The “three” wise men in scripture are often not given credit for anything but the gifts of worship they brought to Jesus. There is only one account of the Magi and that is in the gospel of Matthew. We are not told there were only three men, but we assume that because they offered three gifts.

How wise were these Magi?

First, they were wise to find their way to the Christ child and worship Him. They did not come to observe Jesus, stare at Jesus, or make judgments of what they thought of Jesus. These men set out on a journey to find the living Lord and bow before Him in worship. They, by faith, accepted that He was Jesus the Christ, the Son of God. With all the “wisdom” around us, the wisest thing one can ever do is to worship the Lord Jesus and offer our gifts to Him.

Second, these men were wise to listen to God and act based on what God communicated. God had provided a star so these fellows could find Jesus, and they took the time to follow the star. Later, God gave them a dream telling them to return home a different way. Herod intended to interrogate them, so he could find Jesus and kill him. The important thing is not how many sermons we hear or Bible studies we attend, but how much of that becomes action in our lives. We might know a lot, but that in itself is not wisdom. It is a wise man or woman who listens to God for direction and quickly puts it into action.

As I reflect on these wise men, I have purposed in my heart that I want to be a wise woman. The Bible tells of many wise people:

• There was Enoch and Noah who were wise enough to walk with God in their day while the world around them refused to live for God. Thus, they were both saved while others perished.
• There was Ruth who was wise enough to say to her Jewish mother-in-law, “…for where you go, I will go; and where you live, I will live; Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” – Ruth 1:16, while her sister-in-law turned around and went back to a sinful society. Thus, Ruth became an ancestor of Jesus.
• There was Andrew who was wise because he brought people to Jesus. “He that wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30.
• There was David, who was wise enough to say and understand, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
• There was Martha, who was wise enough to invite Jesus into her home.
• There was Mary, who was wise enough to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word.
• There was Peter who was wise enough to step out in faith towards Jesus, even though the storm around him was raging.
• Then, there were the wise men, who came to worship the Lord Jesus and offer their gifts.

Am I some sort of wise guy? I hope so. I want heaven to record that Barbara Benton was wise. Why? She followed God, worshiped at His feet, and lived by His word. Are you a wise guy?

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. At least that is what the song says! Is it? Yes, it is in many ways. All the laughter, the food, the candlelight, the carols! Decorating the tree, or these days – trees! Wrapping the gifts and listening to the giggles and excitement as children open them. So many are singing and hoping for a white Christmas where everything is merry and bright. White Christmases can be so beautiful. However, some are experiencing a blue Christmas as they walk through grief, suffering, or personal difficulty.

What about those who just are not feeling so merry and bright? For many this year is difficult. I am praying with and for several people who have lost significant loved ones this year. My heart aches for them, and my tears stream for them. Grieving can be the most challenging time for people who are trying to balance the feelings of pain and loss, while going forward with everyday life. I found this to be true when we lost our son Bryan.

Sometimes we find ourselves mourning on Christmas morning. If you are in grief, especially fresh grief, it is okay not to feel that it is the most wonderful time of the year. It is okay not to feel merry and bright. It does not make you grinch, it makes you a person in pain.

God is hugging you today. He understands where you are, and He cares about every tear. Jesus Christ left the splendor of heaven and was born as a babe into a world that was dark and broken. He became Immanuel – God with us. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER WILL JESUS LEAVE US! He will be with us in good times and tough times, in sickness and in health, in success and failure, in poverty and prosperity, in joy and sorrow.

He will be with you this Christmas even when you do not feel like being merry and bright.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” –  Psalms 34:18

Every year, I take the time to go back and read the blogs I posted during the Christmas season. They often encourage me. This one really reminded me of the gift of God to find me and call me His own.

As a kid growing up, I was “po.” I have often said that we were not poor, since we could not even afford the “o and the r.”  We were plain old “po.” Additionally, we grew up in a really bad house, unlike so many with whom I attended school. By societal terms, we were not much of anything.

I was recently chatting with one of my sisters and asked her if she could help me recall fun memories as a kid. She said, “Are you kidding? We were abused and poor. We have no happy memories.”   Though she said this in jest, there was more truth to the statement than either of us wanted to acknowledge.

For years, I considered myself as the bottom rung on the ladder.

