December 30 - Stay Awake

 Read today’s texts first: Revelation 15-18

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Christ’s second coming is as certain as His first,
which we celebrate as a historical fact. 

These chapters contain some of the most vivid imagery found in the entire Bible: an outpouring of God’s wrath, horrific plagues, global earthquakes, and a world war to end all wars. While some theologians debate what is literal or figurative, physical or spiritual, this is undeniably a description of the end of the world as we know it. It has to happen before God can resolve man’s chronic condition of sin and idolatry and then recreate a new heaven and earth (21:1).

We can only speculate as to the extent of the plagues and earthquakes, the identity of the beast and false prophet, the meaning of Mystery Babylon, the significance of her seven heads and ten horns, and the scope of destruction after the Battle of Armageddon. What we do know is that this will be God’s last judgment and the world will never be the same. There will be a final separation of the followers of Christ and those who defy Him.

What John, and the Holy Spirit who inspired him, want us to hear within these shadowy images is the certainty of Christ’s second coming and the finality of His perfect plan of redemption. He will come again for His own and the only ones who will rule and reign with Him forever will be those who have been “redeemed by the blood of the Lamb” (7:9-14).

In my Bible, standing out in red, are the words of Jesus:  Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed (16:15). This is why the doctrine of “the soon-coming King” is a cornerstone message in the Foursquare church and should be preached in every church and street corner around the world. It is why Sister Aimee travelled across North America in her gospel car, draped with the banner: “Jesus is Coming Soon - Get Ready!”

“Lord, Your second coming is as certain as Your first, which we just celebrated as a historical fact. May I wake up every day in the new year thinking that You may come today, get dressed in the armour You’ve laid out for me (Ephesians 6:13-18), and be ready to live each day like it could be my last.”

December 29 - United Nations

 Read today’s texts first: Revelation 10-15

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

I’ve read ahead to the end of the book and,
guess what, we win! 

The theme I noticed emerging from our reading today is the uniting of nations against God (11:9,10,18; 12:5,9; 13:7,8,16; 14:8). Yesterday I was excited to read how all the nations will be reached with the gospel, but it is obvious that in the last days of earth there will be a great divide, a battle for the nations between the people of God and the prevailing spirit of antichrist.

We are returning to a time like Babel, where all the people of the earth once gathered together to defy God (Genesis 11:1-9). God’s plan to divide the earth and isolate humanity through languages has been effective in stopping us from global self-destruction - until now! Through the recent explosion of technology affecting global transportation and communication, the world is coming together, again.

Mystery Babylon (14:8), the ancient religion stemming from the rebellion of Babel, will syncretize false religions and cults against Christianity. We are seeing that already around the world, even in what were once considered Christian nations. Bible reading is being banned in our own public schools while we openly embrace yoga and eastern mysticism!

But just like the technology of Roman road-building allowed the spread of the gospel in the days of the first church, the technology of our day is making it possible for the last church to reach previously unreached nations. We have never enjoyed more opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission than today. While we should be aware and concerned about the global multi-pronged strategies of our enemy, we should be more attuned to the mission of our God, the Master Planner, to bring His good news to every nation (10:11; 14:6; 15:3,4). I’ve read ahead to the end of the book and, guess what, we win!

“Lord, I am grateful to be on Your side, knowing You have a master plan, executed with precision since the beginning of creation. Show me how I need to live today and every day ahead so I can be part of Your plan to redeem the nations.”

December 28 - Main Things

 Read today’s texts first: Revelation 5-9

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

We will know we are getting close to the end when the gospel is heard & received in all nations! (Matt. 24:14)

When it comes to Bible interpretation, I agree with Alistair Begg, who said, “the main things are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things.” This basic rule of hermeneutics has helped me keep my head on straight every time I’ve read through this book.

I’ve studied the Revelation many times, read other books written about it, and even taught eschatology (doctrine of last things) to college students, and I can say this with certainty - we will not figure this book out completely until after the described events take place! That is true about most Bible prophecy. We can speculate, but never really know, whether to interpret the book or parts of it, literally or figuratively. The ones who think they know seem to drift into unhealthy extremes.

So I always read through the text fascinated by the imagery, excited about the second coming of Jesus, and inspired by the things that are obvious. In this passage one of those things is the gathering of nations, tribes, and language groups around the throne of God, united together in their worship of the Lamb (7:9-12). The words I love are “every” and “all.”  The Great Commission of teaching “all nations” (Matthew 28:19) will be a success and the prophecy that the gospel will be preached “in all the world” (Matthew 24:14) will come true!

This has become my passion. It started when God spoke clearly to me while I was watching a performance of the Youth Ambassadors choir, which included my niece representing Canada (wearing a Mounties uniform sewn by my sister). With 50 nations represented, they sang “Love in any Language,” standing with their arms raised, hand in hand, in worship to the one true God. To me it was a picture of heaven on earth and I couldn’t control the tears.

