Somerset Church of Christ

December 18, 2024

In the Beginning

There are only two birth narratives of Jesus in the Bible–Matthew and Luke. Mark and John omit the birth narrative. However, John’s gospel is unique because instead of beginning with Jesus’ physical birth he instead dates Jesus back to the beginning of time. He begins his gospel this way, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2). This is a very important point because most people say that God sent His son, but they usually mean that God one day decided to create his son when he came through Mary.

But this isn’t what John means. John is clear that Christ was with God since the beginning. Not only was he with God, but “all things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (vs. 3-4). God had a plan from the beginning. God had a plan to redeem His people, for those who would repent and obey. Life is precious to God. He is the creator and giver of life and light.

When we follow Christ, we can’t forget that he was with God from the beginning. Christ knows our hearts and has seen everything man has done, both good and bad, from the beginning of time. John’s gospel is not a different story from the other gospel stories. Instead, it is a companion story that gives us the bigger picture. While the birth stories are beautiful accounts of our Savior, John’s story is a beautiful story of the hope we have with the one who made all things and gave us life from the very beginning!

December 11, 2024

The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength

During Ezra’s day, the Israelites were read the Law of Moses after a long period of rebellion against God. Nehemia joined Ezra in the public reading and encouragement to the people. When they heard the Law, their hearts were broken and they began to weep. Nehemiah encouraged them, telling them not to weep because God is a gracious God. He said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10 ESV).

The word for joy shares the same root as the word for grace. Joy is something that comes from the divine, not because of material or physical success. Put another way, joy comes from God’s grace. That is its genesis. It is a fruit of the Spirit. When the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce Jesus’ birth, one of them said, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). This clearly was a mesasge of salvation–God’s grace that was availalbe to all people!

When Jesus told his disciples that he is the vine and they are the branches, he reminded them that anyone who keeps Jesus’ commandments would abide in his love. And “whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). He told them all of this, not to scare them, but for a very different reason: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (vs. 11). That’s incredible! The joy of the Lord is our strength and Jesus plainly said that if we abide in him and he in us, his joy will be in us and our joy will be full! Christ gives us his joy and his strength! This really is good news.

December 4, 2024

Peace on Earth

The Israelites anticipated and waited for peace. God promised them abundance and peace if they were faithful to Him but, behold, they blew it over and over again. In acts of defiance they followed the Baals, living in complete rebellion and oppressing their neighbors. Isaiah prophesied about the person who would return to God and be devoted to Him: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3 ESV). Though Jesus said that he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword, he also said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Before Jesus came to Earth, people were waiting for the consolation of Israel. They waited in anticipation of better days when they would be rescued. The prophetess Anna gave thanks to God when Jesus was born and began “to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). Jesus brought, and still brings, peace to all who abide in him.

He has already overcome the world. In a world that is full of tribulations, Jesus is our only hope. He is the only way to God. He is the way, the truth, and the life. When our neighbors are distraught, we owe it to them to introduce Jesus to them. We have abundant opportunity to love and help our neighbors, inviting them to share in the peace that only Christ can bring.

November 20, 2024

Gratitude as Our Shield

The Bible has a lot to say about giving thanks to God, even when times are not good. God is the source of life and he loves his people. When times are tough, many people abandon God, blame him, or ignore him. Worse, we can become ungrateful and shape a worldview that believes everything and everyone is against us. But this often is not reality. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”

It’s true that, if we take honest inventory, most of us receive more than we give. His point is that only with gratitude can life become rich. Paul wrote to the Philippians from jail and said, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. . . The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV).

Indeed, gratitude is seen as a shield, given by God himself. We should continually give thanks, continually pray, and allow God to shield our hearts and minds from the worries and struggles of this life. God is a good God and blesses us. It’s difficult to be patient in times of trouble but don’t give up! Continue to be grateful and pray!

November 14, 2024

Begin With Thanksgiving

There are well documented studies that show the benefits of giving thanks. With the national holiday coming up, it’s good to talk about the need for us to give thanksgiving in our lives all the time. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul says to give thanksgiving in all circumstances. There is a reason for that, and it’s not just to blindly give praise to God. The benefits are immeasurable, both for the person giving thanks and for those receiving it.

Some of the benefits are improved mental health, improved physical health, enhanced relationships, and personal growth. People who are grateful and give thanks every day typically have reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, better immune systems, deeper connection, enhanced creativity, and so on. There is no mistaking that gratitude can literally alter the course and outcome of your life.

Psalm 100 is a psalm of thanksgiving. It begins, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!” (vs. 1). We should “enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations” (vs. 4-5). God is good and when we give praise it changes the way we interact with each other, thereby changing the outcome of those interactions. We tend to give more of our time and emotions when we are thankful. And people notice it. We should always use our gratitude to show the kindness of the Lord!

November 6, 2024

Give Willingly and Cheerfully

As we begin to close this year out with our theme of straining toward the goal, we should be reminded to give freely and joyfully. There are a lot of struggling people all around us and that struggle stretches world-wide. The needs are endless. But so are the opportunities to serve our neighbors. When our eyes are opened to the endless needs, it’s easy to get compassion fatigue. I think of the beggars at the Temple where people were so conditioned to walk right past them without giving them a second thought. People going into the temple to worship were probably tired of seeing the steps littered with the same people begging day after day. Yet their needs were great and their level of desperation was great.

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he told them to arrange a contribution in advance of his visit, “so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction” (2 Corinthians 9:5). He expanded upon that thought: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (vs. 6). Paul was not telling them to tithe. He never gave them a dollar amount. In fact, he said, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (vs. 7).

God never fowns upon generous hearts. Whether we give of our time, our funds, or our compassion, God blesses us in return. God is able to make grace abound so that “you may abound in every good work” (vs. 8). The point is not just to blindly give money, but instead to produce a crop of righteousness. This, in turn, produces thanksgiving to God. Our attitude toward helping makes all the difference in the world. It is good to be willing and cheerful in our giving!

October 30, 2024

What Does God Want from Us?

Many Christians suffer from a lack of clear purpose. They either don’t know what God has in store for them or they are blinded to what that purpose is. This is not uncommon, and mankind has suffered with this from the beginning. Paul said that he was straining toward the goal. He had a very clear sense of purpose and knew what he needed to do to accomplish it. But for many of us, it’s not so cut-and-dry. We may be confused, lack direction, or simply just don’t know where to begin.

The Israelites were reprimanded by God through Michah for their lack of faithfulness to God. God asked the rhetorical questions, “What have I done to you? How have I wearied you?” (Micah 6:3). It was God who rescued them from Egypt and who provided for them in the desert. God was the one who put them in a land flowing with milk and honey. Yet they rebelled against him and each other. Nobody was safe from oppression. Anything and everything was fair game.

God again asked the rhetorical question, “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?” (vs. 7). Of course not! God wanted his people to do righteousness. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (vs. 8). This message is just as true today as it was in the 700s B.C. When we do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God, everything else will come into focus. Churches will be healthy and people will take care of their neighbors.