There are many characters in the story of the birth of Jesus. I love the fact that God chose to involve shepherds in the story. In that time, shepherds were considered to be people of the lower class, a very low rung on the ladder. These “low-class” shepherds were visited by angels, who told them of the birth of the Savior. After that experience, they took the initiative to say, “We must find Him. We must see Him. We must meet Him.”   They started the journey towards the Savior. After finding Him, they could not help themselves – they began to announce the Savior to everyone who would listen. It was life-changing when they met Jesus.

As we peer into our nativity scenes, let us not pass over the shepherds. Let us not lose sight that God chose those diminished by society, to be the ones who would herald the birth of Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice in the shepherds. GOD visited them and invited them to be a part of the story.

I am so incredibly thankful God included the shepherds. I cannot identify with kings in palaces, but I can identify with those who have felt less than, those who have felt hopeless that they could ever get off the bottom rung. A baby wrapped in swaddling clothes changed my perspective.

I once was a shepherd, but now I am a child of the most high God. “Nuff” said!

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “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, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

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.”

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. – Luke 2:8-17

I hate bugs. More than once, I have received a speech about the importance of bugs. I do not care! I hate bugs that fly, jump, crawl, Samba, Waltz or do the two-step! I hate bugs. I am so grateful for a husband who will rescue me when he hears me scream because a bug startled me. Have I told you that I hate bugs?

When Gaylon was on a mission trip to India, I was about to go to bed alone one night. When I turned on the light in my bedroom, the ceiling was covered, as in COVERED, with small Asian beetles. They were even on my bed. There was no way I could go to bed and sleep with the enemy!

I wondered how so many of those beetles got in my room. There were three windows in the room, and they were raised so fresh air could come inside. As I examined each window closely, I discovered that the screen on one of the windows had come loose on the corner. When Papa Beetle saw the opening, he made his way in and called all his family and friends to join him for the party. They wanted to take up residence.

What a job it was to get rid of those lady bugs before I could even think of going to sleep. The root of the problem was a small opening that allowed the enemy to take up residence and wreak havoc on my peace and rest. If I had just paid attention to that small opening!

“Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:25-27)

Ephesians 4:27 instructs us not to give even a foothold to the devil. If you take time to read that portion of scripture in its entirety, you will see the Apostle Paul instructing the Church in ways that the enemy makes entrance into our lives. A good rendering of that word “foothold” is not to even give him a place in your life to gain power.

A foothold can be best understood by imagining yourself being chased by a bad person. You run up to your room and try to close the door, but the person sticks his shoe at the bottom end of the door so you cannot close it. That part of his foot that prevents you from closing the door effectively is called a “foothold.”

I have seen too many believers over the years lose ground spiritually or even walk away from the things of God. Most often, falling away did not start with a large overt sin. Most often, it started with a small opening that allowed the way for Satan to creep in and begin a campaign of destruction. He will take any opportunity.

God has given us all authority to live a victorious Christian life. Living victorious boils down to the instructions we are given in James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Victory is always available for the believer. Submitting and resisting are the keys to living an overcoming life.

We must be alert to the little things that open us up for pesky issues. Not dealing with the little things that do not belong in the Christian life can lead to an inability to walk victorious and to have peace and rest in Christ.

When we provide the devil with a foothold, and we do not slam the door on his foot, he will push his way into our abode. Once inside our home, he is no longer a foothold but rather a stronghold. He has gained more control. It will take a lot of work to evict him. So, the better option is slamming the door on footholds and bolting the lock as soon as the devil withdraws his bruised foot.

Do not give the devil a foothold” is a call to arms—to engage in the battle that will define our lives. Are you ceding ground? Take back the ground today. Submit to God today. Resist the devil today. Walk in victory today!

Every year I repost this story, and I do not apologize for doing so! This is a reminder for all of us that God is at work when do not see it. He is for us and not against us! I want to be a child of God who gives Him thanks every day even when I do not feel like it.

It is simple to thank God when He does miracles and answers prayers just the way we want them answered. It is easy to thank Him when we look around and see many blessings in our lives. When our situation seems awful, or we are struggling through tragedy or hard times, it can seem unbelievable that God is working for our good.

The following is one of my favorite stories about learning to give thanks, probably my favorite!

In her book The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells of a time she discovered that God was working even in the most horrific circumstances. Corrie and her sister Betsie had been imprisoned by the Nazis for hiding Jews behind the wall of their Holland home, and Nazi prison conditions pretty well unbearable.

