The gospel of Matthew starts with the genealogy of Jesus and points back to God’s relationship with Abraham. We spend time looking back to see that we are a part of the blessing and bearers of the light.

It’s called Christmas Creep: the phenomena of decorating for Christmas earlier and earlier. Forty-three percent of us skip Thanksgiving and go directly from Halloween to Christmas. Why? Because Christmas – the season of hope, love, joy and peace – extols the very qualities our world so desperately needs. Because Jesus is the hope we’re looking for.

It’s easy to feel hopelessness or even despair as we watch the world around us – from our families to, our nation, to our entire globe – descend into conflict and competition. In Ezekiel’s day, God’s people felt the same way as they saw their nation fall and God’s glory depart from their city. Ezekiel’s message to them should resonate with us: “God is not done.” If God isn’t done, then we’ve got work to do.

It’s easy to feel hopelessness or even despair as we watch the world around us – from our families to, our nation, to our entire globe – descend into conflict and competition. In Ezekiel’s day, God’s people felt the same way as they saw their nation fall and God’s glory depart from their city. Ezekiel’s message to them should resonate with us: “God is not done.” If God isn’t done, then we’ve got work to do.

Have you ever watched one of those instant-karma videos? We naturally take pleasure in other’s misfortune – especially when they “deserve it.” Yet, followers of Jesus are held to a higher standard. Instead of gloating when those who oppose us, we are called to “bless those who persecute” us.

Larry was a guest speaker for us today.

The Prophets Habakkuk is unique; it is a conversation between God and the prophet, some of which was set to music. It is a text with deep feeling as Habakkuk expressed disappointment with his people and his sadness at the coming Babylonian oppression. His concluding psalm is one of resignation. He accepts the Lord’s will. He chooses joy in the midst of pain. He acknowledges God’s sovereignty that enables him to overcome.

How differently would our lives look if we focused more on what is timeless and less on what is temporary? Isaiah frequently pointed out God’s eternal nature, and the folly of chasing after the fleeting pleasures of our earthly existence. The earth, and all that is in it will disappear. Yet, “the stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the giver of all good things” (Rich Mullins). We need to prioritize our lives based on that which is eternal. Priorities are expressed in time. The most important priorities are timeless.

God’s people are called to be different: to think differently, to act differently. Too often, though, we face the struggle our Jewish ancestors faced: we think and act like the majority who don’t follow God. The more a people worship false gods, the more they surrender to fear and anxiety. Lacking the security that comes from knowing God is in control, they become obsessed with conspiracies. They live in dread of what frightens them rather than fearing God who can keep them safe.