Shortly after that, I wrote a paper called “Coming Together - Moving Toward International Integration in the Church,” helped organize a symposium of pastors who are leading multi-ethnic ministries, and joined a team of educators to create a training program for Intentionally Intercultural Churches (IIC). I think international and intercultural evangelism should grip the heart of every follower of Jesus because it grips His heart. “Lord, whatever You have for me to do in my remaining days on earth, let me be involved in bringing the good news of Jesus to the nations!”

December 27 - Preserve Your First Love

 Read today’s texts first: Revelation 1-4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Sometimes we “persevere” but fail to “preserve” our
first-love intimacy with our Saviour and Friend.

It happens in almost all relationships. I’ve had the privilege of counselling many couples before and long after they’ve been married and the challenge we all face is preserving that first love. The romance, the passion, the excitement of being together can dissipate over time. The differences that once attracted us together can later drive us apart.

A similar thing can happen in our relationship with God, but the drift is one-sided. I remember a bumper sticker that asked the right question: “if you feel far from God, guess who moved?” The Revelation asks the same question of seven churches, particularly the church of Ephesus: You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love (2:3,4).  Just like the church of Ephesus, sometimes we “persevere” but fail to “preserve” that openness and intimacy we once enjoyed with our Saviour and Friend.

John reminds the church to “remember from where you have fallen.” I believe he is referring to more than their recent sin of forsaking “their first love.” He is saying that if you always remember where you were before you met Jesus, that He loved you while you were still a sinner (Romans 5:8), you will never stay away from Him. Every day will be another opportunity to appreciate His unconditional love and grace.

Sometimes our persevering can lead to a sense of self-sufficiency and self-righteousness. We forget that every good thing we have is undeserved, and that we can love only because He first loved us (1 John 4:19; Revelation 1:5).  “Lord, everything and everyone I love in my life began with You, my first love!”

December 26 - The Perfect Church?

 Read today’s texts first: Psalms 117; 119: 81-176; 2 John; 3 John

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The God born in a barn is at home in our personal
failures, dysfunctional families and imperfect churches.

Over the Christmas holidays we were able to catch up with some family and friends we haven’t seen for a while. Invariably the topic of church came up and we were surprised how many people, who were once avid church participants, now no longer attend a church. The most common reason – “we just can’t find the perfect church.” Our unexpressed response – “guess what, if you did, you wouldn’t fit in!”

We don’t have perfect churches mostly because they are filled with imperfect people. Even the first church, which we tend to glorify as ideal, was far from it. The last few books we’ve read through, especially John’s writings, have focused on individuals and teachings that were tearing local churches apart. In his gospel, his three letters, and in the Revelation we start reading tomorrow, John calls us back to the simplicity of the gospel message, that Jesus was sent from God to show us how much He loves us and how we can share His love with others.

How the purity of that message and His love gets communicated on this sin-polluted planet is far from perfect. That’s what I love about the Christmas story. Jesus was born in a smelly barn, visited by social outcasts, and raised by poor parents in a disreputable town. God made sure we knew He could handle our shortcomings. We can invite him into our personal failures, our dysfunctional families and imperfect churches. Even, David, who writes in the psalms we read today about how much he loves God and His Word, had a major spiritual melt-down. And yet, he is still remembered as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).  It’s not the imperfections of our life or our churches that defines us – it’s who we go to with our sin!

“Lord, I am grateful that You still come into our imperfect lives and churches. Some day Your work of perfecting us will be complete (Ephesians 5:17), but in the meantime we welcome you into our barns!”

December 25 - Jesus Messiah

 Read today’s texts first: 1 John 1-5

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

When it comes to living right and loving others, it’s not what we know but Who we know that matters.

What a great day to read about Jesus, our Messiah - the heart of the Christmas message.

John’s understanding of Jesus is so simple and authentic that he quickly cuts to the chase. False teachers are infiltrating the church at the time he wrote this letter (2:18,19; 4:1-3). To help the church identify these false teachers and their teachings, John quickly lays out three tests for authentic Christianity: do you believe Jesus is the virgin-born, only-begotten Son of God, the Messiah (2:22,23; 4:3); have you chosen to practice right living instead of sin (3:4-10); do you genuinely love other people (4:7,8)?

The answer to the first question determines your ability to answer yes to the other two. While some of my recent blog entries have focused on the human response and responsibility to our faith, faith always comes first. Without a relationship with the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), it’s difficult to consistently practice right living or genuinely love others unconditionally.

