No Room

December 11

(Luke 2:7 NIV) "She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

(Matthew 8:20 NIV) "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

(John 1:10 NIV) "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him."

That first Christmas, God came to earth, but there was no room in the inn. Think about that. No room for God. The King of Kings had no bed! The Lord of Lords had no clothes! He was wrapped in rags to keep him warm. God in rags! He was cradled in a feed trough where animals slobbered as they ate. God came into this world and only a few noticed. Christ’s birth, the turning point in history, went by unnoticed by the vast majority. For most, it was business as usual. No room for God. Things never really got a whole lot better for Jesus. Thirty years later, He still had no place to lay His head. The world had no room in their heart for God. Today, “no room at the inn” has been replaced by “no room at the mall”, “no room on public property”, “no room in our schools”, “no room in our schedules”, “no room in our budgets”. Christ is still in the world, but the world will not recognize Him. Will you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Governments and God

December 10

(Luke 2:1-7 NIV) “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. {2} (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) {3} And everyone went to his own town to register. {4} 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. {5} He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. {6} While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, {7} and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.”

(Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. {7} Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Governments, kings, and rulers have always tried to use God to accomplish their agendas. God is trotted out when convenient, but kept under wraps until His blessing is needed. What a surprise for governors, presidents, and premiers to learn that they can’t really use God. Instead, God uses them. God used government to get Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, so prophecy concerning the Messiah’s birth could be fulfilled. Caesar, Quirinius, and Herod thought they were in charge, but God was working out His plan to introduce the real King. God placed the government of man on Christ’s shoulders. He is Lord over the Caesar’s and the Herod’s of this world, and He is Lord over us. Our times are in His hands. Will you recognize Jesus as Lord and Ruler or are you still under the illusion that politicians run the planet? Christ is born. The zeal of God has accomplished this. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Light of the World

December 9

(Isaiah 9:2 NIV) “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

(John 1:4 NIV)  "In him was life, and that life was the light of men."

(John 9:5 NIV) “I am the light of the world.”

(1 John 1:5 NIV) “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”

As Creator of all things, the first thing Christ spoke into existence was light. Light is God’s signature, His stamp, on all things. It is no wonder then, that when God chose to come to Earth as a man, His birth would be accompanied by a light so bright it could be followed by the Magi right to the place where Christ was born. God is light and Jesus is the light of the world. But even as the Magi followed the light, others ignored it, or were blind to it. So it is today. Some “see the light”, while many others remain in darkness, stumbling around, feeling their way through life with no sense of direction. Many even get a glimpse of the light, but flee because they love their darkness. Don’t be foolish. When the light of Christ dawns on you, don’t return to the darkness. Jesus came to be the “light of men”. Move toward the Light. Walk in His light. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Creator and Sustainer

December 8

(John 1:3-4 NIV)  "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. {4} In him was life, and that life was the light of men."

(Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV) “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, {2} but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. {3} The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”

When Jesus came to Earth, the Creator of the universe stepped down into His creation. Christ spoke everything we see into existence. All things were made through Him and by Him. Our Lord said, “Let there be light.”, and there was light. He spoke a word, and the cosmos came into being. But Christ is not just the Creator -- He is the Sustainer of all things. The Son sustains all things by his powerful word and one day He will speak a word and the cosmos as we know it will come to an end. Without His sustaining word, chaos ensues. What is true of the cosmos is true of our lives. God creates us. He speaks a word and we are born again. He sustains us. His word holds our life together. When we, as individuals and a culture, forsake His word, chaos ensues. If you want proof, just watch the latest newscast. Hold on to Jesus! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day