Paula Wiseman

Faith and life meet in a story

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The Gifts: Myrrh

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Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

For a couple of weeks now, we’ve been considering the three gifts the wise men brought to Jesus. Matthew calls them treasures which implies the value of the gifts.

The third treasure was myrrh.

Why myrrh?
Like frankincense, myrrh was well-known and highly sought after in the ancient world. It was also a resin made from the sap of a particular type of tree, Commifora myrrha. This tree was found in the same areas that the Boswellia trees are found. And like frankincense, the myrrh was probably worth more, pound for pound, than the gold.

Myrrh was used as a medicine. It had germ-killing properties as well as being a painkiller. Jesus was offered a mixture of myrrh and sour wine (vinegar and gall in some translations), which He refused. (Mark 15:39).

The recipe for the sacred incense in Exodus list myrrh as an ingredient. But since the Ancient Egyptians began embalming bodies, myrrh was used in the process. When Joseph of Arimathea was given the body of Jesus, Nicodemus brought seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes to anoint the body. No matter what percentage of that seventy-five pounds was myrrh, it was an extravagant gesture born of love and devotion to Christ. It is speculation but it is possible that the myrrh and frankincense were included in the spices Mary and the other women brought to the tomb on Resurrection morning.

Each week, we have mentioned that if we wanted to be wise, we would follow the wise men’s example. First, we should do everything we can to get ourselves into the presence of Jesus. The next step is to recognize that He is king. The third step is to fall down and worship Him. Last, open our treasures.

What if we haven’t been to Africa lately for a fresh supply of myrrh?
We can make this season a time of healing. Relationships, past hurts, losses. We can take the first steps to reach out. If that seems too risky, let this be a time to give the wounds to the One who was wounded for our transgressions. Even if we don’t receive full restoration or reconciliation, we can leave our burdens at the foot of the cross.

Introduce the Great Physician to those who have never experienced the ultimate healing from the damage done by the Fall. Recall the words of Isaiah, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” (Isaiah 9:2) We encounter people walking in darkness every day.

Experience the peace and stillness that comes from knowing He is God and beside Him, there is no other. (Isaiah 45:6). He has called you by name. You belong to Him. (Isaiah 43:1)

So in this final week before Christmas, what healing will you offer to those around you? What healing do you need to seek for yourself?

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

The healing began at Christmas.

This is my last post until after the first of the year. May you and yours know
the joy of the shepherds,
the worship of the wise men and
the wonder of Immanuel this Christmas.


Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!

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Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.”

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.”

Hail, the heaven born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.”

Charles Wesley, 1739

Read John 1:1-16

(This hymn was written just a year after Wesley’s conversion, so it is one of his first. It rings with the fresh wonder of a new believer, of someone freshly grasping the wonder of the incarnation that resulted in our salvation and justification. May we be gripped anew by that wonder this Christmas! Merry Christmas!)

Living Water for Christmas

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You will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation (Isaiah 12:3).

Springs of salvation.
Springs of living water.

At Christmas, we think more of ice and snow than water.
But living water is exactly what we need.

For my people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves— cracked cisterns that cannot hold water. (Jeremiah 2:13)

At Christmas, we remember how important hope is.
How much we need a miracle.

“But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.” (John 4:14)

At Christmas, we realize Jesus is the miracle.

The Gifts: Frankincense

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Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

We’re thinking about the three gifts the wise men brought to Jesus. Matthew calls them treasures which implies the value of the gifts. Last week we opened up the gold.

The second treasure was frankincense.

Why frankincense?
For over 6,000 years frankincense has been traded throughout the Near East. It is dried sap from one particular kind of tree, the Boswellia sacra, that grows in remote locations in places like Oman, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The best frankincense is silvery-white in color and was usually reserved for sultans. In fact, pound for pound, the frankincense was probably worth more than the gold. Ancient people valued it because it was thought to have medicinal properties and it could ward off snakes (and evil spirits). But it most noted because it smelled terrific.

The ancient world, the world even a hundred years ago could be a pretty stinky place, and not just from livestock. Trades like leatherwork and fishing were smelly. Burning trash is smelly. Disease and death also have odors. And in a time without deodorant and mouthwash, people were smelly.

Even more important, in Exodus 30:34, frankincense is listed as one of the ingredients in the holy incense to be used in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. However, the recipe came with a warning that it was for worship only. The incense was a powerful sensory reminder of prayer, constant prayer, that was lifted to God and received as a wonderful aroma.

Last week, we mentioned that if we wanted to be wise, we would follow the wise men’s example. First, we should do everything we can to get ourselves into the presence of Jesus. The next step is to recognize that He is king. The third step is to fall down and worship Him. Last, open our treasures.

What if we haven’t been to Oman lately for a fresh supply of frankincense?
Make this season one of prayer. Prayers of thanksgiving. Prayers of praise and adoration. Prayers of intercession. Paul encouraged the believers in Thessalonica to pray without ceasing. Jesus also encouraged His followers to be faithful in prayer. In fact, Luke 18 begins, “Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up.”

God is honored by our prayers because each one acknowledges Him as the One able to meet our needs and intervene in the situations we lay before Him. Seeking Him in prayer identifies Him as we praise and worship. It attests that we recognize our limits and His complete sufficiency. Prayers are a treasure fit for our Savior and king.

But here’s another treasure. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 that God spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Christ everywhere through us. We are the fragrance of Christ.

So this week as you celebrate Christmas, what sweet fragrance of prayer can you offer? Where can you bring the aroma of the knowledge of Christ? Don’t keep the treasures to yourself.

Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

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Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today!
Man and beast before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now:
Christ is born today,
Christ is born today!

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven’s door,
And man is blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this,
Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Now ye need not fear the grave :
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save,
Christ was born to save!

14th c. Latin/ German, Translated by John Mason Neale, 1853

Read Psalm 97

(Rejoice! It is easy to be overwhelmed by everything that goes with Christmas, but at its core, the message is and always has been, Rejoice! The savior is born! Rejoice with heart and soul and voice! News this wondrous cannot be kept silent. May you experience that great joy today and every day!)

Here’s another Christmas favorite: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Advent Means Preparation

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“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (Malachi 4:5-6)

These were the last words in the Old Testament.
Then for 400 years, God was silent.

When He spoke again, Gabriel said these words to Zacharias:

He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.” (Luke 1:16-17)

Before the Advent comes the preparation.

How do we prepare?
Do we realize the importance of right relationships with those closest to us?
Do we understand that righteousness is the best course of action, that God lays out His standards because they are good for us?
Are we ready to receive Him?

Christmas is several days away. The coming of Christ in power and glory is in the future.
But Advent is now.
Are we prepared?

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