Category: Devotionals

Devotionals

Christmas is Comfort

Margie HuffLeave a comment

Christmas is Comfort

For me, the season is comforting. There is the glow of Christmas lights, hot chocolate in mugs, candles that smell of evergreen, happy children opening gifts, fireplaces, curling up with a blanket to watch a Christmas movie, and warm cookies baking in the oven. Something about the season evokes a warm fuzzy feeling. 

The idea of Christmas is so comforting that when one doesn’t feel that familiar sense of comfort, if Christmas doesn’t meet our expectations, it can be devastating. Maybe you are missing someone important from your life this year? 

One reason we find comfort in the things of Christmas is because they are familiar. We find comfort in things like old ornaments or decorations that have been put up year after year, old family recipes that we reuse over and over.  It might be a feeling or a smell that brings back memories. These things comfort us because they are familiar and hold special memories. 

The Names of Jesus are also comforting, especially at Christmas. We hear them repeated in songs, written on Christmas cards. We hear the story about the birth of Jesus, and most of us have heard it since we were young. There are two nativity scenes at my home before you even enter my front door…

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

There are around 200 different names and titles given to Jesus in the Bible. Why are there so many names? Why is it so important? 

They are filled with meaning and power. It’s like God was telling us everything we needed to know just through his names alone. If I didn’t know anything about the Bible, I would know enough about Jesus just by his names. Whatever we need at the moment, He is exactly that for us. Today, If I need peace, he is that. Tomorrow, I might need a counselor, he is that. He was telling us he is EVERYTHING we need, by his names alone. 

Here are a few of my favorite names of Jesus.

The Good Shepherd 

Shepherds are a part of the Christmas story.  You find those shepherds in the Christmas story in Luke 2. 

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.

Angels spoke to the shepherds who were in the fields when Jesus was born, AND Jesus is our Good Shepherd.

A shepherd’s job is herding, guarding, and tending to his sheep.  He makes his sheep safe. Those are the things that Jesus does for us as His children.

Do you need a Good Shepherd in your life today? 

 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  John 10:14

The Prince of Peace (The one who bring peace)

In Luke 2, right after the angel appeared to the shepherds, a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel proclaiming peace on earth. “13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

Right at the birth of Jesus, the angels proclaim that he would bring peace to the earth. Then again in John, Jesus is speaking and tells us that he is leaving peace with us here on earth. We do not have to let our hearts be troubled, we don’t have to be afraid.

Do you need peace in your life today? 

The Redeemer (The one who redeems)

The coming of Jesus in the Christmas story is what brought us redemption. To redeem means to save, make atonement, make right, make amends, etc. Jesus is the redeemer. He is the reason all our sins are forgiven. Every day, over and over, he is one that makes our wrongs right. 

1 John 4:10, God loved us and sent His only Son for us so that our sins could be forgiven.

Jesus came to redeem us. This is the very reason why He was born. That is why God sent Him. This is why we have Christmas. He was born so that our sins could be forgiven. 

Job 19:25, For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

I don’t know about you but sometimes my days need to be redeemed.

Do you need a Redeemer today? 

Final Thoughts

When we look at the names of Jesus, they each describe aspects of Jesus that can bring us comfort in some way. Even the names that describe His might and power and that could be scary, are comforting in their own way.  Just knowing that we have such a powerful God, who is a righteous judge, tells me He can handle my enemies. 

I don’t have to worry about the Lord having trouble knowing right from wrong.  I don’t have to worry that He will remain faithful.  I don’t have to worry that He will always be there and do the right thing.

Each name of Jesus represents something that we can connect to, that we can cherish. 

So, with all those uses in mind, let’s use the names of Jesus as they were intended. Let’s greet Him by His names in our prayers.  Let’s use His names to call out when we are seeking Him.  Let’s use the names of Jesus to bring us that comfort and peace that we need.  

Feeling like you need guidance? Try, Dear Everlasting Father.

