Walking With Jesus

The Most Important Question About AI

By: John Stonestreet and Dr. Timothy D. Padgett

*As we begin 2026 it seems more important than ever to think correctly about Artificial Intelligence (AI), not only to enable us to see ourselves more clearly, but to enhance our view of God. This article from the Colson Center challenges, informs, and I pray, enlightens us in, not only a better understanding of AI, but a better understanding of ourselves and God. Blessings, Ed 😊

A recent story at Fox News described a new app that allows people to cut out the middleman, so to speak, when talking to God. “The ‘Text With Jesus’ app allows users to message AI-generated biblical figures, including Mary, Joseph and Moses.” Despite being lambasted for the app, its creator reports that many users are “embracing the new way of worship.”

Eerily reminiscent of the story of the Israelites and the Golden Calf, this is yet another example of the many “should we” questions created by Artificial Intelligence. And there are many. In a recent interview with MSNBC, actress and director Justine Bateman slammed TV and movie producers for choosing cyber-shortcuts to genuine human creativity:

“I think they sort of like to think of themselves as being tech barons themselves or something. But this, doing projects that don’t involve humans is not … in the film business anymore. They don’t know what it’s like to make a film.

A few weeks earlier, Zelda Williams, daughter of the great Robin Williams, issued this plea to her late father’s fans:

Please, just stop sending me AI videos of Dad. Stop believing I wanna see it or that I’ll understand, I don’t and I won’t … to watch the legacies of real people be condensed down to ‘this vaguely looks and sounds like them…’ just so other people can churn out horrible TikTok slop puppeteering them is maddening. … You’re not making art, you’re making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of the lives of human beings.”

A few months ago, former CNN reporter Jim Acosta interviewed an AI avatar that claimed to be Joaquin Oliver, one of the students killed in the horrific 2018 Parkland (FL) school shooting. Not to be outdone, at least three megachurches played an AI version of Charlie Kirk the Sunday after he was assassinated, with one pastor announcing the clip as “what Charlie is saying regarding what happened to him this past week.”

Continuing down this rabbit hole, the BBC recently reported that the Chatbot Truth Terminal had managed to “earn” millions in cryptocurrency. Not only that, but according to its creator, “Truth Terminal claims to be sentient.” But, he continued, “it claims a lot of things. It also claims to be a forest. It claims to be a god. Sometimes it’s claimed to be me.” The program is now pushing for its own legal rights as a person.

What each of these stories reveals is how confused we are about the fundamental question that must be answered when it comes to Artificial Intelligence. In fact, we are confused about what the most important question even is. Many people wrongly think, as one author posted on X, that we need to decide what humans should do and what AI should do:

“You know what the biggest problem with pushing all-things-AI is? Wrong direction. I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.”

However, the question is deeper than who (or what) should do what. The most important question is who are we as humans? What makes humans exceptional and distinct from machines?

For the last hundred years or so, in the wake of Darwinism, the essential question was how and why humans were different than animals. Many believed there was no essential difference. For example, the evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould wrote,

“We are here because one odd group of fishes had a peculiar fin anatomy that could transform into legs for terrestrial creatures; because the earth never froze entirely during the ice age; because a small and tenuous species, arising in Africa a quarter of a million years ago, has managed, so far, to survive by hook and by crook. We may yearn for a higher answer, but none exists. “

What we should have known were the implications of this belief for morality, meaning, and social cohesion.

Today, to settle the “should we” questions about Artificial Intelligence, we have to know whether humans are different than computers. Are we “meat machines,” as some have said, or something more? That question will help us distinguish between Elon Musk’s promises to restore health and ability to people with disease and injury and what he calls “cybernetic enhancements” through “human-AI fusion.”

The problem with his idea, that humans can “effectively become one with the AI,” is not just that it is too science fiction-y. Given his vision, track record, and resources, it’s not even that such dreams are beyond his reach. His confusion is the confusion of our time: What does it mean to be human? What is it about us that is distinct and exceptional?

As We Say Goodbye to 2025

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NLT)

In bidding 2025 farewell I’d like to continue a few thoughts from the last few days but also emphasize that time is a gift to be invested, not to be wasted.

