A New Year's Resolution List For The Church

Dr. Mike Murphy
January 1, 2024

Each day, we watch as the darkness grows.  As society looks to push the Lord as far away as possible, and this world looks for new ways to silence the voice of us who believe.  But as the darkness grows, hope does not begin to fade, as in the midst of the greatest darkness, the Light shines the brightest. This might be a world that wants us less than ever, but this is a world that needs us more than ever.  A world in tremendous need of seeing that Light, as it reflects and radiates with such brilliance in each of us.

In the darkest of hours, this could be one of the Church’s greatest moments, if only this Church would just remember the call the Lord has given us. And as I think back on that call, I find myself writing down three resolutions for this Church in the coming year. Three simple resolutions, that if this Church would take to heart, would remind this Church just what it means to be the Church.

Resolution Number 1.  Remember what the reflection of Christ looks like.

Philippians 3;10 tells us, “My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” A follower of Christ, should always look to center their life around Christ. And as we place Him in the center, we start to look more like Him each and everyday. Our days are soon found with us talking about Him, filling our moments thinking of Him, and looking for ways we came spend more time with Him. The greatest desire of our life is soon found in ways we can please Him, and in finding ways we can serve Him.  Knowing that the more we glorify Him, the more each glimpse others get of us will reflect Him.

The more in this coming year this Church can look to place Christ at the center of our life, the more this world will see the Light when they take a close look at this Church.

Resolution Number 2.  Make our words sound a lot more like His words.

1 Corinthians 2:16 speaks to us, “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”  Every answer, to every question we might ask, can be found all in one place. In the pages of His Word, because there, alone, all truth can be found.  All man can ever offer to the questions this world might have is opinion. But in His Word, is found the wisdom of definite answers.

If in the coming year, this Church will not look to itself for solutions, but turn to the Lord for answers, we can show the world the difference that only Christ can make.  A difference that will not leave man worried about tomorrow, but will offer him the hope of what tomorrow will bring. A tomorrow, not just filled with more questions, but a tomorrow, that is brimming with answers.

Resolution Number 3.  Memorize the words of the Great Commission by heart.

In Matthew 28:19-20, Christ spoke to us, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  These are not words that should just jump of the pages of Scripture at us when we read them, but should be words that are ingrained into our minds every single day. Words that should never stray far from the tip of our tongue. Never forgetting what a precious gift we have received with each of these words, because these words reveal to us the very heart of our Lord.

In the coming year, this Church should repeat those words to ourselves so often that we are left hoarse. Words that not only find us bringing the Good News to others, but find us teaching the truth of Christ to all who will listen. Words that not only lead us to teach others about the love of Christ, but shows all how to joyfully follow in His footsteps.

I pray that in the coming year, this Church will take each of these resolutions to heart.  Remembering the love, the joy, the truth, the grace, and the wisdom, that comes from all three of these resolutions.  Words, that if taken to heart, will find this Church reflecting His light so bright into this world, that darkness will soon seek itself for cover.

May each day of this year find your reflection of Him a little brighter!

The Cry Of A Child(The Gift of Christmas)

Dr. Mike Murphy

December 15, 2023

Faces everywhere in my mind as I remember back to that day,  Each direction I looked, there was always a face staring back at me.  For all the years I had lived in this small town, I had never seen it so busy.  More people than places. More demands than this town could ever have to offer. A place that was normally all but too quiet, was suddenly in wish of nothing but a little silence.
As a merchant, you would think all those faces would have thrilled me.  The opportunity to make a fortune in just a few days. Able to set the price of the bread I sold at whatever I desired, and knowing that those desires would have easily been met.  But at some point, the desire for a little quiet became greater than the desire for the greed could ever be.
Who would have thought a census would have caused all this confusion, bringing so much chaos to the little town I was born in, and still to this day, call home.  A town that was so crowded, so ill-prepared for that census, that people were left sleeping on the streets and looking any and everywhere for just a bite to eat. And I can still remember, that as the day turned to night, the quiet did not return.  We were still unable to escape the constant chaos that surrounded us. I remember how I prayed for that quiet, calling out to Jehovah for just a small time of silence so I could at least get a few moments of sleep.

