A Blessed Christmastide!

 

Many people think of Christmas as a single day. However, Christmas is a season sometimes referred to as "Christmastide".

Christmas is the annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the long-awaited Son of God. Christmas day is December 25 followed by 11 more days of Christmas! The Feast of the Epiphany on January 6 marks the end of the Christmas season.

A blessed Christmastide to all.

From Alice C. Linsley and Hope Ellen Rapson

Related reading: History of the 12 Days of Christmas

The Gift of Patience

 

The spiritual gift of patience is needed to help us endure life's challenges, many of which are part of God's plan for our lives. It comes with trusting that God is good and His love for us is such that all things work for good when we seek to honor Him.

We are to be like Jesus whose first priority was to please and honor his Heavenly Father. Patiently waiting on God is one way we please and honor Him. This is the beginning of wisdom!

The Bible says, "Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly" (Prov. 14:29).

The Bible also says, "A person’s wisdom yields patience" (Prov. 19:11).

It is evident that patience is linked to understanding and wisdom. 

Patience is the capacity to accept delay in what we may want or hope for, or to endure trouble and suffering without getting frustrated and angry. When we are not patient, we can become disheartened and depressed.

The late Ruth Bell Graham wrote, "when I am dealing with an all-powerful, all-knowing God, I, as a mere mortal, must offer my petitions not only with persistence but also with patience."

God's patience with the whole of humanity is immense as He works out his divine plan for us. 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Therefore, we should be patient with one another for this is a trait of godliness.

Related reading: How Do You React to Adverse Circumstances?; Put Handles on Your Faith

The Lord be with you! (A call to prayer)

 

Pray for the grace to repent. 

Pray for those who proclaim the Gospel which alone has power to transform lives.

Pray for a deep desire to draw closer to God.

Pray for those in positions of authority: mayors, governors, congress, senate, supreme court and those seeking the presidency.

Pray for wickedness to be exposed and the plans for evil to come to ruin.

Pray that those who use chaos and division to gain followers will be shown the path of peace.

Pray for divine protection from the enemies of our country.

Related: The Prayers of Peter Marshall
 

Sign and Symbol

Dr. Alice C. Linsley

In the world there are an abundance of symbols. Each symbol represents something and the symbol calls that something to mind. Some symbols represent a product, a company, or a service agency. A symbol can be a warning or a solicitation. When a symbol or logo is seen often enough, one recognizes what it stands for. In other words, to understand what the symbol represents you need some prior experience or knowledge.

The world is also full of signs. Unlike a symbol, a sign points to something beyond itself that invites a closer look or thoughtful consideration. The cross is a symbol of Christianity as the Star of David is a symbol of Judaism. However, such symbols are also signs that point to the Infinite, the Ultimate, and the Highest authority. These are deeper, abstract matters that some dismiss from their minds. 

The Bible speaks of many signs: the Burning Bush, the Star of Bethlehem, the Cross of Calvary. These signs presage an event, which a symbol never does. The Burning Bush sets the stage for Moses' return to Egypt. The Star of Bethlehem sets the stage for the adoration of the Incarnate Son of God. The Cross of Calvary sets the stage for Christ's third day resurrection. The Empty Tomb sets the stage for Christ's entry into glory as our eternal king.

Moses did not know what the future held for him. The Magi and Shepherds did not understand what the Child's birth would mean for them. Jesus' disciples did not grasp the reason for Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Nevertheless, reflection on the events that followed these signs helps to make sense of them.

In our world, there is too little reflection on sacred signs. We are caught up in political contention, our immediate concerns, and the fascination and obsessive engagement with games and fantasy. When we see someone wearing a cross, we might think "that person identifies as a Christian." But do we pursue the sign further and ask what that means?

The cross was an object of torture and cruel execution, but after the fact, it became a sign of God's infinite love for the world. He gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him has forgiveness of sins and eternal life (Jn. 3:16).

Related reading: For Unto Us a Son is Given; The Irrepressible Truth 

What is Redemption?

 

What is meant by redemption? To be redeemed is to be bought back. Paul reminds the Christians in Corinth, "For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body." (1 Cor. 6:20)

When Jesus died and was buried, his followers were bereft of hope. They felt lost and confused. They did not immediately understand Christ's command as he was approaching his death to “Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28) 

The Lord instructed them to expect their redemption. The same applies to all who put their trust in the Son of God.

