Author: John Page 43 of 160

Luke 2:8-14 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The world’s first text simply stated “Merry Christmas”.  The world’s first telegraph post transmitted a Bible message:

What Hath God Wrought I

What Hath God Wrought II

On Christmas Eve, 1906, the world’s first radio broadcast brought a Christmas program to ships at sea.  This revolutionary transmission passed on a hearty Christmas greeting, complete with a reading of the Bible and the playing of the classic “Oh Holy Night.”  Across the air waves, the magnificence of God’s Christmas message was transmitted to common voyagers in the Atlantic Ocean.  They received good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  They heard the life-changing, eternity-shaping, joy-filled message – Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  The glorious news was all about the birth of a Saviour, Christ the Lord!

On the first Christmas, the shepherds heard such a transmission too, meant for common voyagers like them.  It was passed on by a multitude of the heavenly host declaring good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  It was a life-changing, eternity-shaping, joy-filled message – Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  The glorious news was all about the birth of a Saviour, Christ the Lord!

Regardless of the medium – text, telegraph, radio, or proclamation by a multitude of the heavenly host – the truth is life-changing, eternity-shaping, and joy-filled.  It is the entire reason for the Christmas season, and the entire rationale for the swelling joy in the heart of a Christian.  It is meant for common voyagers, just like us and those around us.  It is news that should cause us to rejoice and that we should retransmit. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO JOYFULLY PRAISE GOD FOR THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR.  Christ the Lord – a message for common voyagers everywhere!

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Legendary test pilot Brigadier General Chuck Yeager passed away a few days ago at the age of 97.  General Yeager embodied and personified the characteristics of a fighter pilot, in all the good ways and in all the bad ways.  In his autobiography, “Yeager,” a coworker described it this way: “Fighter pilots are the most egotistical bunch in the business.  But flight test fighter pilots are a couple of orders of magnitude higher than that.”  Though Yeager didn’t particularly like the term ‘the right stuff’, he had it, either through experience or by birth.

Interestingly enough, Yeager didn’t start out with a life that telegraphed fame and glory.  In fact, as he entered military service slightly before the beginning of World War II, he questioned his own abilities to rise through the ranks because of his very humble West Virginian upbringing and notable lack of formal education.  He even got airsick on his first few flights, stumbling through the beginnings of his career.  Yet, he went on to break a slew of aviation records and became known as the quintessential test pilot and the first to exceed the speed of sound.   

Some of us may start out life with a humble upbringing.  Some of us may be concerned about our notable lack of formal education.  Some of us may stumble at the beginning, or even in the middle, of our careers.  Yet, it is amazing to consider what God may have in store for us.  After all, He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.  He can do great and mighty things which we know not. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO LIVE TRUSTING GOD’S POWER TO OVERCOME ALL OF OUR INADEQUACIES.  While we may not live our lives beyond Mach 1 like Yeager did, we can still be used in ways we couldn’t even imagine.

II Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

In “The Back Channel”, Ambassador William Burns tells the following story:

“When I was a junior diplomat, George Shultz used to invite outbound U.S. ambassadors into his office for a farewell chat.  He would walk over to a large globe near his desk (which many years later I had in my own office as deputy secretary) and ask each ambassador to point to ‘your country.’  Invariably, the ambassador would put a finger on the country of her and his assignment.  Shultz would then gently move their finger across the globe to the United States – making the not-so-subtle point that diplomats should always remember who they represent and where they come from.  Not a bad lesson to reinforce today.”

Perspective is everything for ambassadors and diplomats.  While these professionals are immersed in a climate and culture of a foreign land, and strive to build relationships and develop mutual understanding with foreign officials, they are there for a very specific reason and purpose.  A diplomat must always be mindful that they serve and represent their homeland.  They are away from home to meet the objectives and goals of the place of their citizenship.  There will be opportunities in their efforts for pathways of mutual benefit, but the goals of their sending land should always reign supreme in their minds. 

We are ambassadors for Christ, and our perspective is critically important.  While we are immersed in a climate and culture of a foreign land, and strive to build relationships and develop mutual understanding with those around us, we are here for a very specific reason and purpose.  We must always be mindful that we serve and represent our homeland in heaven.  We are away from our heavenly home to meet the objectives and goals of the place of our citizenship.  There will be opportunities in our efforts for pathways of mutual benefit, but the goals of our sending land should always reign supreme in our minds. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO SET OUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS ABOVE.  We must always remember who we represent and where we come from!

John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Ephesians 6:12-13 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”

America is in the midst of a spiritual battle.  We struggle against a devil who is seeking to devour us.  We wrestle against spiritual wickedness that is looking to bring us to our knees.  We contend with a thief who is striving to steal, to kill, and to destroy.  The solution is to soberly and vigilantly return to a Christ-centered foundation dressed in a spiritual attire characterized by the whole armour of God.  The Lord desires for us to enjoy a fulfilling, fruitful, and abundant life, and in the midst of our challenges, it is wise to reflect upon the broader perspective.

I recently read The American Spirit by renowned author and historian David McCullough.  There are a few uplifting thoughts that I think will encourage you as you fight the good fight against a determined spiritual adversary who seeks to destroy us:

• “With the hope that what I have had to say will help remind us, in this time of uncertainty and contention, of just who we are and what we stand for, of the high aspirations that inspired our founders, of our enduring values, and the importance of history as an aid to navigation in such troubled, uncertain times.”

• “When he [Jefferson] wrote the Declaration of Independence he was speaking to the world then, but speaking to us also, across time. The ideas are transcendent, as is so much else that is bedrock to what we believe as a people, what we stand for, so many principles that have their origins here”

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO SOBERLY AND VIGILANTLY DON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD.  May we never forget that the thief seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.  We must resist him at every point, robed in God’s armour and encouraged by the faithfulness of our predecessors.

Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and will all they mind.  This is the first and great commandment.”

II Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

II Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God”

A few weeks ago, the Washington Post published a letter from an Army Captain during World War II to his infant son (“A World War II Veteran’s Timeless Words For His Son – And His Country”).  This letter was a powerful expression of love, guidance, and direction across the miles, with stunning applicability across the generations.

The solider shares the following thoughts about our great nation:

“I am glad for your sake that you were born an American, and, as you grow older, you will realize how many advantages and limitless opportunities lie before you in the land of your birth.  Our country is not spotless or above reproach, but the precepts upon which it was founded still rule, and the fundamental conception of freedom, justice, equality, rights and religion make it a land of opportunity, and a rich life.  I have seen enough of the world to know what all that means now.  Before this experience, I was taking it for granted and did not realize what it would mean not to have it.”

This Army Captain then goes on to stress the importance of character: “obedience, truthfulness, kindness, sincerity, tolerance, fruitfulness, and respect for other peoples’ rights.”

In the penultimate paragraph, he states these critical spiritual truths:

“Last and most important, learn to know God, and learn to love and appreciate Him for what He is and what He can do for you.  Never let a day go by that you do not read a bit from the bible, and develop a faith that will carry you through any thing, never forget, you certainly need God.”

In this short paragraph, the father provides timeless spiritual advice to his young son:  Love God, Learn His Word, and Rely Upon Him.  Rightfully so, the father highlights these truths as the most important guidance he could offer to his baby boy.  Several decades later, it is true to us today.  The wisdom in these rightfully chosen words is timeless and spans the generations. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO TRULY LOVE GOD, LEARN HIS WORD, AND RELY UPON HIM.  In everything we do, we certainly need God!