Oak Hill Baptist Church

Tell them it’s really about Jesus

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 43:5 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Tell them it’s really about Jesus”

In recent days we’ve been considering the difference the Christ of Christmas can make in the lives of people living in even the worst of circumstances. We’ve considered the situation in war-torn Ukraine, and I’ve made reference to people living in poverty in places like Africa and the Amazon Jungle. The Christ of Christmas is needed by impoverished and homeless people right here in America, right there in your own hometown. As we learned yesterday, life is always better with Jesus than without Him, and that’s true regardless of the circumstances of that life.

But is that equally true for those living in comfort and affluence? Is it true for those who are not suffering and who are not in need? Yes, it is.

I had an unpleasant encounter the other day with a person I’ve known for years but only see occasionally. Honestly, he’s someone I tend to avoid if I can. He’s the kind of person who is always grumbling and complaining about one thing or another. He’s frequently critical of people and situations, and a conversation with him usually mostly involves him talking and me listening as he complains and criticizes. He’s also not a Christian and he is dismissive of the Christian faith. And so, after years and years of this, let’s just say I’m not always eager to see him coming my way.

But our paths crossed the other day and when they did, he greeted me with a grin and a snarky “Happy Winter Solstice, Jim.” Now, he knows I’m a pastor, and he knows that I celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ, so his greeting was intended as a dig not as a sincere wish. I replied with, “Merry Christmas, (his name).” At which he snickered and shook his head in weary disgust. He is well aware of my faith and I’m well aware of his lack of faith.

Afterwards I thought about what a sad individual he seems to be. He is very smart (a retired chemical engineer); and his wife is a retired professional too. They seem to have a lot of money (he talks about his investment properties a lot and what a headache his renters are); and he and his wife are both healthy. But still, he is not happy.

Why is that? He has wealth and health and safety and freedom, living in a nice community in the greatest country in the world, but he is not a happy or content person. Why not? The answer is that he needs Jesus. He has lots of material things but he has a big hole in his heart where the love of Jesus needs to be. Psalm 43:5 (above) is about Him. His soul is dejected and in turmoil. He needs Jesus, and the Christ of Christmas came for people like Him too.

One way people learn the true meaning of Christmas is when Christians celebrate it for the right reason. This is a celebration of the incarnation of Jesus and people need to hear that, even if they don’t believe it.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Life is always better with Jesus than without Him

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Life is always better with Jesus than without Him”

Among the many things Isaiah prophesized regarding the coming of the Messiah, including that He would be the Light of the World and The Prince of Peace, was that He would set the captives free. What could Isaiah have meant by that? He wrote those words to people living in a world where both slavery and unjust imprisonment were common. Many people, Jews and gentiles alike, were being held in slavery at that time, and there were certainly many innocent prisoners. That has continued to be true throughout history. Was Isaiah guaranteeing freedom for those held in bondage? No. Although slavery and unjust imprisonment has been and always will be wrong, that’s not the kind of freedom Isaiah was referring to.

Jesus frees those held in bondage to sin. He also frees those who are prisoners to addiction, and bitterness, and unforgiveness, and poor self-image. He breaks the bonds of hopelessness and despair. Jesus offers us freedom of the heart and soul and we experience it regardless of, or even in spite of, external circumstances.

Matthew 11:28-30 is one of the most helpful and reassuring passages in all of Scripture. In that parable Jesus created a word picture that the people of His day could easily relate to. They lived in an agrarian society. They were farmers and were therefore very familiar with the image of a team of oxen yoked together plowing a field or pulling a cart. In every team of oxen there is a lead ox and a follower ox. The lead ox is bigger, stronger, and more experienced. He carries most of the load and provides all of the direction. The job of the follower ox is to stay yoked to the lead ox, share the burden, follow his lead, and learn from Him.

In this parable Jesus is saying, “Let me be your lead ox. You stay yoked to me; walk through life with me – side-by-side. I will carry most of the load and I’ll provide all of the direction. You just stay with me and we will do this (life) together.”