Belief in Jesus as the Messiah is the dividing line between Christianity and every false religion, cult or sect. If a person or belief system dismisses or minimizes Christ’s virgin-birth (divinity), sinless life, death for our sins, and bodily resurrection, they represent the spirit of antichrist. There is no option for ambivalence when it comes to Jesus - you are either pro-Christ or antichrist, with Him or against Him! If you are with Him, He will be with you, helping you make right choices, forgiving you when you fail, and teaching you how to love others like He does.

“Lord, we celebrate today how You came to be with us and how You made it possible for us to know You personally. When it comes to living right and loving others, it’s not what we know but Who we know that matters. This Christmas, like every other day, I want to know You more!”

December 24 - My Father, Your Father

 Read today’s texts first: John 19-21

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The life of Jesus ends much like it began -
humble, quiet, selfless and intensely personal.

It was appropriate to read the end of John’s gospel the day before Christmas. Remembering the end of the gospel story while we celebrate the beginning makes everything more significant. The life of Jesus ends much like it began - humble, quiet, selfless and intensely personal.

While He came to earth to bring peace and joy to the entire world, we see personal attention given to Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna and the magi. As we read of His death and resurrection, with its shattering impact on the earth, in hell, and throughout the heavens, John brings out Christ’s intimate one-to-one encounters once again.

Even in the middle of His agony while hanging on the cross, Jesus looked down and saw His mother and John. Joseph must have died early on, and Jesus, the eldest son, felt an obligation to care for His aging mother. He took the time to pass on that care to John (19:26,27) just before His death, with My Mother, “behold your son.”

After His resurrection He shared personal moments with some of His closest friends. His first was with Mary Magdalene in the garden.  Because her checkered past had kept her from belonging anywhere, He assured her that His Father was now her Father, His God was her God (20:17). Thomas, the natural skeptic, was invited to touch His scars (20:24-28). Peter, wracked with guilt over his three denials, was offered three opportunities to declare his love (21:15-17). John himself, was given hope that he would escape martyrdom (21:22,23).  All of the disciples were born again and filled with His Spirit as Jesus literally breathed new life into them (20:21-23).

“Lord, Your personal encounters with Your followers continue today. Thank You for loving me and speaking personally to me today.”

December 23 - All For One

 Read today’s texts first: John 15-18

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The family of God should have the same kind of unity
we see between the Father, Son and Spirit. 

The teachings and prayers in our reading today are unique to John’s gospel. He gives us incredible insight into the last words of Jesus before His death, which capture the reason why He came to earth. The relationship within the Trinity will always be difficult for us to understand but we see glimpses in these chapters how pure unity works. The Father sent the Son, the Son is about to send the Spirit, and all three fully represent the other. All three are one in their love for us and in their plan to redeem us.

Jesus prayed for all of us, including me, when He said, my prayer is not for them alone [His disciples]. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message [all of us], that all of them will be one, Father, just as You are in me and I am in You (17:20,21). This is the part that blows my mind - that some day we, the family of God, are intended to have the same kind of unity we see in the Godhead.

Right now we struggle with so many of the imperfections we see in the disciples and religious leaders of Jesus’ day: comparison, striving for power and position, pride, judgment, mistrust, unforgiveness, divisive attitudes, words and actions. No wonder people in the world often have a low opinion of the church! But the intent and the plan is that some day we will love each other as purely as we are loved by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

While this won’t be fully realized until we leave this sin-polluted planet, we should see a perfecting of God’s love in our lives as we grow older. We certainly see this maturing process in John’s life, who was the only disciple to escape martyrdom (though apparently scarred from being boiled in oil). We see such a difference throughout his long life from when we was a young upstart. He and his brother James were nicknamed by Jesus the sons of thunder, for good reason - often striving with Jesus for power and position (with help from their equally competitive mother - Matthew 20:20,21).

“Lord, my prayer today is the same one You had for me before You were crucified, that I would be one with You and my church family. I have so far to go but help me love and serve my brothers and sisters in the church with the same kind of love You have for me.”

December 22 - Set an Example

 Read today’s texts first: John 12-14

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Washing His disciples grimy feet was a fitting end
to a life of a King who was literally born in a barn! 

I love how the Holy Spirit inspired John to write the infallible Word of God through his own unique personality and perspective. John seemed especially sensitive to the love of Jesus. He refers to himself, not by “John,” but by his pen name, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (13:23; 19:26; 21:7,20). Many of the stories and teachings in John’s gospel are not found in the other gospels (which we call “synoptic” because of their similarities) and most of them reinforce the recurring theme of God’s love.

One of those stories was Jesus stripping down to the loin cloth of a servant and washing the disgusting road grime off His disciples’ feet. The timing was particularly significant - it was their final lesson before His arrest and crucifixion. It was like a graduation message as their 3 year Bible college program came to an end. It may have lacked the pomp we tend to add to those occasions, but for a King who came to earth as a baby born in a barn, it was a fitting end to a selfless life. What a stark contrast with the pride-filled, judgmental hypocrisy of the religious rulers.