Feeling like you’ve lost your way? Try, Dear Good Shepherd. 

Feeling chaos or anxiety? Try, Dear Prince of Peace. 

Feeling like you’ve messed up? Try, Dear Redeemer. 

Grab hold of the power of those names. You are calling out the attributes of Jesus when you do this. You remind yourself of His ability, and you remind Satan that your God is ALL THESE THINGS and more.

See the list below for more names of Jesus and associated scriptures. (There are many more not listed!)

What do you need from Jesus today? He can be that for you!

Everlasting Father
Isaiah 9:6		Alpha & Omega
Rev 1:8
Savior
Luke 2:11		Lord of All
Acts 10:36
Immanuel (God with Us)
Isaiah 7:14		Son of Man 
Luke 19:10
The Word
John 1:1		King of Kings
Rev 17:14
Light of the World
John 8:12		Our Rock
Psalm 62:1
Messiah (Christ) 
Acts 2:36		Our Helper (or advocate)
John 16:7
Deliverer
Psalm 18:2		Mighty God
Psalm 95:3-5
The Vine
John 15:1		Love 
1 John 4:16
Lamb of God
John 1:29		The Truth 
John 14:6
Great High Priest 
Heb 4:14		Teacher
John 13:14-15
Bread of Life
John 6:35		Resurrection & Life
John 11:25
The Gate (or Door) 
John 10:9		Healer
Exodus 23:25

Devotionals

With What Dignity do You Treat Them?

Featured Margie HuffLeave a comment

 

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Paraphrased from Mother Teresa: Do you love Jesus? Do you really often feel that thirst of Jesus? Do you hear Him saying to you, “Do you love Me in the poorest of the poor?” In the naked one, in the unloved and unwanted one? In the leprosy patient with maggots in their wounds? Those AIDS patients? With what dignity do you treat them? Do you find the suffering Christ in each one? Do you share in their suffering? Don’t forget Jesus said, “You did this to Me.” 

I would say that, for many, it is easy to feel the suffering of Jesus with aborted babies, but do we share in the suffering of those who have chosen to abort? Can you look into their eyes and love them, or are you disgusted by them? It is easy to see a poor and hungry child and feel their pain, but do you suffer with the parent that chose not to work and has brought about their own child’s hunger? Can you treat them as though they are your own kin, inviting them in and sharing a meal with them? Can you respect people that don’t respect you, or themselves, or others? I am sure you feel the pain of the AIDS patients living in third world countries, but do you suffer with the American AIDS patient who contracted the virus through a homosexual relationship?

Jesus begged and pleaded on the cross, He said, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In His last moments, He was begging us to forgive people. He was deeply moved by the pain and suffering of the people that hung Him on the cross. He had mercy on the souls that were responsible for his murder. Can you imagine? Forgiving the murderer of the son of the Most High?

There are people who do and believe terrible things, and God said to love them anyway. Not just with words but with actual respect and humility. Can you go into their houses, sit down at their tables, and share meals with them? Oh yeah, and also NOT bring up your problem with them?

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

ALL THINGS. Repeat after me: ALL THINGS. The bad things, the unspeakable things, they ALL work together for good. It’s not our job to make all the bad in the world right. Jesus is highly capable of making wrongs right when He chooses. We don’t have to carry the heavy weight of curing the world of all its problems. Am I saying to do nothing? Absolutely not. But, some of us act like we have all the answers and that it is our job to fix the world. It’s not. God never told us to fix the world, but he did tell us to love and help the sinner.

The part of Mother Teresa’s writings that spoke to me the most was the part that asked, “With what dignity do you treat them?” Let’s examine our hearts today to see what kind of dignity we can show to people who believe and act different than us.

Do you:

  • offend people to prove you are right?
  • serve people who are different that you?
  • deeply respect people you think are sinful?
  • need to prove you are right and they are wrong?
  • speak for God?
  • enjoy when they fail?
  • think sinful people are ignorant and bring about their own pain?
  • think that everything you believe makes you superior to others?

