Hope

December 13, 2020 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving Message 2020 Installment II

The year 2020 has not been particularly joyful. It has brought many people to their knees. This image is courtesy of Presenter Media.

The year 2020 has brought many people to their knees. Some people were driven to the edge of despair and dropped to their knees out of utter frustration and sheer exasperation. Others bowed before God, praying for mercy and deliverance. It is a year that found many people sore pressed to be encouraged. It was a year of little joy or thankfulness.

In three short verses, Paul delivers a forceful message in his first letter to the Thessalonica church. His lesson is a powerful message that is just as apropos to today’s world as to his world. Although his injunctions are robust in meaning and potential, they are also a simple salvo of three resolute commands. Taken together with the rationale of fulfilling God’s will, they are an unassailable combination of the necessary and important traits and directives on how to live a righteous life.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)

These commands are not only the duties that God has assigned His children. They are also a source of blessings. As Christians, individually and corporately, fulfill these responsibilities, the completed duties form a self-sustaining cycle that builds and feeds others in the ring.

Paul closes his letter to the church at Thessalonica with a set of instructions on how to live the Christian life. He begins this section by attempting to motivate his readers to encourage and build up each other. He praises and reaffirms what they are already doing.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (I Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)

The RIng of Commands and Blessings given to the church in Thessalonica by Paul. Diagram was constructed by the author using ClickCharts.

Paul closes this section by providing the best rationale a Christian could have to fulfill the prescribed duties.

…for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18b, NIV)

I want to look at each of the three duties of Christians, highlighted in these verses as my Thanksgiving lesson for 2020. I will consider them in three separate posts in the order Paul presents them.

1. Rejoice Always

Biblical rejoicing is not necessarily the joy demonstrated by jumping up and down, shouting, and dancing in the streets. This image is courtesy of Presenter Media.

I do not think that Paul is talking about a frolicking, dancing in the street type of joy. This is very apparent when you look at the opening of James’ letter to the Jewish Christians scattered all over the known world. James suggests that we consider troubles of any kind an opportunity to “consider it an opportunity for GREAT joy,” or “count it all joy,” as other translations phrase it.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. (James 1:2, NLT)

Biblical joy is not a euphoric emotion. It is more like a calm sense of peace and assurance. It is a peace that comes from knowing that God is working in our lives when we face trials or troubles. The assurance comes from understanding that God has a purpose in all that happens.

Paul, in his letter to the church in Rome, reminds them:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, KJV)

With the covid pandemic of 2020, hospitals were pushed to their capacity limits. Health care workers were greatly endangered, battling an unseen and unforgiving virus. People died separated from their families and loved ones. This image is courtesy of Presenter Media.

A perpetual state of any rejoicing is in itself humanly impossible. The year 2020 has not been a year of rejoicing for most of the world. As we near the end of 2020, a year that many people have called a natural disaster. The Covid Pandemic may be the worse health crisis globally since the black plague of the 14th century, estimated to have killed 25 million people, which was more than one-third of the world’s population.

In 2020, more than 67 million people have been inflicted with the virus, with more than 1.5 million deaths from covid-related causes. There is no predictable end in sight. Some medical experts predict communities will be hit with second and third spikes in the number of cases and deaths. Many commentators have declared 2020 to be a “God-forsaken year.”

Throughout the history of humanity, many civilizations have experienced what they described as being abandoned by God. Habakkuk, the Old Testament prophet, cried to God in the midst of one of those periods in Israel’s history.

How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. (Habakkuk 1:2-4, KJV)

This photographic is a copy of a page from the 19th century Doré’s English Bible. It depicts Jeremiah encouraging the enslaved Jews, working in Babylon, pointing them toward God. Since the original work is public domain due to age, this faithful photographic reproduction is also public domain. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons,

Habakkuk wrote this in the 7th century BC, after almost a century of civil wars and invasions from their enemies, shortly before the Babylonian invasion destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.

As a result of this disastrous defeat, many Jews were taken captive back to Babylon to serve as their captors saw fit. As they languished in Babylon, God sends Jeremiah, His messenger, with a word of encouragement for them.