Corrie writes: “Barracks 8 was in the quarantine compound. Next to us–perhaps as a deliberate warning to newcomers–were located the punishment barracks. From there, all day long and often into the night, came the sounds of hell itself. They were not the sounds of anger, or of any human emotion, but of a cruelty altogether detached: blows landing in regular rhythm, screams keeping pace. We would stand in our ten-deep ranks with our hands trembling at our sides, longing to jam them against our ears, to make the sounds stop.

“It grew harder and harder. Even within these four walls there was too much misery, too much seemingly pointless suffering. Every day something else failed to make sense, something else grew too heavy.”

Yet, in the midst of the suffering, the women prisoners around Corrie and Betsie found comfort in the little Bible studies they held in the barracks. Corrie writes they gathered around the Bible “like waifs clustered around a blazing fire…The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the Word of God.”

When they were moved to Barracks 28, Corrie was horrified by the fact that their reeking, straw-bed platforms swarmed with fleas. How could they live in such a place? It was Betsie who discovered God’s answer: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”   That’s it, Corrie! That’s His answer. “Give thanks in all circumstances!”  That’s what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!’

“I stared at her; then around me at the dark, foul-aired room…”

They thanked God for the fact they were together. They thanked God they had a Bible. They even thanked God for the horrible crowds of prisoners, that more people would be able to hear God’s Word. And then, Betsie thanked God for the fleas.

“The fleas! This was too much. ‘Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.’

‘” Give thanks in all circumstances,” ‘she quoted. “It doesn’t say, “in pleasant circumstances.”  Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.”

“And so, we stood between tiers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.”    It turned out that Betsie was not wrong; the fleas were a nuisance, but a blessing after all. The women were able to have Bible studies in the barracks with a great deal of freedom, never bothered by supervisors coming in and harassing them. They finally discovered that it was the fleas that kept those supervisors out.

Through those fleas, God protected the women from abuse and harassment. Dozens of desperate women were free to hear the comforting, hope-giving Word of God. Through those fleas, God protected the women from much worse things and made sure they had their deepest, truest needs met.

We all have “fleas” in our lives. We all have those things that we can see no use for, things that are obviously horrible, unpleasant, painful things that we want gone. No life is free of “fleas.”   We all have aggravations, inconveniences, and pain. If God can use fleas to protect Corrie and Betsie, He is fully capable of using difficult things to bless us. God does care; God is working even when we are uncomfortable with or disappointed with life. As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, lets thank God for His constant care and provision, and for His hidden blessings that come in ways we can easily overlook.

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Times have changed through the years for this Southern Belle. I live in a large neighborhood in a quiet suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. I love living between my two neighbors that I have now. On one side is a kind widow and on the other side is a young family with two boys. We are so blessed with good neighbors.

A few years back in the same neighborhood, we were blessed to live between two precious widows, and both happened to be African American. I enjoyed standing in my yard and chatting with them.

One night as I was walking, I passed my neighbor’s home and noticed her car engine was running while the car was in the garage, yet no one was in the car. I assumed she was about to leave. After walking three miles, I returned home and noticed that the car was still running, and no one was in it. I knew that was not normal for my neighbor. I went to my neighbor Vestee’s door to check on her. It took me a while to get her to the door, but she was so glad I did. The car had not been driven in a while, and she went out to start it so that the engine could run, but she forgot about the car.

We exchanged phone numbers that day, and I told her to also give my number to her daughter, in case they needed me to check on her.

I also love talking with the neighbor on the other side. Betty was a talker! We could go on for a very long time. I had not seen Betty outside in a while, so I expressed concern to my husband. “This is just not like Betty. I know something is wrong, or she is gone away.”   Finally, I saw Betty one day, and I knew immediately she was fighting for her life. Betty had lost a lot of weight, and she shared with me that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We talked, and I assured her that she would be on our everyday prayer list. I sent her cards and stayed in touch until God called her home.

This might not seem like a big deal to most, but it is to me.

As a child growing up in the south, I saw a lot of social unrest. (I know it was in other areas as well, so let’s not get sidetracked.) My first time experiencing integration was when I was in the seventh grade, and I was twelve years old. As I look back now, I realize much of what happened was because we were raised in environments where we learned to judge people from the outside, not the inside. I certainly do not defend that position, but at the time, that is what we knew.

Thank God, I learned better, and raised children who were taught better!

