NMC Audio Podcast

Some things just have to be shared! We just can’t keep quiet about it! The excitement can’t be contained! That’s what happens when a life is changed. That’s what happens when someone meets Jesus. That’s the natural response and instinct to a transformational moment. Some things are worth sharing and the greatest thing to share is Jesus—Simply Jesus!

There are many pivotal moments in history, but they all pale in comparison to the great moment—the birth of Jesus. That moment brought light out of darkness, hope out of despair, and life out of death. Nothing has impacted the entire human race more than the entrance that Jesus made into our world. One moment, one divine moment, transformed reality for every individual. That’s why understanding who Jesus is, simply Jesus, is absolutely essential.

As we head into “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” we could easily replace the word wonderful with words like busy, cluttered, full, or overwhelming. Christmas is meant to serve as a rhythmic reminder of the amazing moment when Jesus, God in flesh, entered the scene. Are we creating the space in our lives to welcome Jesus into this holiday, and more importantly, to let Him be the central focus in our lives?

As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, He reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As He entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” (NLT)

It’s loaded with promises. It’s one of the easiest books of the Bible to read. It’s a great pick-me-up when hard times come our way. It’s the book of Philippians. It’s a simple challenge written by a hard-charging warrior living under difficult circumstances. Its message is clear. Amidst nonsense, God makes sense. Through times of pain, we can be filled with praise. God’s Spirit not only gives us eternal life but makes life on this earth enjoyable. It’s about the power of praise!

It’s an incredible teaching moment. It’s coaching at its best! The wise mentor Paul gives skillful instruction to the young disciple Timothy on living with outrageous generosity. In a society that focuses on accumulation, we are challenged to move towards distribution. Instead of life being all about me, it becomes about sharing with the we. Outrageous generosity is far more than a concept; it is a series of actions based in a culture modeled by Jesus.

It’s brutal! It’s direct! It’s honest! It’s painful! That’s what happens when someone shares the last one percent in an honest conversation. That’s precisely what Malachi does when he shares God’s frustration and disappointment with His people. Instead of a having a vibrant faith, they found themselves doing most of the right things with a wrong heart. May we never be found living less than God’s best.

Most every child has heard the phrase, "Just wait until your dad gets home!” There’s a heaviness in the air. There’s a sense of impending judgment. What’s about to happen will be painful. That’s the word Zephaniah gives to the people of Judah. God reaches a point where He’s ready to step in. Justice is about to happen. Now is the time to make the changes necessary to avoid God’s wrath

There’s something comforting when we find someone asking the same questions we ask. We can easily identify with someone who struggles with the same issues we struggle with. Habakkuk becomes that person for us. It is easy for us to identify with Habakkuk's life struggles and God’s apparent unfairness. Habakkuk does far more than struggle as he takes us to the place where we can better understand how God works.