I have heard it said that, “everyone learns from experience, but it doesn’t have to be your own experience.”

This is essentially the situation written about in Zechariah 1. Zechariah, who was a prophet during the time the Jews were allowed to return to Israel after the Babylonian captivity, was given a message to deliver to the Jews. In verses 4-6 he says, “Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’ Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead. But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said.”

Essentially, God was saying, “learn from someone else’s mistakes, so you can avoid the consequences that they experienced.” We can read Bible history and see the consequences of disregarding God’s direction, and we can see these things in more recent history, as well. We should be using these lessons as guidance to keep us on the right path.

Dear Lord, You provide us many examples from which to learn, in the bible and in modern times. Help us take these lessons to heart so that we avoid the problems others have made for wrong choices, and experience the blessings of following those good examples. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Different parts of the Bible use different types of writing to convey God’s message to us. Some are accounts of particular events that we can use as metaphors for our lives 2000 years later, like David and Goliath, teaching us about faith in God giving us ability to overcome, or Peter walking on water, teaching us to trust.

In the account of Esau trading his birthright in Genesis 25:29-34, Esau came in from a hard day of hunting and was very hungry. Thinking only about his immediate desires, he asks his younger brother Jacob for some of the stew he was cooking. Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.” “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”. So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.”

Esau trades something precious and irreplaceable for immediate gratification. We need to think about this in our lives. Are we trading things of long term value, like our integrity, our reputation, our health, or even our salvation for something we want right now, like entertainment, convenience, or short term pleasures?

Dear Lord, help us remember what is important in our lives, and to think about the long term consequences of our decisions before we make them. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” -Revelation 1:8

As humans we talk about being constrained by time. “You only have 24 hours in a day,” we say. We look at things as past, present, or future.

Though it is difficult for us to understand, God is not constrained by the concept of time. He created it. And though he is too awesome for us to even comprehend; he is also aware of each of us, and our individual situation.

Psalm 103:13 says, “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” and Luke 12:7 says, “..even the hairs on your head are numbered.”

There is no limit to God’s power, and we all should be in awe and grateful that he cares about each of us, individually.

Dear Lord, How amazed and blessed we are that you will hear our prayers and have unlimited ability to intervene in our lives. Send your care, healing, comfort and favor on your children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those who have his good will!” Luke 2:14

Merry Christmas! On this day we celebrate the transition from the Old Testament days when God’s people believed for a Savior to come, to the New Testament believers that Jesus came as God on earth to save us.

The amazing thing about Christianity is that God came to earth to save people. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves, we are at the mercy of God’s grace. Thank God, he loves us and did all the work.

As John writes in John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Dear Lord, We praise and thank you for coming to earth to save us. Help us to always remember how you humbled yourself to be our savior, and as a result all we must do is accept you to be saved. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Luke 2:10-11 tells us through the angels who appeared to the Shepherds, “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today.”

Doesn’t this cover the entire message of Jesus Christ and Christianity. We don’t need to fear, because of the “good news of great joy for all people.”

Dear Lord, help us have the joy in our hearts and lives that comes from knowing our Savior has come. In Jesus’ name. Amen.