For I know the plans that I have for you,” says the LORD . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

When the Jews were finally permitted to return to their homeland to rebuild their homes, Jerusalem and the Temple, they were beset upon by their neighbors who had gotten used to not having the Jews around to bother them. In the midst of this trouble, it certainly didn’t help when Ezra, God’s priest, read the law to people hungry for a word from God. After the scribes explained the law, the people understood what it said. The Jews suddenly realized how they had ignored God’s law for so long. They became discouraged and penitent. They bowed their heads and wept.

A photograph of a print from a 19th-century woodcut by Schnorr von Carolsfeld. It depicts Nehemiah declaring a celebration of joy, recognizing God’s blessings. As a faithful image of a two-dimension work of art in the public domain, it is also in the public domain. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

However, Nehemiah, their civil governor, attempted to refocus their attention by reminding them of God’s goodness with a message of joy.

Then he [Nehemiah] said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10, KJV)

More than six centuries later, the Apostle Paul echos those same sentiments in his Epistle to Roman Christians. Rome was arguably the pagan center of the world in his day. In such a setting, Christians were under daily attack from the government and the general public. Paul attempts to encourage the Roman Christians with a message of joy.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT)

The prophet Nathan confronts David concerning his sin of adultery and murder. This is a photographic image of a print by the 19th-century artist Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld. As a faithful reproduction of a two-dimension work of art in the public domain, it is in the public domain. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

As Christians, we know that we cannot lose our salvation. However, there may be times that we lose the joy of our salvation. Even David, a “man after God’s own heart,” lost the joy of his salvation. After he was confronted by the prophet Nathan, David fell into a deep depression because of his guilt. He was heartbroken over his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah. In one of the best known Psalms, David prayed:

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me–now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stains of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (Psalm 51:8-12, NLT)

Biblical joy is not an emotion that depends upon how we feel. It is a lifestyle. We must choose joy. It is not something that develops naturally from within us.

From where does this joy arise? How can we find and grow joy? Paul reminds us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit who indwells us.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV).

This illustrated version of the vine and branches parable is from the 1922 book by Bihn and Bealings, The Bible in Pictures: The New Bible Symbols. Since the book is public domain due to age, this faithful photographic image is public domain. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

After the last supper in the upper room, in one of His final lessons for His disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus emphasized that He was the source of that fruit.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5, NTL)

Rejoice always, in all circumstances. This command refers to a state of mind. It is a lifestyle that God demands. Without His help, we can’t live up to this expectation. He is the source of that joy.

In the Thessalonian Ring of Duties and Blessings, “Pray without ceasing” is next. I will consider this injunction in my next post. Coming soon.

January 6, 2017 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

Advent Wreath Lesson One: Hope

As we approach the end of the first week and the beginning of the second week of 2017, in the spirit of my New Year’s Resolution post A Different Kind of New Year’s Resolution: Instead of Packing Away the Advent Wreath for Another Year, Reflect on Its Lessons During All of 2017, let’s consider the first blue candle of the Advent Wreath.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

In many Christian traditions that use the Advent Wreath, the first blue candle represents hope. In modern English, the word hope has become a wishy-washy word of desire and uncertainty. It implies the desire of a specific result but uncertainty as to whether it will occur. In the English Bible, the word “hope” is used both as a verb and a noun. Used as a verb the word “hope” means to trust in someone or something or to expectantly wait for a beneficial result. The Hebrew word that is translated most often as “hope” in the King James Version is yachal ( יָחַל). This word and its variations occur 40 times in the Old Testament and are translated 27 times as “hope.” In the other 13 occasions, the words are translated as variations of “wait” and “trust.” In the Old Testament time “hope” carried the connotation of resting securely in the certain knowledge that an event will occur.

In the King James New Testament, the word “hope” is used as a noun or a verb. Most of these occurrences were derived from the Greek noun elpis (ἐλπίς) or its verb relative elpizo (ἐλπίζω). In total, elpis and elpizo or their variants occur 84 times in the Greek New Testament. Of the 11 times that “hope” appears as a verb in the KJV, all of them were variations of elpizo. Of the 20 times elpizo is not translated “hope” it is translated with a variation of the verb “trust.” Thus, we see in the NT the same message as we saw in the OT. Whether it is used as a noun or a verb, “hope” carries the connotation of assured expectation of fulfillment.