It was one of the few times Jesus did something as a deliberate example for His disciples to follow (13:14-17). It wasn’t His intent that we would physically wash each other’s feet (although I’ve seen many powerful foot-washing ceremonies, most recently at a wedding!). Jesus made it clear this was a physical illustration of a spiritual principle – a new command I give to you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (13:34,35).

“Lord, I want to learn how to truly strip away my pride and humbly serve others. When You selflessly and unconditionally love through me, others will know what it means to be a real Christian.”

December 21 - One Thing I Do Know

 Read today’s texts first: John 9-11

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

If you want to understand and apply the law,
see how the One who wrote the law lives it out.

As we learned from our reading today, there is nothing more compelling and convincing than a personal life-altering encounter with Jesus.

To set the context for the story, the religious rulers are mad at Jesus, again. On several occasions He has healed someone on the Sabbath and for some nitpicking reason the Jews would rather the sick stay sick than get healed on a Saturday. They complained about the lame man carrying his bed on the Sabbath and got this response: the man who healed me told me to pick up my bed and walk (5:10,11). They complained again after a beggar, blind from birth, was miraculously healed, because Jesus had made some mud and the beggar had rinsed it off in the pool, on a Saturday again – can you believe it?!

They were so focused on the law (not even God’s law but a man-written over-complicated version called the Mishnah), that they failed to recognize the Law Giver. If you want to understand and apply the law, it seems prudent to see how the One who wrote the law interprets it.

When the critics called Jesus a “sinner” in front of the healed beggar, his profound response illustrates the power of personal testimony: Whether He is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see! (9:25,26). You’ve got to love that answer. It’s irrefutable. My paraphrase: Who cares if we broke your arbitrary Sabbath rules - I can see! Too bad you can’t!

The best part of the story comes next. The religious leaders threw the beggar out, saying with their typical arrogance, you were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?  While they were casting him out, Jesus was searching for him (again, note the contrast between the heart of God and the hard-hearted religionist). When Jesus found the man, He revealed who He was and why He had come - so those who do not see may see and those who see may become blind (34-39).  A not-so-subtle reference to the religious leaders?

“Lord, this one thing I know, once I was blind but now I see. May I continue to see Your healing power in my own life and the lives of others. As I read Your Word each day, help me see beyond the letters of the law to the Spirit who inspired them!”

December 20 - Father of Lies

 Read today’s texts first: John 7,8

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Feelings of superiority, pride, judgmentalism and
self-sufficiency come from the Father of Lies.

There are so many surprises in the story of Jesus. His less than grand entrance, which we will be celebrating in a few days, was one of the first, but they kept coming. Most surprising to me were his fans and foes. We often talk about His motley crew of disciples and friends. Certainly it was a shock to see the King of Kings hanging with blue-collar ruffians, crooked tax collectors, prostitutes and unclean lepers. But I find it more surprising to see who opposed Jesus.

You would expect that the keepers of the Mosaic law would be eagerly awaiting the coming Messiah. They knew the prophecies of Psalms 22 and Isaiah 53. They should have anticipated the suffering Saviour. Yet, not only did they miss him (with only a few exceptions, like Nicodemus), but they were responsible for orchestrating His death.

They illustrate the difference between the deadly and demonic source of religion and a real relationship with the Giver of Life. While they thought they were upholding God’s laws, they were interpreting these laws with demonic intent (8:43-47). The incredible story of the woman caught in adultery, wedged in the middle of ongoing conflict between Jesus and the religious rulers, beautifully illustrates the difference of intent. Jesus represents selfless love, mercy, forgiveness and restoration. Religionists represent self-righteous judgment, debasement and punishment.

If these attitudes showed up in God’s holy temple, could they make their way into our churches today? The answer is very clearly, yes. I’ve discovered these tainted traits in my own heart at times. Feelings of superiority, pride, judgmentalism and self-sufficiency come from the Father of Lies (8:44) and lead us away from the true Father of Light and Life.

“Lord, help me to recognize deceptive and destructive attitudes in my own heart before they are expressed. Instead, may I surprise others with Your unexpected grace and mercy!”

December 19 - To Whom Shall We Go?

 Read today’s texts first: John 5,6

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
When the Source of all life is in us,
what else do we really need.

Not only did Jesus confuse His followers with the things He did (some we mentioned yesterday), but what He said was even more confounding. In today’s reading He upset the hometown crowd by describing Himself as spiritual manna, the Bread of Life, sent from heaven to earth by God. The people were shocked – isn’t this Jesus, Joe and Mary’s kid, grew up in the back of their carpentry shop on Main Street. And if that wasn’t enough, after they responded in disbelief,  Jesus basically says “bite me:” if you don’t eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life (6:53 – my paraphrase).