God’s word shows us how Jesus dealt with the issue of judging folks from the outside. In fact, Jesus literally walked right into the issue when He dared to minister to the woman at the well. Simply because she was a Samaritan, she would have been thought of as “less than” by the Jews of her day. Samaritans were originally Jews but later intermarried with Gentiles. The intermarriage created a mixed race, and the “pure” Jew hated them.

The animosity between the two groups was so great that the Jews would bypass Samaria as they traveled between Galilee and Judea. They took a longer route in order to avoid going through Samaria. Jesus could not make everyone else do the right thing, but He could do the right thing.

My heart is saddened as I see such division in our country. People are hated simply because they are Jewish, Black, Caucasian, Republican, or Democrat. I recently read an article suggesting that it is impossible to sit at a Thanksgiving table with a family who voted differently. Hatred is on full display on social media and, at times, news organizations.

In my opinion, over the last few years, race relations in this country have taken a big step backwards. I know it is not a popular subject to discuss, but it needs to be discussed. There is a lot of anger out there. I find it sad how quickly we point the finger at each other, calling one another racists. I refuse to be drawn into that! Like Jesus, I cannot make anyone else do the right thing, but I can do the right thing. I am going to treat people like people. I do not care if they are brown, black, white, or mixed. I refuse to take a step backwards, even if others choose that path.

I loved living between my two African American neighbors. All three of us were old enough to remember the “bad” days, and all three of us remember a time when being neighbors would have been impossible. Yet, we treated each other like people. It did not matter to us what color we were or how we voted. We laughed together, cried together, prayed for each other, and leaned on one another.

I refuse to sign up or to be drafted as a soldier in the war on people. Others might, but I choose not to be in that army. I refuse to be a hater of another person.

Christian love is a bridge, not a hedge. Refuse to be in the army of hate.

Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.” –  Acts 10:28

Many are the people and situations on the prayer list that my husband, Gaylon, and I pray over every day. Occasionally, we stop and look at each other and one of us will say, “People are going through so much. It is unbelievable what people are facing.” 

In our prayer time, we are praying for those suffering with cancer, which includes a child diagnosed before he was one year old, Parkinson’s Disease, mental health issues, autism, financial issues, impending divorce, death of a spouse or a child. The list is long. There are so many of God’s people who are suffering in this life.

No one wants to suffer, but in a fallen world, it is unavoidable. I know many want to preach it away, but the truth is suffering will visit us all.

While there is all kind of suffering, today I want to talk about suffering for Christ. Ugh! Do we have to discuss such an unpleasant subject? Actually, yes, we do. It is much needed.

One of the ministries that have supported for years is Voice of the Martyrs, started by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand in 1967. Richard Wurmbrand preached at bomb shelters and rescued Jews during World War II. He experienced imprisonment and torture by the Communist regime of Romania, which maintained a policy of state atheism. He was hideously tortured during his fourteen years in prison. All that torture could have been avoided, if Wurmbrand had just renounced his faith and lived like the world around him.

Wurmbrand wrote a book entitled Tortured for Christ which also became a movie. I have read the book and viewed the movie. It was not an easy read, and the movie was challenging to watch. But the story leaves one with the reality that victory comes in the end. God will have the last word.

Many believers have long forgotten the lives and testimonies of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, or they know nothing about them. Quite frankly, stories like theirs disturb the pleasant Christian life so many of us enjoy. Richard Wurmbrand was a man for his time. He obeyed the light he had and boldly preached Christ despite the oppression, hurt, torture, and suffering. Christ was his message.

It is improbable that any of us in America will be imprisoned and tortured for our faith in Jesus Christ. We live in the Disney World of nations as far as persecution for our faith. But make no mistake about it, many in this country have suffered simply for refusing to compromise their faith. It has cost some their businesses, their careers, their social media accounts, their friendships, and other things. While that does not come close to persecution such as Richard Wurmbrand and others have suffered, we must understand that we live in a world that is increasingly hostile toward Christianity and the truth of what the Bible teaches.

As the influence of Christianity wanes and is even ridiculed, we will be accused of being small-minded, hateful, or judgmental. We have already been. Now is the time to be freshly infused with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Prepare now for what is to come.

Wurmbrand had an extraordinary testimony to the sufferings that Christians were enduring in Eastern Europe. His witness is considered to have been a factor in the ultimate collapse of communism in Romania and elsewhere. Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand were ordinary people, who stood firm for Christ against evil.