This is the freedom Jesus came to offer us. Regardless of our circumstances in life everything will be better with Jesus than without Him. Whether that life is lived in comfortable and affluent Crossville, TN, or in the Amazon Jungle, or in a remote part of Africa, or in war-torn Ukraine, life will be better with Jesus than without Him.

Several days ago, I asked the question, “Is the Christ of Christmas present in Ukraine?”. The answer is yes. Yes, He is, just as He is present everywhere else. And He wants to be present in every heart, everywhere. That’s one of the things we celebrate and remember at Christmas. Jesus came to enter into every life and into every heart. Not only is this vital for eternity, but life itself is better with Jesus than without Him. We’ll think more about this tomorrow.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

The peace of Jesus is better

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.” John 14:27 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “The peace of Jesus is better”

In recent days we’ve been thinking about what it means for Jesus to be “The Prince of Peace”, as Isaiah identified him in Isaiah 9:6. Yesterday we learned that since the world continues to be filled with hostility, hatred, and violence, including one war after another, the peace that Jesus came to bring must be different than what we might expect. And sure enough, in John 14:27 Jesus alerted us to the truth that His peace is different from the way in which the world understands peace.

Yesterday we also considered the rich and beautiful Hebrew word “Shalom”, which is the word Isaiah used for “peace” when he described Jesus as the Prince of Peace. The actual phrase in that passage reads “Sar Shalom” for “Prince of Peace”. It was sometimes used to describe a good human prince who brought peace and prosperity to his people. When applied to Jesus, as Isaiah was doing, Sar Shalom certainly includes the understanding of blessings and peace as the world knows it, but it goes much deeper than that as well. It speaks of internal peace in the heart and soul. This is the peace Jesus as the Prince of Peace offers us. Here’s what that means:

First, it means being at peace with God. In Romans 5:1 the Apostle Paul told us, “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Second, the peace Jesus gives allows us to be at peace with ourselves. Isaiah 26:7 is an Old Testament promise but it was fulfilled in Jesus. In the NIV it reads, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on you.” We also see this in the writing of Paul in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Third, the peace of Jesus enables us to be at peace with others. Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts.” In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus even called His followers to be “peacemakers” so we can be at peace with others.

The peace offered to us by The Prince of Peace runs so deep and is so pervasive that in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Paul describes it as being a peace that impacts us in every way, “May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way.”

Jesus really is The Prince of Peace. The peace of the world is superficial and temporary. The peace of Jesus runs deep – to the core of our being, and is eternal. His peace is different from how the world understands peace, but it is better. Much, much better. We’ll see this tomorrow as we go back to thinking about the situation in Ukraine this Christmas.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Jesus is the Prince of Peace

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us … He will be named … Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Jesus is the Prince of Peace”

More than seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus Isaiah told us that once He came, He would be known as “The Prince of Peace”. Well, He came, He lived, He died, He arose from the grave, He ascended back into heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit in His place, and it has been two thousand years since all that happened. And … peace? Seriously? Look around. Remember Ukraine.

What happened? Did Isaiah get it wrong? Was Jesus stretching the truth a bit when He claimed in John 16:33, “I have overcome the world.”? We’ve had seemingly endless wars in the two thousand years since the birth of Christ. Where’s the peace He came to bring?

If we go back to John 16:33 and read the entire passage we find that Jesus actually said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” At other times He even warned us that we would hear of wars and rumors of wars. Okay, so we will have trouble, and there will be wars and rumors of wars. Evidently Jesus being “The Prince of Peace” means something other than peace on earth in terms of the end of violence and hostility.

The Hebrew word that Isaiah used for “peace” is actually “Shalom”. It’s a beautiful word that includes concepts like health, well-being, harmony, and blessings in this life. But in a deeper sense it also speaks of internal wholeness, spiritual wellness, and a heart that is steady, stable, and at peace with God and others. “Shalom” has much more to do with the internal condition of the person’s heart than the external circumstances of the person’s world.