It was as I tried so hard to sleep, that one sound arose above all the chaos.  The sound of an infant crying, that was coming from somewhere close to me. So vividly I still remember to this day, there was something in the voice of that child’s cries that overcame me.  Something in his sound that shook the very soul of me, and drew me to his voice. 

As I exited my door, I could hear the cries coming from the cellar of my neighbor’s home.  Among the shelter for their animals each night, came a cry that even silenced those animals.  Sounds of a cry so loud I could not escape it. But sounds of a cry with such familiarity, I found myself without a desire to flee.  With each bellow, with each shout, with each whimper, I was drawn closer to it. As if my body was being controlled by my soul, and my soul longed to be closer to in the presence of those cries. 

As I entered the cellar, I could see a young couple holding a newborn child. A couple, whose faces I barely saw, as my eyes focused on that child’s face.  Even if I had wanted to try, I could not have taken my eyes off of him. My heart was on a string that was drawn to him. A string that must have also been attached to and pulling at my legs, as without even realizing it, I was on my knees before him. And as I tried to rise, I soon heard the voices of others. Shepherds, who had come in from the fields, also finding their way to those cries.  Cries, that left them without words. Only praise, as they proclaimed that angels had called them to this place. To come to his presence, so they could see the fulfillment of all the Lord had promised. 

As time stood still that night, I suddenly realized I had found the silence and peace that I had sought, in the midst of that child’s cries.  A silence, that I still remember so well, that left me more awake than ever.

As the days passed, I would often hear the cries of that child.  Cries that often came from a room in my neighbor’s home. Cries that continued to leave me just as amazed as they had that first night.  It was one night, as I heard those cries, that the faces I saw drawn to my small town, once again amazed me. Faces of those who held worldly power in their hands greater than almost any man could know.  But men of prominence whose knees bowed in front of this child just as quickly as my own knees had given way. I watched as they worship him. Men, who had been honored this world over, humbling themselves before him.  Placing the most expensive of gifts at his feet.

And as I watched them leave that night, I witnessed that young couple also preparing to leave.  Gone in an instant, without a moment of notice, I heard the cries of that child fade into the distance.

Soon after that night, my village again heard cries.  But this time, the cries I heard were not those of a child, but the screaming cries of their mothers and fathers.  Cries of horror, as Herod’s troops stormed into my little town, and killed every young boy that my town knew. Every young child but one, the one of the cries I had heard fading into the distance the night before.

Years later, I would finally get the chance to hear the child I had heard cry, speak.  Speaking words that left me just as silent as the cries had that first night. Words that challenged me, words that changed me, words that brought hope to me.  Words that the priests, and the people of our nation, were just not yet prepared to hear. Words that soon found him being handed over to the Romans, so his words would not be heard again.

On that day, it was me whose cries you could hear, as I watched them look to beat the life out of him.  As I watch them nail him to a cross, so they could take all life from him. And as I stood at that cross in the silence of my tears, it was him I heard cry once again.  Crying out so loud, with such passion, for the Lord to forgive all of those who had done this to him.

As I heard his cries that day, my mind drifted back to the first time I had heard him crying.  And as I heard him cry out for the last time, I realized. It was not his cries I had so often heard.  It had been Him so lovingly calling out, as He was heard crying for me.

May the cries of that manger fill your life this Christmas!

How The Lord Used A Beagle To Save Christmas!

Dr. Mike Murphy

December 14, 2023

“Time is running short Lord.  I know you have a purpose and a plan for this church, but the wolves are at our door, Lord.  If something does not happen fast, I do not see how this church is going to be here come Christmas.  Please send me a sign Lord, let me know that this church is your will, and this is a stand you are calling me to make.”