When the Lord chooses us for salvation, He chooses us to give a new priority to the use of the time we have from that point forward. We don’t have any way of knowing if that will be one minute or 100 years, we only know our life belongs to Him to do with us as He chooses. Obviously, not everyone who professes faith in Jesus understands that from the outset. It takes time to learn things like that and many turn back or turn away before they learn what a relationship with the Lord is really all about.

Will they go to heaven if they turn away or turn back? What concern is that to you or me? That’s between them and the Lord alone. It’s His call, not ours. We become like the laborers who worked all day and became jealous of the ones who worked only an hour yet were paid the same as us. Our only concern needs to be to give a full day’s work for a full day’s pay. That’s where time comes in.

My sense is there were those who were hired in the last hour who actually put in more effort and did more work in their one hour than some did in eight hours (see Matthew 20:1-16). Additionally, it’s not only what we do or how much we accomplish, but the attitude with which we work that pleases and honors the Lord. The more time we waste worrying about what everyone else is doing, the less effective we’re going to be in the work we do.

I think of the elder brother who never left home in the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 that we looked at yesterday. Realizing relationship is the issue, not sonship, can we agree the son who stayed at home was just as lost as the one who ran away? Yet, there’s no indication in the story that the son who stayed at home ever desired a relationship with his father. What’s my point?

Simply this, both the brothers put in their time while growing up, but the younger brother ran away and left his older brother to labor for the father. They both put in their “time,” one at home and one in a far country, but neither saw what they were doing as a benefit to the father, only what they could or should get out of their service for themselves.

Everything the father owned was for the benefit of his sons, but neither took advantage of his generosity until the prodigal returned home. As a blood-bought child of God, are you taking advantage of your heavenly Father’s wealth that He has made available to you in and through His holy Son, the Lord Jesus? Are you harnessing your privilege to speak with Him often, training your spirit to hear His voice and obey His directives?

Are you investing the time you’ve been given to deepen your relationship with your heavenly Father? If not, why are you taking up space on this planet? He’s the reason you’re here, so, unless you’re using your time to pursue a relationship with Jesus, you’re treading water at best, and drowning at worst.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What If He’d Never Come Home?

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20 NLT)

A lot of division arises between the proverbial “camps” over this parable. Today, by God’s grace I will share what the Lord has shared with me, you do with it as you will.

Parables have one main point. They are not allegories that reveal many lessons through many aspects or avenues of teaching within one story. The main point of this parable, as was the main point of the other two parables in this series (lost sheep and lost coin) was the lost boy was found.

The argument has been made that the lost son would have been saved because he didn’t lose his sonship, but the reality is, every living human being is born of God. No human being has life except it’s given by God. Life begins at conception because that’s what God has ordained, but because God is the Author of our biological life doesn’t in and of itself guarantee we will go to heaven. The son was lost before he left home.

Heaven demands we be born again of the Spirit through an act of faith evidenced through our willingness to repent and turn from our sin through confessing our need of God, submitting our will to His authority and obeying His directives. That’s the decision the prodigal ultimately made. Notice what the Bible says in Luke 15:17-19: “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my faither and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’”

Salvation isn’t based on sonship, every person is a “son” or “daughter” of God by virtue of our physical birth, it’s based on relationship. It wasn’t that the prodigal didn’t have a father, it was that he had no relationship with His father. Had he died in the foreign land without a renewed relationship with his father, continuing to live in his “lostness,” he would never have had a relationship with his father; thus, as we think of it in “spiritual” terms, he would have remained lost and not gone to heaven.

So, the logical question becomes, have YOU come home to the Father? It’s not simply about what we say, a “profession of faith,” if you will, it’s about repentance and confession, coming home to the Father, confessing our sin and yielding our life and allegiance to His Lordship – becoming His servant, His slave. It’s ironic on some levels that we can only become our Savior’s slave as we become submitted to our Father’s authority.

Sonship opens the door to the privilege of divine Ownership. We recognize that on many levels our lives were never our own, they were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 7:23) through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the Cross. We can quibble about how much a professed believer sins and still gets to go to heaven, but here’s the deal – every one of us, without exception is a sinner saved by grace and will be haunted by Satan’s lies and temptations as long as we have air in our lungs.