When we speak “Shalom” upon a person as a word of blessing we certainly are wishing them the material blessings of God in their life. But more than that, we’re calling for internal peace of mind and heart for them. And that brings us much closer to what it means for Jesus to be “The Prince of Peace”.

We’ll continue our thinking about this tomorrow. For now, I wish you the “Shalom” of Jesus – in the fullest meaning of the word.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Is the Christ of Christmas present in Ukraine?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Out of the depths I call to you Lord! Lord, listen to my voice; let your ears be attentive to my cry for help.” Psalm 130:1 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Is the Christ of Christmas present in Ukraine?”

This morning, as we enter into the final week of advent, concluding with our Christmas celebration on Sunday (Christmas morning), I’m thinking about our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. So much of the country has been devasted by the Russian invasion and the missiles that rain down on them almost every day. Entire towns have been reduced to rubble; vital infrastructure, such as electricity and water and bridges and roads, has been destroyed; an entire nation is mourning the senseless deaths of tens of thousands of innocents; and countless more are suffering the trauma of having been brutalized by Russian soldiers.

We see the evidence of the pain and suffering every day on the television news, in the newspapers, and on the internet. Some (such as short-term missionaries) have actually been in Ukraine to render humanitarian aid and have therefore seen the misery firsthand.

You and I probably haven’t actually been there, but have you seen the recent documentary produced by the Billy Graham Association, “Ukraine: Finding God in Crisis”? If you haven’t, I encourage you to watch it. I’ve posted a link to it at the end of this devotional (it’s a long link). Just copy and paste the entire thing in your browser. The program is one hour long, but you will find it well worth your time. Even if you don’t watch the entire documentary right now, I encourage you to take a few moments this morning, as part of this devotional, to dip into it and get a feel for the horror those poor people are living through.

So, what about Christmas? How do they celebrate Christmas in such a horrible situation? Is the Christ of Christmas even present in Ukraine this year? Could they pray Psalm 130:1 (above) and expect God to hear and answer? We will spend some time in the days to come considering the answer to that question. In the meantime, please watch the video – at least a few minutes of it. It will answer the question of what God can, and will, and is doing in the midst of such a terrible situation. Is the Christ of Christmas present in Ukraine? Yes. Yes, He is.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbillygraham.org%2Fvideo%2Fukraine-finding-god-in-crisis%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2A7Mgbvei7vCK2SxUOJ4UZtlvWPSNRX4KnrWkDZ6BIicnvnBW50B1QKR0&h=AT3YBjfCI8MCaHSkKeY5E49TcYjXk-rn6ocfcPzqIbHUtiRBivwU4-G0TLaSb0VEPU3dp2baknKUQ1TQd05JKonJJiDvG-DXUpuhpGVJlJ15kvx_S8ThD-2S95k-KOJ7S8gmpiTUJazADwCOeQ&__tn__=%2CmH-R&c%5B0%5D=AT23eWnl-ZI3wit4hof506smzWAvnTgZCiXGRhKe5cOyZB3YNxAU4mW_6X3BcsyIb2xSzUjoHepeMenaLru9OHsVr8_9OKGGefzh30tp1nymgOF27fHThAt1DV7HpD0A6oyn59gB8kWai5-mBRaJE5DyC19MRtBG_SsVdgIEEuZl7d8mOg9rhrSmmtIm-ZSc5ZNTxHLQmxnnng

A good Jesus in a bad world

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “A good Jesus in a bad world”

This morning I want to continue exploring the Biblical metaphor of darkness and light. The world is engulfed in spiritual darkness, but Jesus came to shine spiritual light into that darkness. Yes, the world is bad, but Jesus is good, and the good Jesus came into the bad world to make things better by chasing away the darkness. “I have overcome the world”, He said in John 16:33.

The god of this age (Satan) has used the darkness to blind the minds of unbelievers, leaving them lost and confused. However, the brilliant light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ dispels that darkness, allowing people to see God’s truth. But also, for believers, seeing the world as it appears in the light of Christ allows us to see the good in the world. There really is beauty and goodness and righteousness present in the world. I’m therefore convinced that Christians should not be pessimists. We should be realists, but also optimists. We should acknowledge the reality of the darkness, and all the evil that occurs in the darkness, but we must also declare that there is much good, and the light reveals it.