Each morning he prayed as he arrived at the church.  A quiet moment each day when he turned to God to help him with the day ahead.  But on that Monday morning, he a felt an urgency to his prayer.  He had been sent as a pastor to the church to help try and revitalize it, to help God bring it back to a glimpse of its’ past.  The church had watched as its’ numbers depreciated over the years, and the funds needed to keep its’ doors open were running dry.  While the church was collapsing, the small town it sat in the heart of was booming.  A town of a handful of red lights, had now become a town of many lights.  And the property the church sat on had drawn the eye of town hall, the perfect spot it needed for expansion.  Offers had come to the church board for the property, but with each, the pastor had been able to push the board away from any decision. He knew that the Lord was not done with this church, that the Lord had great plans for it.  But as the bills piled up, it was no longer a vision he could share with the board.

The night before the board had meet, and decided it needed to invite the mayor over to make an official offer.  But the pastor knew that once the offer was given, it would just be a matter of time.  It was that time that he had been praying for.  Time he needed from the Lord, so His will might be seen by all, and known by the board.

As he finished his prayer, the phone rang.  It was the mayor’s office, telling him that the mayor would be by shortly to discuss the church.  It appeared that the wolves had not waited, already getting word to the mayor of what had been discussed the night before.  As he hung up the phone, another noise got his attention.  Helen, an older lady who had spent her life in the church, was coming in the door with her beagle, named Bailey.  Being widowed and without family near, Helen had often asked him if he would keep an eye on Bailey as she ran an errand or two.  Bailey was an older dog of good nature, and was far more companion that grievance to have him around, so he did not mind Bailey staying in his office with him.  But as Helen hurried out the door, it occurred to him what the morning would bring.  He had the mayor on the way, and now a dog he also had to watch!

As he got Bailey positioned in his office, he again heard the door of the church.  This time it was not Helen, but a well dressed man in a suit.  The mayor was through the door and in his office before he even realized what had happened.  Having meet the mayor on other occasions, he knew the mayor was a man of few words when he was not on the campaign trail.  And as the mayor found a seat in the pastoral office, he soon noticed that the mayor had not changed. “With the hardships of this church, we all know this is for the best. The city can actually use the property for some good, instead of it sitting here empty and useless most days.”, the mayor pronounced.  “And I think you will find this to be a fair offer, considering we will have to demolish the existing building.  All I need is a signature from you as a representative of the church for us to get this process started.”

The pastor found himself pausing before he spoke, giving the Holy Spirit a chance to form the words for him.  “Mr, Mayor, I am sure this offer is fair from a business sense, but the business I am in is far more concerned about people than profits.  I know the Lord has a plan for this church, and a need for it that is greater than any you could ever imagine.  If you would just be patient, and open your eyes to what the Lord is trying to show you, I know He will give you a sign to confirm what I am saying!”

As if on cue, Bailey raised his head from the corner of the room where he was laying. Without even a bark, he got up and walked over to where the mayor was sitting. Then, without even a pause, Bailey raised his leg in a hiking position and begin to urinate all over the mayor’s pant leg and shoe.  Then as soon as Bailey finished, he went back to the corner, and laid down again as if nothing had happened.  The pastor saw himself watching all this as if time was frozen, and as if he was frozen also.  As soon as it was over, he knew he had to say something, to find a way to apologize to the mayor.  But before he could even say a word, the mayor rose from his chair, and hurried from the church.

Now he found himself in a panic, not knowing what to do.  Did he run after the mayor or call his office to apologize?  Or did he just wait on the police and animal control, that he was sure would soon be coming his way?  Why had Bailey done this?  This was unlike any behavior he had ever seen from Bailey before? What had gotten into him?  And why in the world had it gotten into him at this moment?  He could not even begin to figure out how he was going to explain all this to the board.  He barely believed what had happened and he had been there, much less to try to expect others to ever believe what he had seen.  There was no doubt in his mind, his days as a pastor were just about over.

Several times that day he tried to call the mayor’s office, but never got his call returned. And as the hours of the day slowly passed, he realized that the mayor did not have SWAT surrounding the church.  The day turned out to be surprisingly quiet.  Sometime that afternoon, Helen showed back up to get Bailey. He did not have the heart to give her the full details of what had happened, only to say that Bailey had an “accident” earlier that day.