Can we just please leave it to the Lord to make the final call as to who belongs to Him and who doesn’t. Ultimately, we have only ONE person to be concerned about – the beautiful or ugly mug that stares back at us from the mirror. Focus on that ONE person and make sure they’re ready for heaven, then the Lord will lead us to others we can help get ready.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Eternal Security

“You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name. This is My command: Love each other.” (John 15:16-17 NLT)

What I will share with you today will be understood and believed by many of you, but you must understand that my “indoctrination” into the Christian Faith came through a Wesleyan-Arminian branch of Christianity. I learned a lot as a new believer and don’t begrudge the teaching I received; it just focused on the “bent” the people who taught me had been taught themselves, just as those who taught you shared from their “bent.” Am I now a Calvinist?

Nope, I’m a Christian, a Jesus follower, seeking to learn from Him through His Spirit what the Bible teaches, not conform to what Brothers Wesley, Arminius, Calvin, MacArthur, Piper, Keller or any other popular Pastor/Speaker might teach. I’ve learned to weigh what I read and hear in light of what the Lord is showing me the Bible teaches, because if it doesn’t make sense to me in light of Scripture, it doesn’t make sense.

So, back to the subject at hand. One common phrase that’s used that ruffles some feathers is “Once Saved, Always Saved.” That’s always troubled me because of those I’ve seen who make professions of faith, then for various reasons, walk away from the Lord and, to my knowledge, never return. Did the Lord “waste” a choice on them? Were they never saved? Did they just never grow up or mature enough to grasp what a gift they’d been given?

Why does that matter? It’s completely between them and the Lord. Here’s the truth: it’s none of my (our) business! It’s completely between them and God. I don’t have to understand the heart of God completely in every circumstance. Because of my sinful nature it’s hard for me to see “fairness” and “equality” without seeing – “What’s in it for me?” If “they” can make a profession of faith, genuinely connect with God, then walk away and still go to heaven, why do I have to stay faithful, serve, strive, discipline myself to walk in faith, still failing more times than I care to admit?

Here’s the bottom line as I see it. Our salvation is 100% based on the completed work of Jesus, not on my/our performance. The only investment we have is our faith, which is also a gift from God. (see Ephesians 2:8-9 ). The Lord extends to us an invitation to follow Him, we say “yes,” and the rest is up to Him in terms of our security. I can’t earn or deserve salvation, so, what makes me think I can sustain it? It’s ALL by faith in His completed work.

So, can I just stop making any effort to strengthen and grow in my relationship with the Lord and just “coast” into heaven? To even think that would cause me to believe you were never saved in the first place. Why would I say that? Because having walked, fallen, failed, gotten up, walked, fallen, failed, etc. for more than 60 years I wouldn’t think of stopping now, regardless of what anyone else says or does.

My intimacy with the Lord has grown so strong, so sustaining, so life-giving, so enjoyable, so downright fun, to walk away from the Lord would be like walking away from life itself. He IS my life, so, as long as this old body has breath, I will seek to continue to grow closer to my Lord, loving Him more dearly, walking with Him ever more nearly every day.

Am I eternally secure in Jesus? I have no doubt! And here’s the great news for you if you’ve yielded your life and allegiance to Him – so are you! Let’s look at this from another angle tomorrow.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

He’s All We Need!

“At the moment I have all I need – and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:18-19 NLT)

Have you ever been in desperate need? Like sinking in quicksand with no one within miles kind of need? Here’s the tragedy – lost people are slowly sinking in the mire of their sin, yet have no apparent awareness of their need, while here we are with the rope of their only hope securely anchored in Jesus, but we’re too frightened to hand it to them. What’s wrong with that picture!

Pastor Rick Warren wrote: “Sometimes in life, you don’t realize God is all you need until God is all you have—and that’s exactly what he wants you to learn.” There was a time in my life when I learned that valuable lesson. It seemed I was all alone. In my heart I felt no one cared and I had no one to turn to. Of course, that wasn’t true, but truth doesn’t matter when you’re in the middle of a pity party.

But that’s when the Lord showed up and said to me: “Are you an idiot! What about…then he began to list all the names of people who loved me and stood with me.” NOT! He doesn’t work that way. He gently and quietly shared with me that I wasn’t alone because He was with me and He was all I needed! Fortunately, He’s never allowed me to forget that, and I pray it’s a lesson you’ll learn and never forget.

