The Value of Life

"Will you pray for us? My wife and I wish to have children.” Several years ago I went on a mission trip to India and heard this request many times as I ministered among the people. They wanted to exhaust all means in trying to have a family. It made a deep impact on me. The Scriptures say, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” (Psalm 127:3)

This experience hammered home the value of life. We see it everywhere in our world. Young couples facing the inability to have children, trying to save the life of an unborn child when there are complications or when a little boy or girl has a tragic accident or a serious health problem. There are no mountains high enough, no seas deep enough and no dangers terrifying enough to make us give up.

The value of life. We also see it in our grief when a life is lost. A soldier having life-long nightmares of lives he has taken in defense of our country. A parent’s heartache because of their child who was taken in a tragedy like the Sandy Hook shooting. The secret and silent tears of an abortion.

We were made to save life and value it. God our Creator made human beings and called them “good”. He then commissioned us to have families and fill the earth. Life is part of His plan. When we follow it there is joy and peace.

When life is unfairly taken or destroyed it only brings pain and suffering. This is part of the terrible curse of sin in our world. It falls on the just and unjust alike. There is a sense of mystery to it that no words of eloquence could ever satisfy.

Let us do three things today. First, we must give ourselves permission and time to grieve loss. Because we value life, naturally we grieve when life is taken away. Second, let us never go against God’s plan. Nothing good will come upon a person or nation that does not uphold the value of life. Third, let us agree that everyone is valuable, from the disabled child to the beautiful movie star. So precious is life, that God sent His only Son, Jesus. He came to save us from the greatest evil that still is yet to come upon our world. May we receive Jesus and make Him our hope for today.

The Light of Christmas

"Jobless, Inflation, Poverty, Recession”, then “Sirens wail in Tel Aviv, Gaza rockets hit suburbs”. This is what I read at the top of my screen when I went to an Internet news website. I thought to myself, “What is happening?” The headlines communicated the larger story of the dark and perilous times America and the world is facing. Our world needs hope!

Centuries ago, on the eve of history’s first Christmas the world was also in perilous times. Rome was the world’s superpower. They were a dictatorship whose government was immoral and cruel. For over 300 years the Jewish people lay under the foot of Roman rule. Day after day they longed to be free from this heartless empire. They needed hope. On the original Christmas Day the dawn of a new era had finally come. Hope arrived.

A young Jewish couple, Joseph and Mary, gave birth to their newborn son, Jesus. It was foretold this child would become the hope of the world. As the years passed and the boy became a man He lived out His destiny. At age 30 He began a public speaking ministry drawing crowds in the thousands. He coupled that with supernatural works of miraculous healings, displayed power over demons and even tamed the fury of nature. Jesus said of Himself, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Indeed, His powerful light sliced through the curtain of darkness covering the world’s stage bringing hope to many.

However, the public eventually turned against Jesus. Why? His light brought hope, but it also exposed things. It exposed liars, cheats and the immoral lives of all rank and file in society. He lovingly called them to turn from their darkness and follow Him. Instead, they said “Enough!” Jesus once said, “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness because their deeds were evil” (John 3:10). And that is what happened. Soon, the hands of the crowds were dripping with Jesus’ blood when they murdered Him. For three days He lay dead. Then on the third day they discovered they could not keep hope in the grave.

Jesus overcame the darkness once and for all being raised from the dead. He was and still is the unquenchable light of the world. This Christmas let us call upon Jesus and let Him save us from the darkness bringing the light of hope within us. May Jesus be your hope this Christmas.

Eternal Value Of Thankfulness

Early in our marriage while we eating a dinner Kathe had prepared I said, “Thanks for dinner, honey” She responded a little surprised so I followed up with, “You have taken the time to put it together and it tasted great so I think you deserve a thanks.”

One of the easiest ways to celebrate Thanksgiving is by sharing a simple “thank you” with someone who has served us. On the public platform our culture seems to do fine with this. It is normal for celebrities and politicians to express thanks while the cameras are rolling and crowds gathered. However, what are we like when our guard is down and have nothing to gain? In those moments how often do we express “thank you” to our parents, children, co-workers, friends or classmates?

Thankfulness is a character issue. It is about humility. When we say “thank you”, we lower our self and elevate another. And when we do that we are giving people a sense of dignity. We are honoring their act of service toward us no matter how insignificant or routine we may consider it to be.

Secondly, it is about awareness. In order to give a “thank you” it requires that we shift the focus from our own world to someone else’s. It is where we hit the pause button in our busyness for a moment and acknowledge what someone has done on our behalf. It is a simple act of courtesy that is polite and the mark of a true gentleman or lady.

The life altering affect of Jesus’ suffering, death, burial and rising again from the dead is dependent on our attitude toward thankfulness. It takes a sense of awareness to realize that Jesus did all this for you and the people of the world. Awareness is required to realize it was done because you are a sinner and need a savior. And after you are aware of this it takes humility to say “thank you” for all He did. And in that moment, life-change happens because you have lowered yourself and exalted Jesus in your heart. The Scripture says, “Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name” (1 Chronicles 16:8).

May God help us to be a thankful people that our souls might be altered forever. May parents, church leaders and employers model humility and awareness that Christ may be our hope for today.