We hear a lot about “first” things, but here is one that ought to get our attention. This speaks of those who were the first to receive the news of our Savior’s birth. It is noteworthy that the news of our Savior’s birth was announced first to lowly shepherds. You might have thought that such glorious news would have been delivered to the kings, religious leaders, or educators, but that wasn’t God’s plan. That seems amazing.

While shepherds played an important role in Hebrew history they were near the bottom of the social ladder in that day. During the time of Christ they were disrespected by the religious leaders due to their irregular observance of the ceremonial laws. And the were despised by others due to their reputation for stealing as they traveled from place to place. But all that didn’t matter to God. he has never been impressed by social status. He is the champion of the down and out. Remember, it was the common people that gladly listened to Christ. The fact that shepherds first received this news was no coincidence – it was by divine design and for good reason. “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise” ( 1 Cor. 1:27).

I wonder how many times someone has said, “It will take a miracle” in reference to something. We all end up there sooner or later. But, picture yourself in the place of Eve after the fall. Try to imagine how she felt. With her innocence spoiled, quaking in fear, troubled by guilt, cursed by sin, banished from the garden, she was uncertain as to what lay ahead. All of  a sudden she has to live in subjection to an imperfect husband, face the pain of childbirth, struggle with daily duties – the rigors of a cursed planet, and do it all with a temperament tainted by her transgression. How is she going to bear up and keep going under circumstances like that?

I believe the answer is found in the power of a promise. Living under the dark cloud of their disobedience God gave them the bright light of a glorious promise related to the woman’s seed – the promise of a Savior. The fact that “Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living” (vs. 20) proves he had embraced God’s promise. Besides that, Acts 3:21 proves that he was a prophet, and knew it would all end well.

In response to Satan’s folly and man’s fall, God makes this declaration. He wanted the devil, and us, to know that the serpent is a defeated foe. Although the curse would be allowed to play out down through the centuries, Satan’s doom was sure. However, not only does God assure us of Satan’s ruin He also assures us of the sinner’s redemption.

Your concept of Christmas isn’t correct unless you consider it in connection with the curse placed upon man when Adam and Eve sinned. In other words, you need to see the purpose of Christmas as a part of God’s promise in these verses. The reference to “her seed” has to do with the virgin birth (since the “seed” emanates from the man, not the women). Think about it. This tells us that God had a plan in place to redeem man from his fall ever since the fall, actually even before. Even when all seemed perfect in the garden of Eden God knew that sin would enter in and He prepared for it. Their sin didn’t surprise God. He knew before the world was created exactly what would happen and He devised a means of deliverance. So this Christmas be reminded of the fact that God is in control. Let it remind you that God cannot lie and He will not fail. He has done exactly as He promised and He did it out of the greatness of His love for you! Although the Savior’s heel was bruised on the cross, it resulted in a fatal head bruise for Satan. If all the world seems against you, know this – God is for you, and has been from the beginning. There is victory in Jesus! – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

I just received an ad email from Sirius XM that said, “Turn on the Joy”. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was that easy? Just hit a button or turn a knob and you receive instant joy. Well we all know it doesn’t happen that way. And wishing won’t make it work. So where does this highly prized joy come from? Since everyone wants it you would think they would listen to every suggestion, pursue every lead, and investigate every avenue to get it. I guess some people, in a sense, do just that – but they look in the wrong places. Most people refuse to go to the one place where the answer is found – God’s Word.

Our text tells us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, not a work of the flesh or a reward for effort. Regardless of how hard we try we cannot produce genuine joy. All we can produce is an cheap imitation. There is no possibility of true joy until a person has first been born again. Contrary to popular thought, only Christians have the potential for joy. It is produced by the Spirit of God in a child of God who is in the will of God – yielded to the Son of God. And joy is never alone. To some degree it is always accompanied by the eight other things mentioned in our text.

I can’t change your circumstances, but I can tell you that joy is possible regardless of your situation. And it is that supernatural joy that gives you the strength ( Neh. 8:10) needed to endure the challenge you are facing. That’s why you must not ignore a lack of joy. That is a serious situation. Don’t think of joy as an option, but rather an obligation. We are commanded to be joyful, and pretending won’t do. Without joy we are both weak and wayward. So rather than just dragging through the day in a depressed state, think about this – “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee”. – Psa. 5:11. – HDS

“I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.”- Psa. 138:1
Over the years I’ve heard just about every famous quartet and gospel singing group. I’ve listened with much enjoyment to people with great talent, but perhaps the most heart touching singing I’ve ever heard was in a little one room church building in the hills of SW Missouri. It was congregational singing, with less than 100 people singing four part harmony, accompanied by an old upright piano. Back then you didn’t need a “special” – the whole service was special.

Why do I mention this? I want to remind you of the importance of wholeheartedness. Lyrics are important and ability is a fine thing, but whether you are singing, preaching, praying, or whatever, if it doesn’t come from the heart it isn’t worth a plug nickel. Our chief end is to glorify God and to do that we must be wholeheartedly devoted to His will. We seem to have lost sight of that today. We rush to the service, through the service, and away from the service. Then we wonder why we didn’t get anything out of the service! We are in great need of “simplicity and godly sincerity” ( 2 Cor. 1:12). We need rid of the idea that we assemble to entertain or to be entertained. Our concern should be to exalt Christ, edify the saints, and evangelize the sinners. Heart felt singing touches hearts and has the power to change lives.

Sadly it is a major undertaking to get some folks to sing. Some never utter a word and others just mumble through the lyrics. Some sing lovely and loud, but not from the heart. That’s tragic. God deserves better. Most Christians don’t intend to fail at this. They just get in a rut. We just get so caught up in life that we get distracted from what’s most important. We tend to blend in to what is generally considered normal Christianity – although it is anything but normal. We allow average to become acceptable even though it isn’t acceptable to God. An old song says, “I’d like to go back to that old country church to hear the songs of praise”. We can’t go back in time, but there’s no reason why we can’t recapture the spirit of those days. There won’t be a change however unless there is a longing for it. Just about everyone would say they enjoy the singing I’ve described and if that’s true of you that’s the way you ought to be singing – with all your heart. It’s how you sing, not how well you sing, that matters most.- HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346