We are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb of God. We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and we are called to proclaim redemption to all who sincerely repent and turn in faith to God Father, God Son, and God Holy Spirit.

There is no redemption for the unrepentant. There is no redemption apart from that offered through the death of and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no justification without redemption.

Related reading: True Disciples Watch for Christ's Return; Salvation is Not an Event; Our Redemption Draws Near

RIP Edward F. Lundwall Jr.

 

"Discipleship is built on discipline. Period. It’s getting up when it is hard to get up. It’s praying when your brain is heavy with preoccupation. It’s choosing to spend time in Scripture instead of mindlessly watching YouTube videos. It’s choosing to follow when the world, the flesh, and the Devil are all trying to prevent it. Get up. Get your head in the game. You have been given a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline. (2 Tim 1:7)" - The Rev. Chris Findley, Rector St. Patrick's Anglican Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Dr. Alice C. Linsley

Our friend Ed Lundwall has gone to his heavenly reward. A faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, Ed was passionate about training disciples. Hope Rapson and I are thankful for the 11 years we were able to ministry with Ed to the readers of Distinctive Discipleship. God willing, we intend to continue his legacy at this blog for many more years.

The Rev. Edward F. Lundwall, Jr. served as an Army Chaplain. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. For nine years, Ed and his late wife, Marionette, were Baptist home missionaries. They have three children, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Ed pastored Disciple Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a laboratory experiment to study biblical discipleship and how to apply it to the Church.

This blog is the cooperative effort of Ed Lundwall, Hope Ellen Rapson, and Alice C. Linsley. The three met in the summer 2013 in Rossville, Georgia for brunch, and after the meal, Ed invited us to his home where we saw the extent of his writings on discipleship. There was an entire wall with floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with notebooks. As we chatted and perused the volumes, Hope and Alice realized that this dear disciple of Jesus Christ deserved a wider readership. Hope was an English teacher and Alice had experience with blogs. The plan was to make Ed's writings accessible to a wider audience.

This blog isn't sexy. It isn't provocative. There is nothing here to thrill those energized by polemic and politics. The posts are about being a disciple of the Righteous King. They are somewhat old-fashioned, with the flavor of good ol' time religion. The material is practical. It can be used for daily devotions, for Bible study, and to teach Sunday School classes.

The posts do not reflect a specific denomination. Ed was a Baptist, Hope is a non-denominational Evangelical, and Alice is an Anglican traditionalist. It is our intention that every article be biblical, honest, and helpful.

Devotional materials related to discipleship may be found by using the INDEX which lists topics in alphabetical order.

A Future for this Nation

Painting by Liz Lemon Swindle

What follows is a first-person account by a biblical person that draws the reader into the life and times of Jesus and his followers. Such vignettes stimulate the imagination. They encourage contemplation of real events and real persons.



By S. J. Clydeson


The last time I felt this discouraged was when my good friend “John in the wilderness” was beheaded.

Then Jesus came speaking words my ears had never heard before. He spoke of hope and everlasting Life. His parables were remarkable and profound. They changed me from the inside out.

It was very pleasurable to see the effect His words had on the “spiritual leaders” and the SO Sad U sees who rejected belief in bodily resurrection.

The thought troubled me that people could despise one so much. Because of all the good Jesus had done, they put Him to death, but not until they had Him beaten unmercifully, then the crucifixion!

My Savior was tortured, bleeding, and in agony. How could anyone endure this suffering?

My heart is broken! What am I to do? Who will save Israel now?

After the events on Friday there is an emptiness within me, even the report of the tomb being empty does not register.


It happened like this:

My good friend Cleopas and I were heading to Emmaus, when a stranger met us on the road. As we walked, He listened intently to our rantings about what we had witnessed days earlier. The stranger listened. The last thing I remember saying was, "No longer is our conquering redeemer with us. Is there a future for this nation?"

Then the stranger began to speak. He spoke of things that sounded so familiar, as if straight from the Scriptures! We insisted He break bread with us and as He blessed it, we saw His nail-pierced hands and knew immediately that our King Jesus lives!


Father, forgive my unbelief!

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"Imagine the greatest Teacher explaining the greatest themes from the greatest book and bringing the greatest blessings to men's lives: eyes open to see Him, hearts open to receive the Word, and lips open to tell others what Jesus said to them." ~Wiersbe