Before he closed the church doors for the night, he called as many on the board as he could possibly reach.  Trying his best to explain what he never thought he would ever be in a position to have to explain.  And with each word, he realized just how farfetched his whole explanation sounded.  “Yes, you heard me right.”  “Yes, it was Bailey, and no, he has never done anything like this before.”  “Yes, it was the mayor.  And yes, I am very sure that Bailey did not miss!”

As the pastor arrived at the church the next morning, he was sure the board would be waiting there for him.  He could just imagine the phone calls that had taken place the night before.  But as he arrived. It was not the board that was waiting on him, but a single car was parked in front of the church.  Out of the car, stepped a reporter for the local newspaper. Rushing to get with the pastor as he entered the church, the reporter told him of a funny story he had heard circulating at town hall.  A story of an older dog and a very wet mayor! The reporter asked the pastor to confirm the story, of which the pastor said he had no comment.  But the reporter told him he already had two confirmations, so he did not need another one anyway.  He just told the pastor he could read all the details for himself as the newspaper came out later that week.  Then, as the pastor entered the church, he found an envelope taped to his office door, letting him know the board had a meeting scheduled after church services the coming Sunday.  A meeting where his presence was being demanded, not requested.

As the week passed, the pastor prepared a sermon he was sure would be his last. The newspaper had indeed come out as usual, and you can only guess which article had become the talk of the town.  But as he arrived at church that Sunday morning, he was shocked at what he saw.  As the morning progressed, he was not looking out at the usual vacant parking lot, but a parking lot that was filled with cars.  It seemed that the events of the past Monday had sparked an interest in the church, and people wanted to come to see for themselves what was going on there.  As he rose to give the sermon that morning, he soon realized it was not the sermon he had prepared that he was suppose to give.  But a sermon of how God can use us even in the most unusual of circumstances.

Seeing the crowd at church that morning, the board soon canceled the scheduled meeting.  And with each Sunday, the pastor continued to see the pews being filled.  Soon, the once empty church was running over with new members. Within months, the church was debt free, and looking at how the congregation could make a difference throughout the town.  A difference that the town’s government could not make, but needed lives the Lord could touch with the congregation’s help.  A difference, that not only found the town’s once wet mayor sitting in a pew each Sunday, but helping in the church’s community food pantry every Monday.  A prayer answered, a difference made, in the most amazing of ways!  A Christmas that would be saved, but that would never be forgotten.  A Christmas, when the Lord used a beagle named Bailey to save a church, and to touch more lives than a mayor and a small town could count!

As you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this Christmas, remember Bailey. And as you think of Bailey, ask yourself one question.  If God can use a beagle named Bailey to change the lives of so many, what could He do with me?

Place your life in God’s hands, and let Him make you a present this Christmas!

Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum.....

Dr. Mike Murphy

December 8, 2023

It is funny how the smallest of things can trigger our fondest of memories! While flipping through the channels of the television the other day I saw a commercial for an upcoming broadcast of The Little Drummer Boy.  In that split second, a smile came to my face as I remembered all the years as a young boy watching as the story unfolded on the television screen.  Before I even knew it, I found myself going online and listening to the familiar song I had grown up hearing.  

We all have heard the song more times in our lives than we can begin to count.  We all know the melody, the song, and even the story.  But how well do you know the message?

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,

When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum

I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum

Me and my drum.

When the day comes, what gift will you lay at the feet of the King?  Will you offer Him your most prized possession or the wealth you have acquired in this life?  I think not, Satan offered Christ all the wealth and riches the world would ever have to offer, and it meant nothing in Christ’s eyes.  Will you offer Him all the titles and accomplishments you have earned in your life?   I do not think so.   He already holds the ultimate title, King of Kings. When that day comes, and it will come in each of our lives, what gift will you lay at the feet of the King?

There is a gift that Christ yearns for, one each of us posses.  A gift that Christ values far above all.  A gift that carries no titles, but has a value far greater than all the wealth this world has to offer.  A gift that can be so easily given, but is way too often impossible to find. What is the name of this simple gift that Christ cherishes above all?  The gift of willingness!

