out clean and free with a sense of being liberated from the trivial things of life, delivered from the snares and traps set by other people, and a realization that He, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has lifted me up to sit in heavenly places where I have perspective over all the complications and difficulties of life. I know I cannot rise above any of these things by myself. The Holy Spirit of God keeps His promise to lead me and guide me into all Truth.  For this to happen, I must allow Him to reside in every chamber of my heart and mind.

If I could only share how many times I have prayed in the private place and had God answer me publicly. Many times people see what appears to be God’s favor in our life but have no insight into how much of this was in direct proportion to secret prayers. Just as we do not discuss all the intimate facets of our marital relationship, neither do we tell all the intimate facets of our relationship with Jesus; yet they keep our spiritual life fresh and victorious.

Think of others before yourself.

Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace {His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing}, in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness or hatred) shoot forth and cause trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it.[xvi]

All too often Christians perform certain acts just to gain acceptance by the community of believers. Such was the case with Ananias and Sapphira. They saw how others were bringing offerings to the apostles in order that their ministry might continue among the people in Jerusalem. This couple desired to receive recognition and be highly esteemed by the church leaders. What they did was commendable. They sold some property and agreed to bring a part of the proceeds from that sale to the leaders; but their motive was wrong, so they lied, pretending they were bringing the total amount from the sale instead of a portion. The Holy Spirit gave Peter discernment about the amount and he confronted each of them about their lies at separate times; both Ananias and Sapphira died instantly—probably from a heart attack at being found out. This is serious business. Yet countless Christians are still in the business of pretending before God and man. For some, their motives will be exposed before all; others will think they are succeeding in hiding the real intent of their heart, but it will catch up with them sooner or later. The sins of some men are conspicuous—openly evident to all eyes—going before them to the judgment and proclaiming their sentence in advance; but the sins of others appear later—following the offender to the bar of judgment and coming into view there.[xvii]

On a totally different subject, people often have an opinion different from the leader’s—whether of the pastor, the head of some aspect of ministry or a boss in the business world. If they don’t give their opinions to the Lord and let go, they’ll create confusion and division among others by backbiting, criticizing, and pointing out how it could be done better or differently. God has called some to be leaders and others to support them. Those in the supporting role must not grab the steering wheel even though they may think they can drive better. They must learn to esteem the other person more highly than self;[xviii] to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake, and be at peace among yourselves.[xix]

When my grandparents were young they had to do chores at four or five o’clock in the morning before they went to school, and they did them without an allowance. They may not have liked the responsibility but it was delegated to them and they carried it out.  In recent generations, we have spoiled our children by not requiring them to do chores at home, or if they do, by giving them an allowance for their work. Some parents even give an allowance with no responsibilities attached. The Bible says, If you don’t work, you don’t eat.[xx] This policy at home carries over into the church. We have a lot of spoiled Christians who want the church to fill all their needs, but they don’t want to share the responsibility. They’re too busy to help, but continually demand it be done their way. Those in the ministry or in leadership anywhere must be prepared for this, and respond in love, but don’t let such people determine the vision and action of the group. Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily from the soul, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that it is from the Lord and not from men that you will receive the inheritance which is your real reward.[xxi]

One rather common statement these days is: “You hurt my feelings.” In other words, “You have wounded my spirit.” They are teaching this to very young children to help them express themselves. It’s nothing new. Adults have been saying it for centuries. It allows the people who take the offense to consider themselves victims rather than assume responsibility for their actions and reactions.

Where does a wounded spirit come from?

And when he (Jesus) had called all the people unto him he said unto them, hearken unto me and understand (it’s not enough just to know–but we must understand) …everyone of you …there’s nothing from outside of a man that entering into a man can defile him, but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.[xxii] Guard your heart with all diligence; for out of it come the issues of life.[xxiii]

To defile means to make common; also to make unfit for holy purposes. That’s what a wounded spirit is: we’re burned out, stressed out, or wounded and therefore cannot positively interact responsibly in a given situation. We live in a day when people are always looking for something to blame for their predicament. They blame abuse as children. They blame strict parents. They blame lack of discipline from parents. In other words, they blame their environment and the people in it for their inability to function normally. Tell that to Paul and Silas. When they were chained to the walls and whipped, they chose to praise God. They didn’t allow their circumstances and abuse to choke out the love for Jesus that was in their hearts. Tell that to Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego. When thrown into the fiery furnace, they had every reason to be “stressed out.” Instead, the love for God that was in their hearts gave them courage to say: We know our God is able to deliver, but even if He doesn’t… Tell that to Daniel. The love for God in his heart was greater than his fear of the lions.

People may have treated us badly as well, putting us in bondage so they could control us, throwing us into the fires of life, feeding us to the lions, but none of those things can hurt us spiritually. Keeping our heart pure and allowing it to be filled with the love for Jesus is the single most important act of choice that will bring us through every difficult situation life can deal us.

Wear purple: Put your best foot forward

We need to wear both silk AND purple, putting forth our best appearance and behavior, but keeping our underclothes clean. It’s great to fix ourself up nice with hair styled, and clean, attractive clothing; but when people see past the outer façade into our innermost thoughts and attitudes—and they will see these through the periscope[xxiv] of our actions and interactions—we must be sure they will see the beauty of a pure heart and peaceful spirit.[xxv]

Remember, man may judge us by what we look like and what we do, but God sees our hidden motives and attitudes. He says many will call “Lord, Lord”…but He will say “Depart from me I never knew you…”[xxvi] It’s not just what we do; it’s who we really are that counts with God. He has given us the provision for continuous super cleansing of the mind and heart.

LIFE APPLICATION

What hidden agendas do I have that result from bitterness and resentment?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for the blood of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, that cleanses my heart and mind from all hostility and anger and keeps me clean both inside and out—in my attitudes, thoughts, and motives as well as my behavior. In Jesus’ Name, I pray.

UBP-Chapter 1 from Shoes, Silk and Salt – The Fragrance of Provision Fragrance Series by C. Yvonne Karl E-mail – ykarl@alabasterbox.org

COMING NEXT: Arrayed in Lily’s Clothes

[ii] Packer, Tenney and White, The Bible Almanac, Thomas Nelson, 1980, p. 476.  Also Revelation 15:6

[iii] Deuteronomy 22:5

[iv] Packer, Tenney and White,  p.482-483.

[v] 1 Samuel 19:24; Isaiah 20:2-4

[vi] Luke 16:19

[vii] The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 3, p. 969. Also, Mark 15:17,20; John 19:2,5.

[viii] Isaiah 1:18

[ix] John 15:3

[x] Isaiah 64:6

[xi] From Psalm 51, Amplified

[xii] Ephesians 4:31-32, Amplified

[xiii] Hebrews 12:15

[xiv] Luke 6:37

[xv] Matthew 6:6

[xvi] Hebrews 12:15, Amplified

[xvii] 1 Timothy 5:24, Amplified

[xviii] Philippians 2:3

[xix] 1Thessalonians 5:13

[xx] 2 Thessalonians 3:10

[xxi] Colossians 3:23

[xxii] Mark 7:14-15

[xxiii] Proverbs 4:23

[xxiv] Miriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition, p. 864. Periscope is defined as a tubular optical instrument containing lenses and mirrors by which an observer obtains an otherwise obstructed field of view.

[xxv] 1 Peter 3:3-4, Amp

[xxvi] Matthew 7:20-22 – Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you.

Filed under: 2011 Issues, Current Issue, Shoes, Silk and Salt on May 5th, 2011 | No Comments »