Much of what He taught the masses, even His disciples, they never fully understood. They tried to interpret everything through the physical, mental or emotional senses, with little comprehension on a spiritual level. They kept hoping Jesus was going to physically deliver them from the nasty Romans. But Jesus showed little interest in their outward oppression. He focused instead on the bondage they were experiencing inside.

He was inviting them and us to be changed from the inside out. When we receive the Bread of Life, every other need is met. When the Source of all life is in us, what else do we really need. That’s what Peter said so well for all of us. When asked by Jesus, you do not want to go away also, do you? (after many of the hangers-on decided to hang it up), Peter responded, Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life! (6:67,68).

“Lord, I’m saying to You what Peter said. I may not understand everything You’ve said in Your written Word or to me personally, but I’m going to trust that You know what You’re talking about. I’m not leaving – I’ve got nowhere else to go!”

December 18 - Do Whatever

 Read today’s texts first: John 2-4

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The Bible beat Nike by 2,000 years with:
“Whatever He says to you, just do it!” 

After reading through the letters written by James and Peter, we noticed the repeated theme of adding works to our faith, walking the talk, growing in grace. John was another disciple who understood how important it was to obey Jesus. He also brings out stories that illustrate how unusual His commands can sometimes be!

First of all, why would Jesus choose to perform His first miracle at a wedding? Wouldn’t a church service be more appropriate, a tent meeting, somewhere more spiritual? And why on earth would He want to kick off His public ministry with a stunt as controversial as turning water into wine?

When the Canadian Foursquare family first registered our church in Quebec, we had to re-address the question of permitting our pastors to drink alcohol. Drinking wine is customary in Quebec, as it is throughout Europe (and as it was in Bible times). After an unusually heated business meeting, the French Foursquare president, who was not aware of the previous meeting or its agenda, brought greetings in our evening plenary session. Among the gifts he gave to our Canadian president, who opened them in front of the entire convention gathering, was an expensive bottle of French Bordeaux. Some gasped, some laughed out loud, but, needless to say, we were all pushed well out of our comfort zones.

We can speculate why Jesus would do what He did (I did in a sermon called Wine, Women, Weddings, Whatever), but sometimes the “why” is beyond us. In the next few chapters he turns over tables in the Temple, tells a Pharisee he must be born again, and asks a shady Samaritan woman for a drink. Because of our limited human perspective, the “whatever” is more important than the “why.” Mary, His mother, said it best (moms have a way of cutting to the chase): whatever He says to you, do it! (2:5).

“Lord, my adventure in ministry with You began when I first heard You say to me: forget the business program at UBC - enroll in LIFE (LIFE Bible College at the time). That began 50 plus year run of doing the “whatever,” completely outside my comfort zone. It’s been fun, so sign me up for whatever comes next!”

December 17 - Grow in Grace

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Peter 1-3; John 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Be warned - like a dog returns to his vomit or a pig
to his mud, believers can turn away from their faith! 

Peter has a similar emphasis to James. He knows from experience how it is possible to fall from grace. While some would teach that it is impossible to lose your salvation, they have to explain away much of what these two eye witnesses teach in their letters.

Peter was the disciple that bragged how he would die to defend Jesus (John 13:37,38) but when Jesus needed him most, he denied he even knew Him, on three separate occasions, complete with curses from the fisherman’s potty mouth he thought he had left far behind (Mark 14:66-72).

But Peter was deeply remorseful and Jesus restored him once again with three confessions of faith to match his three denials (John 21:15-19). Within 50 days of his denials and a few days after his restoration, Peter had become the key leader of the first church (Acts 2). Now as a seasoned leader, approaching the day he would in fact lay his life down defending Jesus (2 Peter 1:14,15), Peter is warning his fellow believers to supplement their faith and grow in grace (1:5-11; 3:17-18).

He starts by acknowledging that their standing is equal to his because of their common foundation of faith, the finished work of Jesus (1:1-4). When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins we all start from the same place, as fully redeemed children of God. But Peter is equally clear that if we don’t keep practicing our faith (1:10) we can fall, just like the apostate believers he lists in chapter 2. He is saying, out of his own experience, from the examples of others, and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is possible to turn away from our faith, like a dog returns to his vomit or a pig to his mud!

“Lord, while I know Your grace is sufficient for my salvation I have a responsibility to continue working out my salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Thank you that Your grace is sufficient to save me once and for all time. To You be the glory both now and to the day of eternity!  Amen. (3:18)”

December 16 - From Fisherman to Shepherd

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Peter 1-5

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The Great Commission is more about discipleship
than evangelism.  We wouldn’t bring a baby
into the world and then abandon it.