Of all the gifts each of us are blessed with, willingness is by far our greatest gift. Unless we are first willing, none of the other gifts the Lord has graced each of us with is even available.  But when we are first willing, Christ will show us gifts we are blessed with that we never even realized we had.

Look at the words of the song one more time.  The little drummer boy thought he had absolutely nothing to offer the King.  But when this child was willing to offer the King all he had, a wondrous and memorable gift emerged.  A gift that all those present would be changed by.

Each of us often find ourselves in the same position this young boy did. We say to ourselves that we have nothing to offer.  “I am not very good at speaking to others”, or “I just do not know what the Bible says well enough to share it with people”, we often find ourselves saying.  When we make excuses for what we think we cannot do, we seek to limit God, prohibiting the many miraculous opportunities that may follow.  It is only when we are willing that God’s hand can move through us in ways we would have never seen possible.  When we are willing, the Lord will often put the words in our mouth we did not know we had, or give us the Biblical verse to quote we did not even realize we knew.  God can use us to touch lives in ways we would have never thought possible, but only when we are first willing!

So this season as we decorate the tree, get out the wrapping paper and the bows, and we hear that familiar ‘pa rum pum pum pum’ playing in the background, I hope each of you will wrap a small present and place a label on it addressed to Christ.  Inside place a simple piece of paper.  A piece of paper that has your handwriting on it,  and the words written, “Yes Lord, I am willing, and this year You can count on me!”.  The greatest give you have to offer cannot be purchased with your credit card, or found displayed in the most trendy of stores. The greatest gift you have to offer Christ is you!  Your time, your heart, your mind, your effort, your willingness!  All the things that reflect Christ, and make you your best!  I can promise that with this simple gift Christ will change your life in ways you would have never thought possible.  From this one simple gift, your life will be filled with more precious gifts than your wildest dreams could ever begin to imagine!  Just like the little drummer boy did, you will experience the smile from that infant in the manger.  A smile that forever changed the world! A smile, that this day, is looking to forever change your life!

May the beat of the drum find you willing this Christmas!

Pennies From Heaven(A Little Christmas Hope)

 Dr. Mike Murphy

December 4, 2023

As she watched the rain fall, she wished she could see each day of the past year washed away with every drop.  To say this year had been trying, would be an understatement.  She still found herself praying to God, but she could not deny that her faith had been shaken.  With each day, she was only left with more questions, finding herself in so many of these quiet moments asking the Lord, “why”.

She never thought her life was perfect, but is was a life she could not imagine living a day without.  A faithful, and devoted husband, that had been the love of her life since high school.  Twin, five year old daughters, that left her exhausted every night, but always falling to sleep smiling.  A loving mother, who had always been there for her since her dad had died in her youth.  And a church family, that she felt as close to as if they were her own blood.

But in a single moment, in a split second, she watched her world shatter. She could still remember the call she received that February day, but still could not tell you the words that were spoken to her.  All she heard was that Ryan, her husband, had been in a wreck, and she needed to get to the hospital immediately.  She barely knew how she had gotten there, but as she rushed into the emergency room, he was already in surgery.  He had lost control of his truck on the icy road heading to work that morning.  She would later learn that the truck had rolled as it hit the ditch, collapsing the cab of the truck onto his head. The doctors did not know the extent of the damage, but their immediate concern was to stop the bleeding.  She sat in the waiting room that morning for what seemed like hours before the surgeon approached her with news. And as she glanced into the surgeon’s eyes, she already knew what his words were going to be.

The funeral was a blur, she just went through the motions as she made the arrangements.  She did her best to explain what had happened to the girls, but she would still see their glances, looking for their father to come home.  As the funeral ended, the tragedies did not.  She soon learned that the company her husband worked for had changed their life insurance benefits, leaving her with little more than enough to pay the cost of his funeral.  It had been all the two of them could do to keep up with the bills together, so she did not have a clue how she was going to manage this with just her income.  But she rolled up her sleeves, and with her mother’s help in watching the girls, she worked every overtime hour she could get.  And as winter turned to spring, and spring turned to summer, she began to see a little shining hope again at the end of the dark tunnel.