The good that exists in the world is often obscured in the shadows because of the pervading darkness, but that’s where Christians come in. The good Jesus is present in this bad world through you and me. Maybe they can’t see Jesus, but they can see you. And therefore, they should be able to see the light of spiritual truth shining in and through you. The light of Christ should be shining through us.

The world is often bad. But Jesus is always good. Let the bad world see the good Jesus in you.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Live in the land of light

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Live in the land of light”

We’re not quite done considering the Biblical metaphor of light and darkness. There’s more that needs to be said about it. The truth that Jesus is the light of the world and that He came to shine spiritual light that chases away spiritual darkness is too important a point to rush past.

In 1 Peter 2:9 the apostle reminds us that we have been called out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light. Satan is the Prince of Darkness – the prince of this world. His darkness pervades this world like a thick fog in a back alley on a cold dark night. You can’t see a thing and you’re chilled to the bone.

But Jesus calls you out of the darkness. Like a policeman with a powerful flashlight entering that dark alley and calling your name, Jesus comes to guide you out of that darkness and leads you into the light. Picture a broad avenue with blazing streetlights and stores and shops and restaurants all lit up, with lots safe and happy people on the sidewalks talking and laughing and having a good time. The contrast with the dark and dangerous alley is stark.

People are afraid in the darkness – and rightly so. But people feel safe and secure in the light. Jesus calls people out of the darkness and into the light. It’s one of the reasons for the incarnation – it’s why He came.

As a follower of Christ, you live in the land of light. But many people all around you are lost in the dark. And whether they will admit it or not, they are confused, lonely, and scared. But they don’t have to remain in the dark. Jesus is that policeman with the powerful flashlight. He’s the one who will lead them out of the darkness and into the light. As Peter said, Jesus calls us out of that hideous darkness and into His marvelous light.

This is what Christmas is all about. It’s what we’re celebrating and it’s what the lights of Christmas remind us of. Jesus is the light and He leads us to live in the land of light. I encourage you to tell others that joyful news today.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

The Promise is for Everyone

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness … For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:2; 6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “The Promise is for Everyone”

I’m a dispensationalist and I suspect you are too. Dispensationalism is a theological term that maintains that over the course of human history God has progressively revealed Himself to humans in greater and more obvious ways.

At one time, His presence was evident primarily only through creation. But then in the times of Abraham and Lot God started to get personal with a few special people. Then in the times of Moses He went even further and began communicating with an entire nation of people through spokesmen, signs, miracles, and even the written word. In the days of Jesus, He was actually physically present among us in a human body. Then on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to live in the hearts of the followers of Jesus, and that’s where we are today.

The incarnation of Jesus brought the world into an entirely new dispensation, or era, of human history. God would now begin to interact with the human race in a way that was personal and revealing far beyond anything He had ever done previously in history. It’s a promise He had made almost immediately after sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15), and it’s one He repeated numerous times, in many ways, and through multiple spokespersons all throughout the Old Testament, right up until the time of the incarnation.

But here’s the thing: The Promise was for everyone. It wasn’t just for the Jews. When Isaiah said in Isaiah 9:6 a child will be born “for us”, he was referring to the human race. Jesus is for everyone. That’s why in John 3:16 John told us that God so loved “the world” that He sent His only Son …”

Going back to our devotion from yesterday regarding Jesus being the light of the world, people all around you are stumbling in spiritual darkness. They are confused, lost, hurting, and struggling. They need to know about Jesus. They need to experience the light in the darkness that we talked about yesterday. Jesus came for such people. The promise of the Messiah is for them.

Christmas is the perfect time to share Jesus with others. The promise is for everyone. I encourage you to talk to someone about Jesus today.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Light in the darkness

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.” Isaiah 9:2 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Light in the darkness”

Alaska is a beautiful place. I’ve been there and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Someday I want to go back. However, despite the natural beauty of the land, Alaska is also a place of stark and even dangerous contrasts. It is known as both the land of light and the land of darkness. Because it is located so far north, Alaska spends the summers in perpetual light, and the winters in deep, deep darkness. Winter darkness can extend for twenty hours per day, with only a dim grey the other times.

