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Arise and Become

12/30/2017

ARISE: 2018
Terry R. Baughman

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV).

Miles Davis was an innovative jazz musician and composer throughout his career. Over fifty years he remained at the forefront of new developments in jazz music. When asked about his success he said, “I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning. … Every day I find something creative to do with my life.” (BrainyQuote.com)

For many people the future is an elusive and far off destiny that will, someday, suddenly, arrive bringing success and happiness of its own accord. However, that is not the way the future is claimed. The only way to get to your future is to arise each morning to grasp its opportunity. Every day is a new beginning, a fresh opportunity, but we must arise and seize the moment, claiming the day for all of its potential.

With the arrival of a new year many people make resolutions, promises to themselves or to others of what they intend to accomplish in the New Year. The vast majority of our resolutions fail before we check off the days of the first month on our calendars. What began with good intentions failed with the return of our routine habits of daily living. Unless we can break the cycle of normal activity it is difficult to shape new habits to achieve our goals and commit to our resolutions of change. When there is a sense of destiny or a drive within to fulfill a greater purpose we may find the needed resolve to commit to change.

Don’t wait for a New Year to initiate resolutions. Each morning we can arise with the fresh awareness of purpose. It is a new day and it is our day to take a new step toward our future and the fulfillment of our purpose.

Growth happens incrementally in minute division of cells and expansion of the matter that makes us living creatures. Though we experienced growth spurts in our adolescence and it seemed to happen very quickly, in reality we only see growth in comparison to the static marks on the doorposts of our past. So it is in life. The only way to determine the progress made is to relate it to elements that remain constant. A picture of the past, writing from our younger years, tests or lab results can help us see the increments of our changes. We can see our progress, or our lack thereof, when we compare where we are, to where we were.

Maybe the chart does not reflect a positive shift in our development. We may find ourselves coming up short and failing to grow in the desired direction. Well, today is a new day. Face it with optimism over a new opportunity to change. Post this text on a mirror so you will see it every morning, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

Though we may have come up short in the past, and failure seems to be our pattern, hear the words of the prophet, “When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8). Your future starts when you wake up … every morning.

Arise and become!

Scripture:
“The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise …” (Nehemiah 2:20).

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Anointed to Save

12/23/2017

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A SAVIOR IS BORN
Terry R. Baughman

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18–19).

The idea of anointing extends throughout the Scripture back to the ancient priests and prophets that moved under the inspiration and prompting of the Spirit of God, to speak for God and act in His behalf. In the design of the ancient Tabernacle Moses was instructed by God to, “anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests” (Exodus 30:30).

Centuries later when Israel became a nation they began to desire a king to be like the other nations. God conceded to their repeated requests for a king and instructed the Prophet Samuel to anoint Saul as the first King of Israel. Years later after Saul was filled with pride and arrogantly rejected the instruction of God, Samuel was again directed to anoint another king for Israel. Samuel found David in Bethlehem in the household of Jesse. He was anointed as the king of Israel before his family and years later in public ceremonies. However it was noted that, “the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13).

The stage was set for the coming Messiah 1000 years before the birth of Jesus. It is interesting that Jesus was proclaimed to be the son (or descendant) of David. The same anointing that was upon David was also recognized on Jesus. In a synagogue in Nazareth Jesus was asked to read from the sacred text. The assigned passage was from Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1).

Everywhere Jesus spoke there was a witness to His anointing. Some were, “astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority” (Luke 4:32). Even officers charged with finding fault and bringing accusations admitted, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:46). Later Peter preached Jesus to the Gentiles declaring, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38).

The anointing of the Spirit and the authority with which Jesus ministered was not to bring honor or acclaim for personal or political aspiration, but rather it was intentionally initiated to fulfill His greater purpose. Jesus had come to seek and save the lost. His destiny was to give Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. His anointing enabled and empowered Him to achieve His mission.

From the annunciation of the angel, “He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), to the mocking crowd of the crucifixion, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save” (Matthew 27:42), all seemed to recognize His singular purpose. Paul reflected, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

From a sinless birth to the sacred sacrifice Jesus brought salvation. His anointed ministry and His powerful resurrection provides all we need to experience everlasting life. Come to Him and be saved!

Scripture:
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

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Born to Save

12/16/2017

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A SAVIOR IS BORN
Terry R. Baughman

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20–21).

Through miraculous events Mary, a young virgin, was informed that she would have a child. Not just any child, but the Savior of the World, the long-awaited Messiah prophesied to come from antiquity. This was the sign declared by the Prophet Isaiah more than 600 years before, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Though it was difficult for Mary to understand, she agreed to be the chosen one, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Perhaps it was even more difficult for Joseph to understand and necessitated the visit by the angel to explain God’s plan. The angel confirmed that, “All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:22–23).