In Scripture, according to the Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “hope” and according to the biblical usage, hope is an indication of certainty. “Hope” in Scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.” This use of the word “hope” is generally archaic today.

“Hope” as a noun refers to the activity of hoping, or to the object hoped for—the content of one’s hope. By its very nature, hope stresses two things: (a) a time yet to come, and (b) something not yet seen. It deals with things we can’t see or haven’t received or both.

For centuries the world looked forward with a steadfast hope for the coming Messiah. The following passages speak of that unwavering trust without using the terms “hope” or “trust.”

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law..” (Galatians 4:4, KJV).

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14, KJV)

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. (Micah 5:2, KJV)

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for He shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23),

When it was time for Mary and Joseph to present Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord, they were met by an elderly man, who was kept alive by the hope of the coming of the Messiah.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:25 -32, KJV)

Jesus during his ministry raised up a small band of disciples who were convinced that He was the Messiah, the anointed one. They were dismayed and heartbroken when He was arrested and crucified. Even though He had told them that He would have to suffer and die, they didn’t understand this part of His message. Even when He appeared to them after the resurrection, they were still looking for an earthly kingdom. They didn’t know what to do or believe when He ascended into heaven right in front of their eyes. Angels which had announced His first coming reassured His disciples that He would be coming again. The disciples and the rest of the world had to settle back into the sure hope of His second coming.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1: 6-11, KJV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (I Peter 1:3-4, KJV)

In this Christmas season, are you reflecting the light of Christ’s salvation to a world trapped in darkness? Are you spreading the gospel of hope of God’s salvation?

December 31, 2016 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

A Different Kind of New Year’s Resolution: Instead of Packing Away the Advent Wreath for Another Year, Reflect on Its Lessons During All of 2017

As soon as Christmas is over many people begin working on two projects. The first is the practice of writing and polishing up one’s New Year’s Resolutions. They are full of good intentions and want the New Year to fulfill all of the promises with which it comes.

The second project is packing away the holiday decorations until next year. Since the Advent Wreath centers on the time leading up to the Nativity, it is usually one of the first articles to be put away. Perhaps this year we need to refocus our thinking. The five candles of the Advent Wreath teach lessons which should not be seasonal or time dependent. They are appropriate for Christians to concentrate on all year long. If you are into New Year’s Resolutions, I would suggest that an excellent candidate for the top of your list would be the practice of reflecting on and living out the Advent lessons throughout the entire 2017 year.

The typical Advent Wreath begins with a circular ring of evergreens. The ring and the evergreens represent the eternal nature of God. Around the wreaths four colored candles are equally spaced, circling a larger, white candle in the center of the wreath. Although there are variations, it is common for three of the outer candles to be blue or violet, while the fourth colored candle is rose or pink. The four outer candles represent four virtues or messages that Jesus brings us. Four Sundays before Advent, the first blue candle representing hope or expectation is lit. The word “hope” is used both as a verb and a noun. In the Bible, the verb hope means to trust in someone or something, to expectantly wait for a beneficial result.

On the third Sunday before Advent, the first blue candle is lit again, while a second blue candle representing God’s love is lit. The word “love” is also used as a verb and a noun. God’s love is complete and perfect. It is given, and not earned. On the second Sunday before Advent, the pink candle representing joy, along with the previously lit blue candles, are lit. God’s joy is his delight and pleasure. It is what he experiences and what he gives. On the last Sunday before Advent, all four outer candles are lit. The third blue candle represents peace. God’s peace has two aspects. The first is peace with God. The second is the peace of God. More on the meaning of these candles will follow in subsequent posts.

On Christmas Eve the central white candle, also called the Christ Candle, is lit. It represents Christ, the light of the world. In this Christmas season that just passed, did you reflect the light of Christ to a world trapped in darkness? Are you planning to spread His gospel of hope, peace, love and joy to a lost world throughout this coming year? I plan to do five more posts in this series, suggesting how we should reflect on and encourage others with the message of God’s hope, peace, love and joy, and Christ as the light of the world.