Charles P. Jones, the songwriter, got it right when he penned the words of the beloved hymn “All I need” the chorus of which says: “Wisdom, righteousness and pow’r, Holiness forevermore, My redemption full and sure, He is all I need.” Why are we so blind to God’s all sufficiency until we come to the end of ourselves and our limited means of meeting our own needs?

As we stand on the threshold of this new year, might it be an excellent opportunity for us to open our hearts and minds to the reality that in and of ourselves, we’re never enough. We’re not strong enough, rich enough, talented enough, smart enough, holy enough; we can’t serve enough, love enough, pray enough, or attend enough meetings to ever earn or deserve self-sufficiency.

If we could ever be good enough to be free of our sin without Jesus, He would never have come to die in our place to pay the penalty for our sin that we could never have paid in all eternity. Jesus is all we need because He’s God poured into human flesh. He lived as we live, died as we die, and suffered every human emotion that we will ever experience.

He sees what we can’t see and feels what we can’t know He feels when we’re suffering. He sees not only how we feel, but why we feel that way and alone understands the answer to our suffering rests in our trust in Him. If only we’d learn He’s all we need, we’d immediately turn to Him in every moment of our lives, believing that whatever it holds, He holds our hand and will walk with us through it.

Please don’t enter this new year without Him. Please tap on the highlighted link and let Ron Hutchcraft walk you through a simple, straightforward explanation as to how to place your trust in Jesus and allow Him to become the Lord of your life. Jesus is literally all you need. Everything else that you think you need or have ever needed comes from and through Him. He is our Provider. Always has been. Always will be.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

God’s Promises

“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’ And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ (which means ‘Yes’) ascends to God for His glory.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT)

What is a promise? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary it is: “a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified; a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.”

When someone makes a promise to you, doesn’t it stand to reason that the promise is only as reliable as the character of the one who makes the promise? Satan is a liar by nature; he knows only how to lie. John writes in reference to the unbelieving Jews in 8:44: “For you are children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Compare that with Paul’s words to Titus in chapter 1:1-2 when he writes: “This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God – who does not lie – promised them before the world began.”

Estimates range from 2,000 to over 8,000 promises that God’s makes in the Bible, depending on the nature of the promise and to whom it is given, but every promise God makes is as good as kept because God doesn’t know how to lie. It’s not in His holy nature to vary in any degree from the truth regardless of the context. I love what C. H. Spurgeon wrote: “God’s promises are longer than life, broader than sin, deeper than the grave, and higher than the clouds.”

What do you most need in this season of your life? Do you need hope? Check out Romans 15:13 where Paul writes: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

How about peace? See John 14:27 where Jesus says: “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Or forgiveness? Remember the words of the Lord to Paul when He spoke to him on the road to Damascus in Acts 26? His specific mission for Paul was “…to open their eyes (Gentiles – you and me), so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me.”

Or comfort? I think of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 when he writes: “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ.” God keeps His promises. As His trusting child you can believe without doubt He will give you everything you need to be everything He died to enable you to become for Him.

Here’s the bottom line – whatever we need God promises to supply it. Paul summarizes this in Philippians 4:19 when he writes: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Beauty of God’s Kingdom

“We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.” (2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT)

What is the most attractive, appealing, yes, most beautiful aspect of God’s Kingdom to you? Realizing God’s Kingdom is God’s sovereign rule over all creation, both in the present and in the future, encompassing His authority, righteousness, and active involvement with humanity, it may be hard to put our finger on which aspect of His rulership over us is most meaningful and compelling.

But when we think of His Kingdom being comprised of those who have yielded their life and allegiance to Jesus, what is it about your relationships with those you know in the Body of Christ that stimulates your mind and encourages your heart? Surely there are breathtaking views of God’s creation that few if any human eyes have seen that would be awe inspiring and open to us an avenue of appreciation of our Heavenly Commander and Chief, but what of the beauty of the person who sets near you in church, who serves with you or attends your small group?

One group of people who have risen to the top in my appreciation are those who labor as Pastors, leaders and volunteers of our congregations. Men and women of God who daily work selflessly, not to promote themselves, but to exalt the Lord Jesus and bless His people – you and me. The more I get to know them, the more I love and thank the Lord for them, the more the Lord reveals His beauty in and through them.

Yes, of course, there are some shysters, but by and large, the men and women God has chosen to lead our churches are godly servants who serve selflessly to the honor and fame of their Savior. Are they perfect? Are you? Am I? Anytime someone tends to want to speak too highly of me I simply tell them to first run that by my wife.