First Peter 4:19 says, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

We are not promised an easy and carefree life as followers of Jesus. Rather, we are promised in First Peter that we will experience a “fiery trial;” maybe several trials. How should we respond when this happens? We must keep our eye on the reality of eternity. We will face pain in this life as followers of Jesus, but the eternal reward far outweighs the momentary sorrows.

Perhaps God will not have you endure the torture of a communist prison for His sake. Could it be that your faithfulness will not be proven in a prison cell but in your prayer closet and in the way you live your life before others?

Keep your eye on eternity. Suffering is inevitable, so is victory!

^“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT; ^“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11.

As I have gotten older, I will admit I think more about eternity than I did when I was younger. This year, I have lost a brother, a sister, and close friends. The truth of the matter is that unless Jesus returns, we are all going to take our last breath on this earth.

The thoughts about Heaven that get passed around are pretty convoluted. Let’s talk about Heaven.

Facts:

• The Bible teaches that the way to eternal life in Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Jesus died and paid the price for our sin, thus reconciling us to God. I know it does not always set well with people, and I expect some pushbacks. I believe the Bible. The Bible clearly teaches that we do not get to Heaven through our good works. There are quite a few verses about this in the Bible, but I shall only give one. ^“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9.

• Everyone does not become an angel after death. Nowhere in the Bible is there any teaching that people wake up in Heaven as an angel. God has tens of thousands of angels in Heaven. I know people are sincere in trying to ease grief. Grief is hard. We should be thrilled to know that we are higher than the angels once we stand before God in Heaven. The Bible says, “Do you not know that we will judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3). This verse may be referring to the rebellious angels who chose to follow Satan, but it still shows that our status after death will be above that of the angels. I believe Hollywood has perpetuated this belief in many of their movies. Our greatest example is that Jesus rose bodily after His death. I look forward to my glorified body, how about you?

• Our loved ones are watching us from Heaven. This one is questionable, but certainly not clear. When we lost our son Bryan, he left behind a wife pregnant with their first child. Well-meaning people would tell me that he was watching over us from Heaven. If that statement is true, we must remember that Heaven does not see through the same eyes as Earth. I cannot imagine Bryan seeing his grief-stricken wife suffer, causing him to walk around under a burden of sadness, while he was in the presence of the Lord. If Bryan does see, he will see as heaven sees, that everything is going to be okay because God is at work. I am thankful that God is watching over me and my family. There is no greater watchman than God. “For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV.

• There will be no more. Truth! There will be no more tears, no more pain, no more cancer, no more wrinkles, no more racism, no more grief, no more division. I could go on and on. I am grateful that I will spend eternity where there will be no more!

• The central focus will be on the Lamb of God. Our eyes will be focused on Jesus Christ in all of His majesty, power, and splendor! He will be worshipped and exalted. “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. one glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase, so, bravely run the race till we see Christ!”

• Believers preceding us in death will be there, and we will recognize them. Jesus was known to His followers after His resurrection. While I cannot give all the details of how this will look in Heaven, I do believe we will know our loved ones and friends who were saved by the work of the cross. I first want to see Jesus, and then I want to see Bryan, my mother, and others I have loved while upon the earth. It will be a glorious reunion.

• For the believer, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. “So, we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:6-9
  
  
• There will be a new heaven and new earth when we rule and reign with Christ. That’s a blog for a different day! “But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” – 2 Peter 3:13 NLT
  
  
• I do not know everything there is to know about Heaven and eternity. I only know it will be glorious because God prepared it.

“I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side…
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing ‘Hallelujah!’? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!”

My husband calls me Dear or Barbara. My children call me Mom. Most of my grandchildren call me Grammy, but some call me Granny. My siblings call me Barbara, though a couple of them call me Barbara Lynn. My nieces and nephews call me Barbara, and a few call me Aunt Barbara. Church folks call me Barbara, Sister Barbara, Pastor Barbara, or Minister Barbara.

I could go on and on with the various names to which I answer. What I am called is totally based on the relationship I have with the person.

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So, they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  – Matthew 16:13-16 NKJV.