Every word in the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit, but I don’t believe it came to human authors through verbal dictation. God allowed the unique personalities and perspectives of each writer to show through in their writings, while still ensuring the words they wrote were infallible. That’s why it is helpful to understand the writer’s background as we read through their books.

For example, we know much about Peter from the gospels and we see his characteristics emerge through his writings, albeit much more refined after Pentecost and years of church leadership. Peter loved to fish and Jesus connected his passion for fishing into compassion for the lost: follow me and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). But as Peter matured in his faith, learning through his failures, Jesus expanded His calling: feed My sheep (John 21:15-17).

This will happen to all of us. We must never lose our compassion for the lost and our commitment to evangelism. Your preChristian family, friends and neighbours need you to introduce them to Jesus. But that’s just the beginning. The Great Commission is more about discipleship than evangelism: Go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). We wouldn’t bring a baby into the world and then leave the newborn on the streets to fend for himself.

Peter learned from the Great Shepherd how to care for the flock and, if need be, to lay down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). Everything he writes in his two letters to his fellow believers carries his deep love for Jesus and His church.

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away (5:1-4).

“Lord, that’s what I want to do in the final phases of my life on earth – shepherd the flock You entrust to my care. Help me live today as a loving under-shepherd of the Great Shepherd and Overseer of my soul (2:25).”

December 15 - Oh the Humanity

 Read today’s texts first: James 1-5

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Our faith should be obvious in
how we speak and what we do.

While I love the entire Bible, cover to cover, two of its books always stand out to me: Philippians, because it has shaped how I live and what I teach, and James, because it challenges me to walk the rest of my talk! This book is so focused on our responsibility that Luther, who emphasized God’s grace and sovereignty, questioned its inclusion in the canon. He felt James contradicted sola gratia (grace alone) and sola fide (faith alone). But there was a good reason for James to emphasize the humanity of our faith - he was the half brother of Jesus.

We call him the half brother because both Jesus and James were sons of Mary, but they had different fathers: James was the son of Joseph and Jesus was the virgin-born Son of God. But James grew up with Jesus, seeing His humanity more than His divinity. He no doubt worked with Jesus in their Dad’s carpentry shop and probably had sawdust thrown in his face by his older brother. It’s understandable that the family of Jesus had trouble at first accepting Him as the self-proclaimed Son of God (Mark 6:1-6).

Yet James witnessed the consistency between the words and actions of Jesus, and eventually became not only a follower of Jesus but the leader of the first church in Jerusalem (Acts 15). It was this unique vantage point of watching Jesus integrate His humanity and divinity that formed James’ perspective on faith, that faith without works is dead (2:14-26). In his epistle, he emphasized the importance of not only hearing from God but doing what He says (1:22-24). Our faith should become obvious in how we speak and what we do (1:26,27).

“Lord, I know that faith in You alone saves me but the Bible also makes it clear that such faith must be expressed through my words and actions. Help me today to maintain integrity between Your Word and my walk!”

December 14 - Stirred but not Shaken

 Read today’s texts first: Hebrews 12,13; Jude

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Sometimes real love requires real discipline.

As I approach the Christmas holidays my thoughts default to family, which is appropriate context for my Bible reading today. The last chapters in Hebrews talks about our Father God’s loving discipline and Jude applies why that discipline is important, to keep us all contending earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints (Jude 3).

We sometimes get the misguided notion (usually from TV and the movies) that love is always sickeningly sweet support – “oh look at Johnny throwing his Fruit Loops at Suzy, isn’t that cute!” No, that’s not cute – it’s a waste of good cereal!  Sometimes real love requires real discipline (another variation of “discipling”)! My Dad didn’t have to discipline me very often (I was the baby and the most obedient child among the six siblings!). But when he did, I felt his belt on my backside quickly followed by a hug I couldn’t escape (though I was mad enough to try). He would encourage me with profound, unforgettable wisdom, like “it’s not your failure that defines you but what you learn from it.”

That’s the kind of wisdom we find in our readings today: For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines (12:6) and it is for discipline that you endure (12:7). Following these wise words are illustrations of those who failed to learn from their discipline and then fell away from their faith. All of us, from the beginnings of human history, have or will experience a great shaking of our faith, from Mt. Sinai to Mt. Zion, from this world to finally the heavens (12:18-29). That’s why we must not refuse Him who is speaking (12:25). The gentle stirring in our hearts that brings us conviction and correction now, will save us from falling apart when the big one comes, when our whole world starts shaking around us. Bond got it wrong - stirred but not shaken is the better choice!

“Lord, thank You for a loving father who did not let me get away with my sin. He gave me a glimpse, as perfect as the imperfect can be, of how You, my perfect heavenly Father, loves and disciplines me now.”

December 13 - Hall of Faith

 Read today’s texts first: Hebrews 9-11

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The heroes of our faith family are gathered in the
stands of eternity cheering all of us on. 