Just as hope seemed to pop back up its’ head, hope soon found itself buried deep again.  Her mother’s arthritis had become so painful, it was all she could do just to watch after the girls.  Each day she watched as the pain grew, and the disease crippled her a little more.  As summer turned to fall, she watched as her mom was now in greater need of help herself, than of any help she could offer in watching the girls.  Every overtime hour she could get now went to child care, and with any extra dime she might find, she did what she could to help her mother.

As Christmas approached, she found her checking account with more zeros than other numbers.  No matter how hard she seemed to try, no matter how many extra hours she seemed to work, she could never get ahead.  And with each extra hour of work, she also watched as it cost her in other areas.  She found herself with little time to spend with her girls, missing memories from events in their life she would never be able to get back. And as she spent what little time she did have with the girls, she watched as her other relationships grew distant. She was at church so sparsely, she had lost contact with so many she cared for there.  Often they had called to check on her, hoping to get by to see her.  But her hours were so filled each day with the demands placed on her, that she could find no time to get with those around her.  Soon their calls became less frequent, and soon she found that the only thing left in her life besides the girls, was the struggle.

She had decided that for Christmas this year, she was going to get the girls the one thing their husband had planned on getting for them.  That from Santa this year, her husband's memory would remain alive in each of their lives. He had planned to get each a bike, as when he was six, he had gotten a bike for Christmas.  Both girls held on tightly to the stories of his first bike, and each time they saw Santa, a bike was always the one thing they wanted most.  With this in mind, she decided that no matter how many hours she had to work, no matter what she had to do without herself, her two girls were somehow going to have bikes this Christmas.

As December 23rd arrived, she still found herself a little over forty dollars short of being able to buy the bikes.  As she thought of Christmas morning, her heart sank.  Her last hope for this year was now gone, and she found herself crying tears she could never allow her precious girls to ever see.  As she made her way into the house that night to figure out what she would be able to now get the girls, she ran into her neighbor, Bill.  Trying to clear her eyes of the tears, as the rain began to fall that night, she told Bill of her situation. “Unless the Lord turns these raindrops into pennies, I will just never have enough to give my girls their wish this Christmas”, was all she could find the words to say.

Entering his house, those words weighed heavy with Bill.  Bill lived on a fixed income, retired for some years now.  If he had an extra forty dollars, he would have given it to her before she could have said another word.  His heart sank as he thought of those two girls, and all they had been through.  As he entered his door, he spoke out loud to the Lord. “If You would just show me a way, I so wish I could help”.  No more than Bill had gotten through the door, he saw the two five gallon jugs of pennies sitting on his floor.  Each day for several years, he would throw his extra pennies in those jars, hoping one day to have enough to do something special with them.  It was at that very moment, the Lord showed him just what that “special” would be.

In the early morning hours, Bill pulled the hood of his coat over his head, grabbed each of the jars, and made his way to his young neighbors lawn.  In the dark of the early morning rain, he found himself pouring out each jar, covering the grass in pennies as the rain continued to fall.  He then quietly snuck back to his house, and waited for the sun to rise.  

As dawn found its’ way to that day, Bill heard a scream.  Not a scream of terror, but one of joy.  Bill watched his young neighbor in disbelief as she found her way to her lawn, surrounding herself in the gleam of copper as the sun rose. Bill watched through tears that morning, as the young mother praised God with each penny she picked up.  He watched as for over an hour she picked up those pennies.  Each time she reached down to pick another penny up, Bill could not help but smile, as he saw a little hope returning to her face.  Enough pennies to not only get the girls both a bike, but matching helmets.  And just enough extra to make sure they got to share with their mom a Christmas dinner.  As Bill watched that morning from his kitchen window, he realized just how much the Lord had heard every word he had spoken to Him that night before.  And as Bill continued to watch, he could not help but tell the Lord a very “special thank you”, for giving him the greatest Christmas present he could ever have.