Those long winters spent in gloomy darkness produce feelings of isolation, fear, and depression for many people. The suicide rate among members of the military stationed in Alaska almost doubles during the winter months. The summer months however (when I was there), have the opposite effect. Living in perpetual light lifts people’s spirits and results in Alaska being thought of as a beautiful place, and it is a major tourist destination.

What’s true of natural light and darkness is also true of spiritual light and darkness. People trapped in spiritual darkness are distraught and miserable. Spiritual darkness is heavy and gloomy. It produces despair and hopelessness. But as Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 9:2, the coming Messiah would bring spiritual light into the world. And sure enough, once He was here Jesus declared Himself to be that spiritual light that the world had been longing for (John 8:12).

An entirely new degree of spiritual light entered the world through the physical presence of Jesus, and then through the spiritual presence of the Holy Spirit living in the hearts of the followers of Jesus after Him. God’s presence in the world, through His Son and then through His Spirit, offers us a degree of spiritual light that simply did not exist in the world before the incarnation of Christ.

One of the reasons we celebrate Christmas is to refocus us on the reality of the presence of God with us – first physically in the person of the Son of God, and then spiritually through the Spirit of God in our hearts. The lights of Christmas should serve to remind us of the spiritual light that chases away the darkness and brings vison, perspective, hope and healing.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Are you missing Christmas?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:4-7 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Are you missing Christmas?”

This past week I committed what is sometimes considered a “foo-poo” (faux pas) for a Pastor. A faux pas can be something that is considered embarrassing or tasteless in a social situation, but it can also be an action that is considered by some to be inappropriate or flat out wrong. My pastoral foo-poo was that I cancelled some church activities for last weekend (I know, I know, you’re gasping in astonished disappointment, but hear me out).

Christmas is always the busiest time of the year. There are decorations to hang, gifts to purchase, cards to send, parties to go to – and that’s just the short list. We’re all busy. Maybe too busy. Last weekend, on the schedule at Oak Hill Baptist, there was a men’s pancake breakfast; a Christmas party for disadvantaged children at a Christian camp we partner with; help a church family move into a new house; a surprise birthday party for someone; Sunday school and worship on Sunday morning; the annual church Christmas party after the service; a Christmas concert in the afternoon; and the Sunday evening Bible study after that. All over the course of just two days!

Whew! Too much! That’s ten pounds of stuff in a five-pound bag. We were splitting the seams! So, I cancelled the men’s breakfast and the Sunday evening Bible study (I make no excuses and I offer no apologies. And honestly, our folks were fine with it. I think they were even glad I did it).

In the Christmas story depicted in Luke chapter two, we find Mary and Joseph traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem to participate in the mandatory census. The entire nation would have been traveling at that time, all of them headed to their ancestral homes, as ordered by Caesar Augustus. That’s why there was no room of them in the inn, and that’s why Jesus ended up being born in a manger instead of in a hotel room.

If you read the story, you find that there would have been crowds of people milling about in that town as Jesus was being born, but the only ones who noticed and appreciated what was happening were the shepherds. Everyone else missed it, even though it was happening right there where they were. Why? Why did they miss it? Were they a bunch of pagans immersed in sinful debauchery? Probably not. Most of them were observant Jews who loved God and did their best to live good lives. But still, they missed the birth of Jesus! Why did that happen? Probably because they were busy and distracted and therefore weren’t paying much attention. They missed the first Christmas because they were too busy with other concerns and activities.

Let that not be true of us. Let’s not get so busy with Christmas, that we miss Christmas. It’s okay, even good, to cancel a few things so you can truly savor and enjoy the ones that truly matter. My question for you this morning is, “How busy are you?” Are you so busy celebrating Christmas, that you just might be missing Christmas?

God bless,
Pastor Jim