Mentoring Minutes

“CHRISTmas According to the Shepherds – God’s Grace is for All!”

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened… And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”  Luke 2:8-9, 20

Love and Lordship in Focus…How have you or do you respond to what God has revealed to you about Christ as Savior and Lord? Are you sharing it with all those you have the opportunity to do so…just like the lowly shepherds?

On the first Christmas night, there were shepherds tending huge flocks of sheep in the fields near the village of Bethlehem. This was odd since in those days it was unusual for shepherds to tend large flocks near towns and villages. The reason?  The odors of very large flocks fouled the air so badly that people could not breathe. So large flocks were confined to areas far from the places where the general populace resided.

Bethlehem, however, was an exception. For thirty days, once a year, an enormous flock of one-year-old lambs grazed near Bethlehem, and that time of year was the thirty days prior to Passover. The sheep in that particular location belonged to the High Priest/his family…every lamb selected and declared by the priests as unblemished and set apart to be sacrificed in the Temple or eaten as Passover lambs. The sizes of these flocks required a huge host of shepherds working in shifts. Some watched while others slept.

Bethlehem, itself, was/is a very interesting place. In the time of Jesus it was  picturesque. It sits on a high cliff and can be seen for miles in all directions.

The grazing fields where the Temple shepherds tended these flocks are in the valley south and east of the town beneath the cliff. In the middle of this pasture was a structure known as the MIGDAL EDER or “Tower of the Flock”…used by the priests who oversaw the shepherds. By remaining in the MIGDAL EDER the priests were able to keep themselves from becoming ritually defiled.

The shepherds, on the other hand, in their defiled conditions, were not allowed to go to the Temple, offer sacrifices, or go to the synagogues.  Any religious experience they might enjoy had to be between himself and God. But to a Jew of that time and especially the Temple authorities the idea of worshipping God apart from the Temple was disgusting.

So, for all these reasons, even the most pious shepherds were labeled unclean, and, according to the authorities, could not enter the presence of God. However, it was these unclean, ritually contaminated shepherds of Bethlehem that would be the first persons God would invite to visit his Son.

Oh, the audacity of God! The Bethlehem shepherds were the last people that God should welcome into His Presence. Most people were sure God would send the “intellectual and spiritual giants” who were found in the Temple.

But God had a plan…even the least among us are invited to have a relationship with His son. None of us are excluded. We do not need to be theologians to enjoy this CHRISTmas relationship; we must simply be willing to come to Him as we are.  Just as the Bethlehem shepherds did…

The Gospel According to the Shepherds

So often in the Christmas story, we focus on the main characters: Mary, Joseph, and of course, Jesus.  But through the short account in Luke 2:8-20, we can learn from the shepherds four things that should make the top of our to-do list this and every Advent/CHRISTmas season and every day!

Keep in mind who the shepherds were in the world’s eyes and their intimate understanding regarding the perfect, unblemished Passover Lamb.

1) Believe (Faith over Fear) – Luke 2:8-14

The angel said, “Peace on earth among people with whom He is pleased.” Who is that? It’s those who respond to God’s gift through faith. Scripture says, “For by grace you are saved, through faith….”

Faith means you say yes to all that God did through Christ. Yes, he is the Savior of the world. Yes, he came to die for my sins. Yes, through him I find forgiveness and new life. Yes, I want to follow Christ as Lord. Faith isn’t a spectator sport; it’s an active embracing of all that God has promised in Christ.  The shepherds had a choice to make and they did just that…

2) Obey (Acting on their Faith) – Luke 2:15

The shepherds did exactly as they were told. Faith without obedience is no faith at all! Their obedience reinforced their Faith!  Every step from the fields of Bethlehem where they watched over the Passover Lambs to the stable and manger in Bethlehem where they encountered the Perfect Passover Lamb was a step of faith until they saw Him!

3) Tell Others (Faith becomes Sight) – Luke 2:16-18)

Faith now became sight…they were the first to see The Son of God! What would they do with what they had been entrusted with? When the shepherds arrived in Bethlehem and saw the child lying in the feed trough, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” They weren’t preachers, teachers or missionaries, but that didn’t matter. They had heard and seen the Salvation for the whole world.  What else could they do?