This Christmas, if you want to see a miracle, be a miracle.  Allow the Lord to use you in the most amazing of ways, and watch the miracles flow.  And with each amazing way, watch as the hope the Lord brought to the world that first Christmas night will fall on those around you like pennies from Heaven.

Praying you never forget, God is always with us this Christmas! And the greatest of hope is found in His name!

Born To Die

Dr. Mike Murphy

November 24, 2023

I keep looking out my window for the snow!  I could almost smell the fir and the pine. The fragrance and taste of the wassail filled my imagination. As I opened my e-mail and already saw all the Christmas ads, I just figured it had to be cold outside, with snow on the ground.  It seems like each year the Christmas ads come earlier and earlier.  I do like to joke about it, but it really does not bother me.  I love the Christmas season.  The feeling that fills the air, family and friends coming together, a time each year to remind us Who and what is important in our lives. As I glanced at the ads, I could see all the new decorations.  I saw trees of every shape and color.  And I could see the nativity scenes that covered the pages. It seems that with each glance of Mary, Joseph, and the manger, a favorite song of mine echoed through my mind, and soon I found myself humming the words.  Each year, Christmas gives me a chance to listen to the touching words of that song, a song few may have ever heard.  In the fall of 2007, Bebo Norman released the album Christmas...From The Realms Of Glory.  On the album was a little known song, that carries a powerful message, the song Born To Die.  It is impossible to hear this song and not be moved, to not read the lyrics and begin to feel the tears swelling up in your eyes.

They never knew a dark night

always had the Son's light

on their face

Perfect in glory

Broken by the story

of untold grace...

come that day

Majesty had come down

Glory had succumbed now

to flesh and bone

In the arms of a manger

In the hands of strangers

that could not know

Just who they hold

And the angels filled the sky

All of heaven wondered why

Why their King would choose to be

Be a baby born to die

And all fell silent

For the cry of an infant,

the voice of God

Was dividing history

For those with eyes to see,

the Son would shine

From earth that night

And the angels filled the sky

All of heaven wondered why

Why their King would choose to be

Be a baby born to die

Be a baby born to die

To break the chains

Of guilt and sin

To find us here

To pull us in

So we can join in Heaven's song

And with one voice around the throne

All the Angels filled the sky

And I can't help but wonder why

Why this King would choose to be

Be a baby born for me

Be a baby born

Be a baby born to die

I once heard Bebo say he wrote this song from a heavenly perspective. Writing what a strange and wondrous moment it must have been for those above to watch the God of all Creation enter this world in such a simple and lowly form, knowing they already knew the whole story of the Gospel.  To watch as the One who lit the heavens, would come to this world with one true purpose in mind, to die.  How curious of a way they would see the events of this story play out.  They would watch as tragedy would be turned into a beautiful love story.

The song reminds us of the Lord’s perfect plan to save an imperfect world, through the birth of a perfect child, who would grow into a man who was destined to die, so death itself would permanently be defeated.  But even as many hear these words, others will still ask, “Why did Christ have to die?”.

As we answer this question, we must remember that not one word of the New or Old Testament takes the position that Christ’ death was accidental, or was created by the treacherous hands of mankind.  Not one word tells us that Christ died because of man’s plans.  Every word of the Bible tells us just the opposite, it tells us that His death fulfilled a divine purpose.  Jesus told these very words to His disciples, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”(Luke 24:46-48).  Through the very words of Christ, we know that the necessity of Christ’ death and suffering was in accordance with the definite and foreknowledge of the Lord’s plan.  Christ did not die as the result of foul play, or in an accidental way, He did so with a divine purpose, as part of a divine plan.

Although the worst of mankind found its’ way to crucify Christ, God’s plan of mercy and redemption still shined through.  Mankind may have crucified Jesus, but our Lord made and planned His death as a way of salvation, as an act of redemption.  The Lord took the tragedy of Christ’ death, and turned it into the greatest love story this world would ever know!