When Jesus asked the disciples a question about His identity, His disciples began to repeat what others had said about the identity of Jesus. When He specifically asked His disciples about His identity, I wonder if they were pondering how to answer the question. Finally, Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

That was a bold proclamation by Peter. At the time this conversation took place, it could be dangerous to call Jesus the Christ, especially in the context of the Roman Empire. Declaring “Jesus is Lord” was considered treasonous because it was a direct challenge to the authority of Caesar, who was also proclaimed as “Lord”. This confession could be a death sentence, and the willingness to say it signaled a profound level of commitment to faith in Jesus Christ.

In present times in many countries, it can be a death sentence to profess who Jesus is. I support the ministry Voice of the Martyrs, and the stories are quite sobering. So many lose their lives or suffer torture because they dare to say who Jesus is. While not to death sentence level in the USA, increased pressure is being felt to stand up for the real Jesus and the true Word of God.

The question asked by Jesus is quite profound. It is a question that begs all Christians to answer. People believe all kinds of things about Jesus and God. He was a great teacher. He was a prophet. He lived an exemplary life. He was caring. All of those are true, but none answer the question.

Jesus faces us with this same question even today. “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus is not so much interested in how people of the world answer this. He is interested in how His followers answer. The disciples stood there seeing Jesus in the flesh. Who is this hard-working Man, dusty from travelling, tired from hours of teaching and healing, who speaks the words of God? This Man, beaten and humiliated, who would die hanging naked on a cross? This Man, buried in a borrowed tomb? This Man, risen from the dead, never to die again—full of joy and promising everlasting life to everyone who trusts in Him? Who is He?

How do I answer the question that Jesus asked? You are my Lord and Savior. You are the One who forgives all of my sins. I was lost and on the way to hell, unable to save myself, and You paid the price for my sin. You are the One I can trust in times of trouble. You are the Son of God. You are Lord, the One who rules the universe at God the Father’s right hand. You are the One who is my hope and my joy even in the darkness. You are the One who will never leave me and never forsake me. You are my healer! You are my Lord. You are Jesus, my soon coming King. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!

That’s my answer, and I am sticking to it!!

Who do you say that He is? This is the most critical question you will ever answer because your eternal destiny hinges on it.

“Jesus, give us the courage today to say that you are the Lord and Savior and to show in our lives that we believe it.”  Amen.

What a weekend we just had! Our son, his wife, and three of their daughters were here all weekend. It was a houseful, and it was never-ending activity. It reminded me that there truly is a reason that God gives babies to us when we are young. No lie!

As our family headed back to Louisiana, Gaylon and I scurried for several hours doing laundry, cleaning, and getting our house back to normal. When we were done, we plopped in exhaustion. But not once did we regret serving our family. Gaylon said to me, “I am so glad they came to visit.”

Let me give you a few truths:

1. It was worth every minute to serve our family, and to build memories with those grandchildren. I took one granddaughter out on a solo date for lunch and a little shopping. She was so happy. To hear the joy in her voice and to have her talk incessantly with me was worth every minute. She said, “I had the best time with you.”
2. Gaylon was able to attend a football game with his sons and grandsons. Their ages ranged from nine to seventy-seven. They all celebrated the big win together with big smiles. That time together will always be remembered.
3. Other than Jesus, the most important relationships we can have are those with family. As much as you can, hang out with those you love. Leave a legacy of wonderful memories with them. (I realize there are times and circumstances that inhibit familial relationships, but, when possible, go overboard to be with family.)
4. As I fell into my chair, I smiled internally, remembering Acts 20:35, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Jesus was the epitome of servanthood. He was the Son of God, yet He said that He did not come to be served but to serve. The statement can be found Matthew 20:28. Jesus made this statement to his disciples, who were arguing about who would be the greatest among them. He explained that the way of God’s kingdom is opposite to the way of worldly power; instead of lording over others, one must be a servant to be great. 

Mother Teresa, one of the greatest servants of all time, once said, “We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love.” God is not asking us to change the world, but to help change someone’s world. We can do this by serving the person that He has put in front of us this moment…and then the next…and then the next.

Find someone to bless this week. Take a meal to someone. Invite a senior citizen to coffee or lunch. Write a note, not a text, an actual note to encourage someone. Offer to babysit for a single parent to allow them an evening out. Volunteer at a school. Find a way to bless your local church. Offer a listening ear.

We may never know the impact of our service to God in this life, but we can trust His Word when He says in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Living a life of service is not always easy, but it is deeply rewarding. By serving others, we can make a difference in their lives and bring hope and light to a world that often feels dark and hopeless.

Are you willing to be a servant? We are never more Christ-like than when we serve.