4) Experience (Worshiping God – Luke 2:20)

The shepherds were overwhelmed at what they saw. They experienced holy wonder and could do nothing less that worship and praise God.

Amidst all the activity, stop and treasure all these things. Ponder them in your heart. Engage in some holy wonder.  Luke 2:19-20

Chuck Swindoll once penned his thoughts about the first humans to see Jesus as a baby.  He has a unique perspective that was spawned by a visit that he and his wife took to the Holy Land a few years ago.  Read Chuck’s experience in Israel and ponder its compelling impact on your own heart.

Cynthia and I were touring Israel with the ministry.  As our motor coach passed through the Judean Wilderness, I spied some people living in tents and tending goats.  “Bedouins,” our guide sneered.  “Have you ever met one?”  I asked.  I’ll never forget his answer:  “Why in the world would I want to do that?  They’re Bedouins.”

As we drove on, it struck me that the Bible has another name for Bedouins ― shepherds.

Contrary to most Christmas pageants, these shepherds weren’t clean people in terrycloth robes and soft, rubber sandals.  They were nobodies nobody cared to know―society’s leftovers who looked after stinking animals.  Since that day, I’ve never read Luke’s gospel the same way:

There were shepherds staying in the fields . . . Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared . . . “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 in Bethlehem!” (Luke 2:8-11).

The shepherds were stunned!  Not just because they were terrified, but because the Lord had proclaimed His message “to all people.”  Even them.  In light of God’s boundless grace, they felt compelled to go to Jesus and exclaimed, “’Let’s go to Bethlehem!’” (Luke 2:15).  But that wasn’t their only response:  “After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened: (Luke 2:17).

They were compelled to go to Jesus, and then having met Him, they were compelled to make Him known.

Chuck went on to say, “Having met Jesus, I am continuously compelled to make Him known.  His grace compels me!  And look at how His grace makes a difference:  Cheryl wrote…

I am just a nobody single mom who works overnight in a grocery store stocking shelves.  This is when I listen to IFL podcasts.  The messages have blessed me and made me feel strong when I have felt so very weak from the challenges of life.

Cheryl is one of thousands and there are millions more who need to hear that God’s Word is for “all people.”  When they do, they will be compelled to go to Jesus, and having met Him, they will be compelled to make Him known.

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – We have heard God’s message!  We have been compelled to go to Jesus, and having met Him, we’re compelled to make Him known!  This December, and every day, let’s remember those who feel like Bedouins…like nobodies nobody cares to know.   And together ― like those first lowly shepherds ― let’s proclaim the Good News:  God’s grace is for all!

Love in Action – Here are ways to engage in holy wonder…

Love and Lordship Prayer Focus

Heavenly Father, like the unwanted and disregarded Bethlehem shepherds, let me walk in faith, obey Your will to see Christ and to worship You in wonder because Your grace is for everyone.  Help me especially to see those that our world treats like outcasts and share with them Your love and salvation in Christ! In His Name I pray. Amen.

Contact L&L as loveandlordship@gmail.com to let us know what you’re thinking and how we can help.

Make it a great day and have Blessed Advent and Merry CHRISTmas season in CHRIST (Matthew 1:18-25)!

“Joseph and Mary – Faith, Humility and Gratitude”

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, ‘Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.’”  Luke 1:37-38

Love and Lordship in Focus…May we have the faith, humility and courage of Mary and Joseph to be obedient to The Lord in all things no matter how the outcomes may appear, what others may say, or what it may cost.

I ran across this quote in one of my daily readings recently, “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” (C.S. Lewis)  Let’s apply that to Mary and Joseph…

One of the most powerful texts in all of Scripture comes directly from the Advent/ CHRISTmas narrative, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:26-38 (emphasis v. 38) A lowly peasant virgin teenager is visited by the angel, Gabriel, to declare that she would give birth to a son without ever having known (had sexual relations with) a man. Can you imagine the stares, the disdain, the ridicule and humiliation…the scandal!

Yet in faith, Mary responds, “be it unto me according to Your Word, O Lord.” May your Advent/CHRISTmas season and every day The Lord gives you be lived accordingly as must rely over and over each day on The Lord as if nothing had yet been done!