We should LOVE deeply, suffer deeply with sinners, and show them great respect. I’m not talking about that “Oh well, I can’t help if someone is offended by my honestly, or if they misinterpreted me.” Nope. Those words are usually used to justify, when you have said something you probably shouldn’t have.

So many people say things like… that person brought it upon themselves, or they deserve what they get, or they wont get my help because all they do is take, take, take. (Aren’t you glad God doesn’t say that about you?! Because He totally could!) We sometimes take the word of God, manipulate it, and use it to justify our harsh judgments and criticisms of others. I do not think that we should speak for God unless we are quoting scripture about love, worth, and healing, for example. God is probably not sharing secret truths with you that He isn’t sharing with other followers. He speaks to us all in different ways, but He will not tell me to hurt someone else with my words, not even if they deserve it. If that happens, it may have not been God speaking. Chances are, it was you.

We are living in a New Testament world. Jesus came to Earth and set an example we are to follow. He did NOT preach hellfire and brimstone. He loved, forgave, and was beyond patient and compassionate. He spoke in great parables that teach us how to be whole and complete in Him! He was an encourager, and He was graceful in all He did. Are you graceful in how you speak to others? Are you graceful when determining what content you will share on social media?

Grace means a courteous goodwill, or a simple elegance. Are you polite? Do you prefer others, even when they love something you hate?

If I know that something I share will rub people the wrong way, I probably shouldn’t post it or say it. Let’s be honest with ourselves, you know it offends people, but you think your RIGHT is the most valuable thing in the room. Your right is not more valuable than the souls you affect. There is a way to get your point across in a more humble way.

Remember God said,

“Then He will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

 

Devotionals

Jesus is Thirsty: How can We Help?

Featured Margie Huff1 Comment

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He sends us to the poor in particular. The cup of water you give to the poor, to the sick, the way you lift a dying man, the way you feed a baby, the way in which you teach a child, the way you give medicine to a leper… your attitude and manners toward them – all this is God’s love in the world today. God still loves the world! I want this to be imprinted in your minds: God still loves through you and through me today. Let me see this love of God in your eyes, in your actions, in the way you move about. (Mother Teresa, 2016)

For mothers, fathers, teachers, medical professions, assembly line workers, (the list goes on and on) the cup of water you give is God’s love in the world today. It may be your encouragement, your respect, your kindness, a smile, preferring someone over yourself, the sharing of knowledge, the human touch, a loving embrace, the sacrifice of time or money. It is God’s love pouring from your cup, into the life of someone else.

When Jesus was dying on the cross He said, “I thirst” in John 19:28. What was he referring to as he hung there dying on the cross? Actual water? Maybe. The anguish of a sinful world? Probably that too. Is He still saying “I thirst?” Let’s take a look a scripture.

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matt 25: 40-45

Jesus is found in the faces of the sick, the dying, the lonely, the lost, the poor, the imprisoned. In third world countries, Jesus still thirst for food and water, for medicine, nutrition, for healing. Directly around you, the needs may appear in a different form, but are just as critical. He is thirsty for love, for human kindness, to be wanted. Jesus is thirsty for souls, for compassion, for devotion. We give Jesus a drink when we give another person that in which they need or desire. By caring for the unwanted, the unloved, the lonely, we are his love in action to people all around us. 

I pray that we can all find it within ourselves to respect humanity, whether or not it deserves it, whether or not it has earned our love; all humanity is Jesus on Earth. That goes for Democrats and Republicans, poor and the rich, uneducated and the educated, the sinful and well (that’s all of us)…  I am not better than you. You are not better than me. You do not know more than me. I do not know more than you. We are all living, breathing, creations of our Heavenly Father, surviving on what little information He shares with us. We each live one day at a time, and hope to help each other along the way to Heaven, where things are much easier.

Reference:
Teresa, M. (2016). Call to mercy: Hearts to love, hands to serve. New York, NY: Image.