No one except Jesus is perfect, so none of us are chosen because of who we are, but for who we can become when submitted to the Lordship of our Savior. That’s the beauty of God’s Kingdom, seeing through His eyes His imperfect, redeemed children. We’re in this journey together and the sweeter our company, the sweeter the journey.

We labor together in the fields of God’s choosing to glorify and honor Him, but also, to grow in our love for and appreciation of those with whom we labor. Ray Majoran captures the heart of this idea as he prays: “As we stand in the fields You have prepared, steady our steps and deepen our joy for the work before us. Shape us into people who serve with humble hearts, support those who feel discouraged, and rejoice in the compassion of the Master who calls us His own. May our lives bear witness to Your kindness so that others would see the beauty of Your kingdom.” (See The Vineyard – 11-26-25)

The beauty of God’s Kingdom can be seen in and through the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus, and through nature, of course, but among the most impactful displays of the Lord’s beauty is revealed through His children living, loving, and working together to extend His eternal Kingdom on earth. When I think of the most compelling reasons I’m a child of God, it’s because of the key people the Lord has put in my life along the way. And here’s the best part – He’s continuing to put them in my path…and YOURS!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Eternity Touched Earth

“So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” (John 1:14 NLT)

As “the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” is celebrated today, please take a moment to reflect on what Jesus’ birth means, not only to the world, but to you. Where might you be today if not for Jesus? How has His holy birth, life, death, and resurrection changed, not only your eternal destination, but your life’s journey? How will you give Him honor, praise, glory, and worship today, not just for family, gifts, this special day, but for the gift of Himself?

Yes, of course, celebrate family, friends, and the gift of hope we now have only because of His willingness to enter the stream of human life on this planet, but let’s not forget to celebrate the reason for this day when eternity touched earth and it was never the same.

“Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com” “When Eternity Touched Earth”

We now have a hope that is alive, real, life-sustaining, and enduring. We can live with joy regardless of our circumstances because our hope isn’t in this life alone, but squarely in the new life made available to us through our trust in the Child of Bethlehem.

You may not have any gifts this Christmas, not even a tree to put any under, or anyone with whom to celebrate, but if you have Jesus, you have reason to celebrate and rejoice on this special day. Rather than wallow in self-pity and bemoan all you have for which to be sad, lift your heart and head to Jesus and give Him thanks for the gift of His life and love given on your behalf. He’s the only reason we need to rejoice and be glad. He is with us and for us like no other friend can be. Please don’t push Him away because of those you’ve lost.

Ray Majoran’s prayer for this day is exceptional and really blessed me. So, I just had to share it with you today. May it bless and encourage you as it did me.

“Creator of Light and Life, on this Christmas day, we marvel at the miracle of eternity touching earth. You, the infinite Word, stepped into our fragile world, wrapping Yourself in flesh to dwell among us. The glory that hovered in heavenly realms came near, full of grace and truth, illuminating the darkness (John 1:5). You are Emmanuel — God with us — not distant, but present, walking the roads we walk.

We stand in awe at the wonder of Your arrival; You left heaven’s majesty to bring light to our shadows. Like the shepherds under the night sky, may we be filled with awe at the announcement of Your birth. And like the wise men, may we bow our lives in worship, offering all that we are to the One who gave everything for us (Matthew 2:10-11).

On this day of celebration, let our hearts carry the hope of Your coming. As the Word made flesh, You revealed the depth of the Father’s love and invited us into the fullness of joy. Help us to shine as reflections of Your light in a world longing for the peace only You bring.

Thank You for the gift of Your presence, the gift of Yourself. Glory to You, now and forever.”

Have a blessed and enjoyable Christmas celebration,

With love and appreciation for you and yours on this special day, Ed 😊

Wishing You a Christ-centered Christmas!

“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’” (Luke 2:13-14 NLT)

Is God pleased with you this Christmas? Are you at peace? Or are you scurrying around like a chicken without a head? Peace can be a very alluding entity when our mind is so focused on everything but Jesus. Isn’t it ironic how little time we focus on the Lord on the day we celebrate His birth? Have you ever wondered why that is?