God came near, visiting a humble stable, the backdoor of Bethlehem. He came with purpose, fulfilling the prophecies and providing hope. The name He was given also identified His mission, “Yahweh saves!” The Apostle Peter stated, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Gabriel declared they should name Him, Jesus, “The Lord Saves,” because that is why He has come. Moses, the Psalmist, and Isaiah, all chorused, “The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation” (Exodus 15:2; Psalm 118:14; Isaiah 12:2). The Book of Isaiah expanded the prophecy, “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:2–3).

God is with us to save us from our sins, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). John further revealed the purpose of God to bring salvation, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16–17). Because He loved us He gave of himself to save us from our sins.

The eternal purpose of God and the reason for the incarnation was to bring redemption for all of humanity. His plan made it possible that we might look to Him and believe. The message of the Gospel is life changing and life giving. Mark said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).

The Savior is born and He is here to save, both now and for eternity. Be born again of the water and of the Spirit and receive His never-ending promise of everlasting life.

Scripture:
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

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Come to Save

12/9/2017

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A SAVIOR IS BORN
Terry R. Baughman

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Scholars examine the self-expression statements of Jesus in order that they might determine His understanding and the revealed purpose of His mission. Expressions such as, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) and, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37), reveal the personal sense of mission that motivated Jesus.

While He healed the sick and performed many miracles His real purpose was the proclamation of the Good News. Jesus told His disciples, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth” (Mark 1:38). This was a continuing fulfillment of the prophecy He read from Isaiah when He visited the synagogue in Nazareth, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18–19).

Jesus came with a message of hope, deliverance and salvation. He said, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. … For I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (John 12:46–47).

The Scripture declares Jesus to be a prophet like unto Moses. Peter said, “For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you” (Acts 3:22). There were unusual similarities in their lives. Both were born in times of tremendous adversity and national oppression. Moses was born in Egypt under the order of death for every Hebrew male child, where his people were subjected to slave labor. Jesus was born to a Jewish family who lived under the oppression of the Roman empire. A crazed puppet king, Herod, ordered the execution of every male child of Bethlehem, Judea, under the age of two in an effort to destroy the one born and identified by the wise men as, “The King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:16–18).

Moses fled from Egypt to preserve his life; the family of Jesus fled to Egypt to save him. Jesus returned to the land of Israel to fulfill prophecy, “Out of Egypt I called My Son” (Matthew 2:15). Moses was called to return to Egypt to become the deliverer of his people from bondage. Jesus came preaching “to proclaim liberty to the captives and …, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18). Moses led the people through the water of the Red Sea and built a Tabernacle to bring people to God and prepare them for the promised land. Jesus instituted the birth of the water and the Spirit to bring His people to eternal life! Moses initiated the offerings of sacrifices to bring atonement for the people. Jesus gave Himself as the Lamb of God to be the final sacrifice and to take away the sins of the world.

Jesus came to save, while giving Himself as the supreme sacrifice. The Savior has come and we have been delivered from the bondage of death and given the gift of abundant life!

Scripture:
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

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Seeking to Save

12/2/2017

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A SAVIOR IS BORN
Terry R. Baughman

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Zacchaeus was feared and hated. Probably more hated because of the power he wielded as a chief tax collector. He had become wealthy through the state oppression of his own people. He was among those most despised by the people of Israel.

When it was known that Jesus was coming through Jericho, the hometown of Zacchaeus, he purposed to see this man he had heard so much about. His biggest obstacle to seeing Jesus in the large crowd that gathered was his short stature; he was vertically challenged. Anticipating the direction Jesus would travel Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to observe the procession.

Zacchaeus did not anticipate the agenda of Jesus. Unknown to him Jesus had an appointment to stay at his house. “When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house’” (Luke 19:5). He was joyfully surprised and rushed to prepare for his unexpected guests.

Not everyone was happy about the choice Jesus made for association during his visit to Jericho. They all complained that, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7). Jesus frequently dined with undesirables and those others considered unclean and unworthy of association. He was accused of being, “a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” (Luke 7:34). These accusations were cast in the most negative sense possible. Jesus made His purpose clear when He said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32). He came to seek and save the lost.

Convicted for the corrupt practices of his profession, Zacchaeus confessed his crimes and promised to restore four times over. A transformation took place in his character and the compassion of Christ caused lasting change as he committed to give to the needs of the poor, up to half of his possessions.

Following Jesus is more than a casual confession. Jesus calls us to salvation and that process includes total transformation. It is a life changing conversion, an alteration of our motives and passions. The purpose of God is to save us from ourselves and from our sins.

Before the beginning of time God had a plan to redeem His created beings from their sins. In the foreknowledge of God He knew that humanity would fail and sin would prevail. However, an alternate plan was defined to resolve the conflict and restore created beings to their intended purpose. Jesus was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). The atonement for sins was anticipated and the sacrifice of the Lamb was sufficient. John proclaimed Jesus to be, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Christ is still seeking to save the lost. His mission has become our commission, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15–16).

Scripture:
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

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Arise and Become

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