Continuing with our focus on Mary’s faith, obedience and role in the Advent of Christ and CHRISTmas, we reflect on all God asked Mary to consider and her continued response of obedience and humble gratitude.  She literally worshiped God and gave thanks for Him putting her in this very dire and uncomfortable situation! God asks Mary to become an unwed mother complete with all the scorn, ridicule and mockery that accompanied that lifestyle, potentially even being legally killed (stoned for adultery). In no way was God condoning sex and pregnancy outside of marriage and yet in the same incredible stroke of Grace we can see His forgiveness when we have failed or fallen in our relationships and sexuality. In one incredible, supernatural act God’s Holy Spirit comes upon Mary and the God-Man, Jesus Christ, is conceived! Luke 2:26-38

What an awesome blessing and yet an overwhelming burden…ever been there? God has a plan and will see it through but He desires that we respond by faith the same way that Mary did. Upon receiving confirmation from her relative, Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, of the Baby that she carried being the Lord and the Son of God (Luke 1:39-45), what does she do?  Right in the middle of her plight and knowing she was returning to her family and people with an extended belly and no way to hide her pregnancy, she breaks out in what is known as the Magnificat, an unparalleled song of praise and glory to God (Luke 1:46-55)!

As we look at the incredible faith and humility found in Mary through her complete obedience in a very unpleasant situation, let’s not forget Joseph’s conundrum and his response.

Gentlemen, what would you do if you were told your fiancé was pregnant and had been told that she was a virgin? Likely we would have the same immediate response that Joseph had… quietly divorce her (betrothal, or engagement, was the same as marriage in every way except sexual consummation). So, Joseph was planning to do the reasonable thing that anyone would have expected and accepted…until an angel visited him and shared the Good News of the Baby that Mary was carrying and that He was of The Lord (Matthew 1:18-25)!

Now before we too quickly claim that we would have listened to an angel and done the same thing that Joseph did, let’s ask ourselves, “What was at stake?” Only his entire reputation and livelihood. How often have we received the very Word of The Lord in His Scriptures and chosen what was most comfortable, convenient and favorable for us rather than the cost of obedience? Obedience to God (Matthew 1:24) may likely cost us everything but it is the only thing that is worth it all.

In reading and contemplating the story of the Advent and Incarnation of Christ, it struck me that of all the players involved directly in this incredible narrative, Joseph, while very prominent as God’s choice to be Christ’s earthly father, says nothing at all. Look at Scripture…we simply see Joseph ponder “putting Mary away” after he finds out that she’s pregnant and knowing he’s “not the father.” We see him fall into a deep sleep and be visited by an angel that sets the record straight for him…and then without a comment we see him accept God’s message by faith that the Babe in Mary’s womb is the Son of God and His Name will be called Jesus! And he will be Jesus’ earthly father and that will not be looked upon with the favor of men.

Joseph actually had four choices that would have all been considered righteous according to the law. 1) He could have had Mary stoned for “adultery.” 2) He could have had her exiled from Israel, which would have been either a death sentence or a cruel fate as a woman of “ill repute.” 3) He could quietly divorce her and let her fend for herself in a culture that saw her condition as completely sinful…sexually immoral and pregnant outside of marriage. This last one was what a “good man” would do and all of these previous three would have been very appealing to his flesh and perfectly just before the law. Or, 4) he could do the most difficult thing and keep her as his wife and care for her and this Child as his own. His choice, in obedience to God and the angel’s message, was the last and by far most difficult option…and he likely paid a price for the rest of his life. But he knew he was in God’s will and that was enough.

We can only ponder what Joseph may have thought but we need not think about what he did because God’s Word tells us that he was obedient to the message of God from the angel. What a powerful example of a man who simply listened and obeyed. Oh, that we would listen, receive God’s Word and obey it, regardless of what others may think or say…just as Joseph did. God knew what He was doing in choosing Joseph (and Mary) to be Jesus’ earthly parents (Matthew 1:18-25).

Joseph was the earthly father of “God With Us”…Immanuel!