Could it be the gift on which we’re most focused isn’t Jesus, but something we want for ourselves or to get for someone else. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. In this season of my life, I have little to no expectation of receiving anything other than a card. I’ve told my kids not to waste their money buying me anything, I’d rather they spend it on coming to see me or getting themselves something they’d enjoy.

But I certainly remember the times, especially when the kids were small and money was scarce when Christmas was a little scary. Gratefully, they had Grandparents who loved them and lavished them with gifts, but we had little to give in those days in the way of material blessing. But the Lord always provided, as He will for you this Christmas.

Money and gifts aren’t the issue. The Wise Men from the East didn’t show up at the Manger with their gifts, as some pictures depict, until later (See Matthew 2:11). Mary and Joseph had nothing but each other and what few supplies they could muster from that smelly barn. Jesus’ birth wasn’t glamorous. It was in just about the worst conditions imaginable. We have to assume that Joseph helped Mary with the delivery, managed to get the umbilical cord cut and tied and rounded up some scraps of cloth to wrap Him in.

Yet, in spite of all of that they were rejoicing and celebrating this new life that had been promised them – the same life that was promised us! HE’s the reason for the season! HE’s the reason for celebration! We don’t need anything else – no money, gifts, family, friends, comforts of any kind to enjoy the gift of the Christ child born for us in this holy season.

If you miss this opportunity to rejoice in HIM, not in your circumstances, you’ve blown an opportunity to prove He exists, that He’s God, that His birth changed the trajectory of human history. Think of the blind man begging by the side of the road who we read about in Luke 18:35-43. He had nothing, but after Jesus healed Him, though he still had nothing but his sight, notice what he did in verse 43: “Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God.”

Yes, of course, gaining our sight is certainly worthy of praise, but we have our sight, what’s holding us back? Please don’t let anything hold you back from rejoicing and celebrating the birth of our Savior who lives in our heart and guides our life. Hopefully, there’s not a day that passes that you don’t celebrate who Jesus is and what He’s done for you. He IS WORTHY!

Please, let’s stay focused on Him this Christmas as we celebrate His birth and life!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Saddest Words in a Christmas Carol

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 NLT)

Christmas was not a happy time for this man. His country was embroiled in a war he hated, from which his son had returned home with severe wounds. He grieved deeply for his wife, who had died after a freak accident two years before. And so, on Christmas Day in 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem called “Christmas Bells.”

The poem eventually inspired the hymn we know as “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” and contains what may be the saddest words ever written in a Christmas carol: “And in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; ‘For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!’”

Perhaps there’s never been a more fitting time for those words to apply. Hatred, wars, murders, crimes, unrest on an unprecedented scale, yet, the Lord Jesus, born in the midst of turmoil and many challenges is still alive, still on His throne, still reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords. Are there reasons we could choose to despair? Are there circumstances in our lives on which we could focus that could steal our joy and cause us to miss the real reason for this season?

Of course there are, but peace is a choice! It’s a gift given that must be received, cherished, guarded, and enjoyed. We don’t have peace in spite of any given negative circumstance, we have peace because of an ongoing relationship we have with the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. HE IS OUR PEACE, and He doesn’t tuck tail and run every time things get tough in our life.

Are you struggling this Christmas? As we age the number of loved ones who have died around holidays mounts, which can increase our sorrow and struggles, but that can also be a reason to rejoice, especially as is the case with my precious sister, who went from agony and pain to the loving arms of her Savior. That’s something worth celebrating!

But even as I write, I realize that many have lost loved ones and friends, as have I, who didn’t know the Lord and won’t be in heaven. Do we allow Satan to rob us of our peace because of something over which we have no control? Our loved ones and friends have the same free will we have and if they reject Jesus, sadly, that’s on them.

Yes, of course, we do all within our power to point them to the Lord, but ultimately, it’s their decision. Does our heart break when they reject Him? Of course, but that doesn’t lessen the intensity of our love for and devotion to Him. His peace is a gift that once received will not be withdrawn. Yes, we can ignore it, walk away from it, pretend it’s not real or doesn’t exist, but the Lord of Creation stands behind His word when He tells us clearly in Hebrews 13:5 (quoting from Deuteronomy 31:6) “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Please know you are not alone this Christmas. You may not be in another human being’s presence, but you ARE in God’s presence and on many levels, His presence is all that matters. I can be in a crowded room, but if I’m not sensing the Lord’s presence I can feel very alone.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