Many will follow this up by asking, “Why would the Lord allow His Son to die in such a terrible way?  Why would not the Lord just choose a different plan?” To ask this question is to not understand the Lord.  To question as to whether the Lord could have chosen another way, is to question whether the Lord set into action the best plan to start with.  It is to imply that we, man, might have done better.  What we see as better, is a way that looks right to us.  A way that only includes what we see in the now, and what we choose to remember from the past.  But our ways are not God’s ways, our thoughts are not God’s thoughts(Isaiah 55:8).  Simply put, our ways and our thoughts are flawed. Mankind cannot know perfection unless we first look to God.

Once man knew perfection, as the Bible tells us that God created this world and man perfect.  But when Adam and Eve disobeyed the word of God, the perfection of man became flawed.  A flaw we know as sin.  As a result of their disobedience, God had to punish Adam and Eve.  Now many may ask, why would God “have” to punish man?  The answer is simple, because God is just! To overlook sin would be to make God unjust. Adam and Eve’s disobedience required a punishment, a punishment because of the consequences of their sin. Death is the consequence of that sin.  Since that original sin, every person that has walked this earth has also been guilty of disobeying God(Romans 3:23). Each of us face that same judgment, and through our guilt, a deserved death separates us eternally from the Lord.

But in the just of His judgment, God did not leave us without hope.  God promised He would send a way for man to overcome the punishment that comes from sin.  A sacrifice that would overcome death, and restore mans perfect relationship with the Lord(Genesis 3:15).  Until that day, man would sacrifice innocent animals, showing the Lord they sought His forgiveness, seeking repentance for sin before Him.  They also did this to show their faith, faith in the True Sacrifice that would one day come, and forever restore our perfect relationship with our Lord.  Many times throughout history and in His Word, we watched as the Lord reassured man of that promise.  Many times we read of how the Lord showed man how that promise would be fulfilled.  He gave us detailed descriptions of that promise, and of the One who would fulfill that promise. Then, on one promised day, the Lord brought that promise into this world, and placed that promise in a manger in the city of Bethlehem. God’s perfect Son, fulfilling God’s perfect plan, who would be God’s perfect requirement to forever restore God’s perfect law(2 Corinthians 5:21).  So simple, but yet so perfect!  

In the very nature of God we see that perfect plan.  In the very nature of God we see His devotion, we see His strength, we see His hope and His glory, and we see in Him a love, a love that is willing to suffer with and for each of us. From His very first word, we read as God made that love vulnerable.  He created mankind in His own image, giving us free will and the ability to make independent decisions.  God knew the risk that came with giving us free will.  He knew with the freedom He gave us, we would have the ability to choose Him, and follow the path He has set before us.  But He also knew that with this gift of free will, man could choose to ignore Him, seeking our own path, a path that can take us far from the ways of our Lord.  But each gift of free will was surrounded by His love. A love that was present long before the Cross.  A love that suffered with us as we wandered from His path. A love that wept as He watched us reject His proven ways.  And a love that agonized each time we turned away from Him.  When we look at the Cross, we see that love, because that Cross bears the very heart of our Lord

So we look at our original question again,  “Why did Christ have to die?” Did Christ have to die?  No.  He could have left us in our disobedience, forever distant from our Lord, suffering an eternity at the hands of His just judgment.  But in every word,  in every action our Lord has shown us, we see His desire to have that eternal relationship with us.  We see His desire to keep His promise to us. We see the love in the plans He has for us.  And we see why He sent His perfect Son to us. We see His perfect relationship with us, where we find ourselves forever in His presence, forever as His merciful arms surround us.  In the answer to this question, we see the very definition of love.  

Each year, I make out my Christmas list.  A list I make out to the Lord, asking Him for things I long to see in the coming year.  This year, much like the Christmas ads that fill my e-mail, I find myself making out my list a little early.  But this year, my list is very simple. A single item is all that makes up my list, a list that I will share with each of you.  I pray that the words of Bebo’s song will hold true in each of your hearts.  That each of you will marvel as the angels did that night at the promise the Lord fulfilled for each of us.  That each of you will know and desire to be a part of that promise, and share with Him in the love of that perfect relationship.  I pray that each of you will find that love in the One who came into the world that night.  One who was born to die!

Praying each of you will fill my Christmas list!