My cousin and namesake, the other Robert Buzza, has always served the Buzza family by documenting our family lineage. It’s fascinating to see the consistency of the Buzza heritage, with lumber and Christianity emerging as recurring themes. My Dad owned several lumber companies and was a key elder in my home church. He came by those values quite naturally, going back several hundred years. In 1596, John Boussow (later changed to Buzza), our earliest recorded ancestor and well respected timber dealer, donated the pews for his home church in Cornwall, England.

But even more fascinating than my natural family is the spiritual lineage all believers enjoy. I love travelling across North America visiting churches (I’ve done so for many years, leading college tours from 1987-2013). Wherever I find fellow Christians, anywhere around the world, I feel immediately at home. The ties to our spiritual family are profound in this world, but they will become even stronger as we transition into eternity.

That’s why I love this particular passage in Hebrews. It takes us back to the beginning of our faith family and I always get misty-eyed when I read about my famous ancestors. Some were renowned leaders who achieved phenomenal success (11:4-34). But in the middle of verse 35 things change - the names become inconsequential and their lives seem to end in defeat. My voice always catches as I read how they were tortured, scourged, stoned, imprisoned, and sawn in half. But then my spirit lifts when I read the parenthetical thought in verse 38: men and women of whom the world was not worthy. Yes! That’s my faith family!

And then we read how these incredible heroes of the faith are gathered in the stands of eternity cheering all of us on, to help us finish our journeys strong and unencumbered by sin (12:1). “Lord, as I consider the remaining years I have left on this planet, may I not grow weary or faint-hearted, as I run with endurance the race that is set before us, always looking to You, the founding father and finisher of our faith” (12:2,3).

December 12 - Written in our Hearts

 Read today’s texts first: Hebrews 5-8

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY
Those who say they don’t need a crutch like
Christianity, limp along, grasping at anything
but God to prop themselves up.

Last year on this day, I could see it in the faces of my fellow shipmates. They were there for a good time – what could be more relaxing than cruising the calm and balmy Caribbean (especially while missing the snowstorms back home). But at times I could see the emptiness, the loneliness, in their eyes. For many, something was missing!

I saw it in their actions too - their addictions. People so fat they could only move about on wheelchairs or scooters, mostly towards the buffet. Chain-smokers, clouding up the casino as they pushed the air conditioner beyond its limits. Gamblers, banging their heads against slot machines as the hypnotic sights and sounds sucked another $100 through their fingers. Drinkers, who shed more than their inhibitions while playing “adult” games in the ship’s lounges.

Why are we prone to addictions, to excesses? Our reading today provides the answer. We were created in God’s image to walk and talk with Him every day. He is our High Priest, our mediator, One who knows everything about us, experienced everything we have gone through and more, understands our weaknesses, and offers to be with us, helping us to live right every day.

Often my preChristian friends will tell me they don’t need a crutch like Christianity, and then they limp on their way, grasping at anything but God to prop themselves up.  We weren’t created to live by ourselves, for ourselves, in our own strength. Jesus came to earth to break off our sinful attraction to worldly addictions and fill us up with Himself: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the Lord: “I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people” (8:10).

“Lord, You are all I need. You are my High Priest who is with me always. Your Word is written on my heart, filling my mind and spirit, and protecting me from the empty distractions of this world.”

December 11 - Eating Right

 Read today’s texts first: Philemon; Hebrews 1-4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

More serious than hardening of the arteries is a hardened heart. Be careful how you feed your soul! 

One of the things we learned on one of our cruises, believe it or not, was the importance of nutrition.  Why would a cruise ship, offering endless buffets of rich food, spoil such decadence with a seminar on healthy eating?  And why would Jan and I attend such a seminar when we know full well ignorance is bliss! Well, after hearing about the toxins we absorb daily through our poor food choices, we made a pact that upon our return (which was about this time of year) we would set up healthy menus for our daily meals, which we would follow resolutely - at least until we started our Christmas baking! Looking back, that’s how long our new-found resolve lasted!

The writer of Hebrews calls for much better discipline when it comes to spiritual nutrition. In chapter 5:11-14, he exhorts us to move on from being spoon fed baby foods to feeding ourselves with “solid foods” every day. Leading up to that he tells us why. Just us an unhealthy diet of rich or greasy foods will lead to hardening of the arteries, neglecting a daily intake of God’s Word will lead to the hardening of our spiritual heart (2:1;3:7,8,12,13).

These warnings of heart hardening lead up to this famous passage about the Bible: For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  (4:12). The two-edged sword of God’s Word is the scalpel we need for open-heart surgery. It can cut away all the contaminated deposits we digest by living in a sin-polluted world (talk about your “toxin cleanse”). It divides away the faulty and fatty attitudes from that which is pure, healthy and organic to God’s will.