Mary and Joseph were basically minor characters in Israel until they were chosen and visited by angels to fulfill God’s perfect plan. It was God’s choice and their obedience to Him that projected them onto the stage of History and Eternity as much more than “bit players” (Luke 1:26-38). Their obedience allowed God to work in and through them to raise His very Son to fulfill His purpose and bring salvation to a condemned world (John 3:16-17)!

They could have chosen, legally and with little or no repercussion, to follow their feelings and act in their best interest knowing the price they would pay…BUT they chose to walk in faith rather than their feelings and the circumstances, not knowing what the future held in store…simply trusting in God!  Regardless of the cost or what others thought or said of them (fear of man) they both chose to obey, walk with and trust God (fear of God).  May we do the same.

Food for Thought – We have all, in faith, been recipients of Mary and Joseph’s obedience! So by faith may we follow in their footsteps and share His love as well! What is God calling you to today in obedience to Him for His Kingdom and Glory? How are you responding to God’s work and call in your life?

Love in Action –
1) Ask The Lord to show you where He’s calling you to obey Him;
2) Honestly assess any area in your life that you’ve chosen yourself or fear of others over obedience to The Lord;
3) Ask The Lord to forgive you for any selfishness and sin and to give you the courage and humility to obey Him in all things, and;
4) Begin today to follow through on your obedience to Him in all things!

Prayer Focus – Heavenly Father, let me follow the example of faithfulness, humility and obedience of Mary and Joseph. Often I have options that are okay and much more appealing. However, I desire one thing only…to be in the center of Your will, obedient to Your Word, allowing You to be responsible for the fruit of a faithful life for Your Kingdom and Glory! Thank You for the powerful and touching story of the Advent, Incarnation and Nativity.  Thank You for the Christ of CHRISTmas! In His Name I pray. Amen.

Contact L&L at loveandlordship@gmail.com to let us know what you’re thinking and how we can help.

Make it a great day and have Blessed Advent and Merry CHRISTmas season in CHRIST (Matthew 1:18-25)!

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-5

Love and Lordship in Focus…One of the key “ingredients” to being His disciple and rubbing off on others as we go along the way is that of Humility. Humility is being confident and content in who you are in Christ so you can willingly submit and place others above you…just like Jesus did for us!

Modeling our Love – Humility

Look what Paul does here…he clearly gives us what it looks like to live as a disciple and emphasizes that we should do so because in this way we are modeling our Lord:

1. Don’t be selfish
2. Don’t be vain (prideful)
3. Walk in humility – place others above yourself
4. Don’t just look after yourself but look after others
5. This is the mindset that comes from our Lord…build your relationships according to His design!

One Paul, One Timothy in Your Life

Following the Biblical teaching, we are to study and work to be Christ’s disciples and we are to do it in relationship with Him and one another.  Looking first to Christ as our Lord we then should find at least one person more mature in the faith than us to be a “Paul” in our life and at least one who is younger (less mature) in the faith that can be a “Timothy” that we pour into.  We should always be being discipled by one more mature and be discipling at least one who is less mature, growing together in The Lord.  

Finally, this should begin in our homes as spouses and parents.  Moms and dads be the “Paul or Pauline” in your children’s live as they are your first and most important “Timothy(s) or Timothena(s).”  If we are modeling Christ to them then He is not only encouraging and blessing them, He is growing us!  This is how we build His family, The Church, by being and making disciples first in our own! 

Food for Thought – Do you equate humility with humiliation? That’s exactly what the enemy wants you to do so you will not desire to follow through in obedience to God in following His command for you to be like Christ in humility. Humiliation always comes when we follow our fleshly desires. Humility comes when we follow Christ’s example found in God’s Word and led by His Spirit.

Love in Action – During your quiet time with The Lord this week ask Him to show you where you are living in pride, even false humility, and how you can better know who you are in Christ so you can walk in humility.

Love and Lordship Prayer Focus Heavenly Father, thank You for making me holy in Christ.  I realize that You’ve given this freely and you ask me to, in light of this gift, to give myself back to You.  Only as I turn from the world and my own pride and flesh can I become a “living sacrifice” to You.  Teach me and help me renew my mind in Your Word and Spirit so that others see Your will in and through me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.