And this encounter with God’s Word must be daily:  Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (3:13).

 “Lord, thank You for this season of rest I’ve been able to enjoy and the renewal I’ve experienced by being in Your Word every day. As Jan and I focus more now on eating right physically, help us to never neglect a healthy diet of solid spiritual food as well!”

December 10 - And So On and So On

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Timothy 1-4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Lead 1 person to Christ a year, discipling them to do the same, and we’ve saved the world in 1 generation.

Those of us who lived through the big hair era of the early 80’s will likely remember the famous Faberge commercial. Heather Locklear loved the shampoo so much she told two friends about it, and they told two friends, and so on and so on and so on. The split screen effect illustrated the incredible compounding of word-of-mouth advertising (check it out on YouTube).

Faberge was simply recycling the genius of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). In our reading today, Paul gives his version of the G.C. to his protégé Timothy: the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2:2). That one sentence includes four generations in the chain of discipleship. It was this simple relay of faith from his grandmother Lois to his mother Eunice to himself that eventually led to Timothy becoming pastor of the influential church of Ephesus (1:5).

Do the math of spiritual multiplication.  If one person led another person to Christ and discipled him to do the same thing, and then repeated that every successive year, in 33 years we would see more than 8.5 billion people saved, more than the world’s current population (and not counting the 2.5 billion Christians on planet earth right now). In other words, the world would be reached in less than one generation. This is simply astounding - a simple process with profound results!

“Lord, lead me to the next person I can introduce to you and then teach them to do the same with others. The good news of what You have done for me is too good to keep to myself. I want to tell my friends who can tell their friends - and so on and so on and so on.”

December 9 - Follow the Leader

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Timothy 5,6; Titus 1-3

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Effective leaders must first learn the art of followership. 

I personally have loved getting older. As my hair began to magically disappear and that which remained turned grey, I suddenly gained more authority. People began to assume that I must be wise, like Yoda. But when I was a young upstart, I tended to strive for position and then flaunt my titles to get people to listen to me. “Hey, I’m a pastor, reverend in fact - I have a license to preach”  (really, that’s what my first Foursquare license said!).

Knowing this about young leaders, I reread Paul’s advice to his protégés, Timothy and Titus, with keen interest. He was urging both of them to be authoritative, especially with those who are divisive (6:3-5; 1:9-11; 2:15; 3:10). But implicit in his encouragement to them to exercise authority is the secret to gaining that respect. As a spiritual leader, the only way to gain authority is to be submitted to authority.

This idea of submission is counter-intuitive to most young leaders. Society then and now believes born leaders are those who cannot follow. Rules to the natural leader, some say, are made to be broken. It’s true that some of the students who gave us grief at PLBC eventually became very effective leaders, but, I would contend, only when they eventually learned the art of followership.

This idea of submission weaves its way throughout the text, and is applied to leaders (5:1;1:6-9), young women (2:4,5), young men (2:6-8), slaves (6:1; 2:9) , and all of us as citizens (3:1). This truth applies to me, even during my current years of “Yoda-like” wisdom (I speak facetiously!). “Lord, may Paul’s advice to young Titus become my prayer: Remind [me] to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”

December 8 - Ransom for All

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Timothy 1-4

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

There is a time and a need to take a stand
for the purity and simplicity of the gospel. 

Timothy, Paul’s young protégé, was facing disruptive and, possibly, destructive, false teachers infiltrating the church of Ephesus. Paul urged him to instruct his church in sound doctrine, and to boldly correct those who were pursuing “strange doctrines” and “mere speculation” (1:3,4).  As a born diplomat, my inclination is to downplay doctrinal differences and encourage everyone to just get along. But as Paul and Timothy learned, there is a time and a need to take a stand for the purity and simplicity of the gospel.

One example jumped out at me in the reading today. It seems clear to me that our Saviour “desires all men to be saved” and, because of that, “gave Himself as a ransom for all” (2:4,6). These Scriptures, and many others, are obvious in describing God’s impartial love and sacrifice, which is available to all. But there are some who speculate that God has predetermined some for salvation, and by logical extension, others for damnation. There are others, especially today, who take the opposite extreme and interpret these verses to mean all will be saved (universalism). 

There are deliberate tensions in Scripture that help us understand how much greater God is than our limited thinking. We must find a balance in understanding God’s sovereignty and man’s free choice, God’s justice and His mercy. And we must be quick to correct false, or at least misguided, teachings which can flow out of proof-texts and not the “whole counsel of God.”

“Lord, the love and sacrifice You have made available to all of us is far too wonderful not to defend against mere speculation. While You have called me to work together interdenominationally, You have also asked me, like Paul, to encourage my protégés toward sound doctrine.”