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As I shared in a previous post, the story of the wise men is always a highlight of the Christmas story for me. Yes, we all know the story of how they brought their gifts to Jesus…

“After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. 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 2:9–11, HCSB)

Certainly, the first and primary meaning of the wise men involves the birth of Christ and the salvation He brought. Like the wise men, when you see the light, come to Jesus!  However, I believe that there is another very simple but yet powerful lesson from the wise men we can all use this Christmas season… 

NO MATTER WHAT, BRING YOUR GIFTS TO JESUS.

That’s it. No matter what, worship Jesus, pray to Jesus, love Jesus.  No matter what, bring your gifts to Jesus.

Perhaps you are one of the fortunate people who will read this blog and couldn’t imagine life being much better. You are blessed, healthy, and happy.  You are positive about life and you really don’t have any real point of pain at present in your life.  If that describes you, then no matter what, bring your gifts to Jesus.  He is the reason for every blessing and the Giver is far greater than any gift.

However, the overwhelming majority of those who read this blog post will have a point of pain in their life. Some will have crushing pain and a broken heart:  a marriage that ended this year,  the first Christmas without a loved one,  a child that is on the wrong track, constant family conflict, never-ending financial pressure, a struggle with depression, etc.  For most of us, we don’t have a crushing pain, but we do have some pain – some situation(s) that we wish with all of our heart were different.  The approach of Christmas Day is a painful approach.

Like the wise men, no matter what, bring your gifts to Jesus.

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 18:22, ESV)

Today my wife Becky and I celebrated our 20th anniversary.  On December 18, 1993 at Rainsville First Baptist Church we became husband and wife, beginning a wonderful journey together. Here we are a few weeks ago. She gets prettier by the year, doesn’t she?

Becky is the best Christian I know. She is a wonderful wife. She is a wonderful mother.  She is a wonderful pastor’s wife.  I am grateful for every day of life with her, and I am looking forward to many more.  After 20 years of marriage, it’s almost like we are just getting started! God is good.  While I certainly do not claim to be an expert, I do wish to share six reflections on marriage that have helped us over the years…

1)   Don’t expect your spouse to be perfect.  Extending grace is an important aspect of marriage.

2)  Focus on meeting the needs of your spouse before you focus on your own needs.

3)  Work hard on your marriage just like you work hard on other things in life.

4)  Forgive.  Nothing is worth living in bitterness toward your spouse.

5)   NEVER criticize your spouse in front of other people.

6)   Pray for your spouse and with your spouse.

The story of the wise men is one of my personal favorite parts of the Christmas story in the Bible…

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;” (Matthew 2:1–3, ESV)

Who were the wise men?   The term “wise men” translates the Greek magi and very likely refers to men who were among the most highly educated, prestigious leaders of the ancient world.  Most Bible scholars believe they traveled to Israel from Babylon – the area that is modern day Iraq. It’s 1000 miles due east of Israel.  In their studies, they had come across the Hebrew scriptures which predicted when the Messiah would be born. Remember, hundreds of years earlier, Daniel and his friends had been taken into captivity in Babylon and likely were the source of much of the information the wise men had.  In the book of Daniel chapter 9 there is an incredible prophecy that predicted the exact time the Messiah was going to born.  They saw the star and knew that it was a sign from God that the Messiah had been born. However, the wise men did not know where the Messiah was going to be born, so they logically came to Jerusalem and had the famous conversation with Herod.  Then, a wonderful event happened. They saw the star again…

“After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:9–11, ESV)

The wise men saw the light and came to Jesus. It’s that simple.  Take a few moments and read John 1:1-14 and see how the birth of Christ is portrayed there as a light shining into a dark world.  The wise men are literal examples of those who see the light of Christ and come to Him. Even as I type these words, I get excited because of the reality of my salvation.  As an eight year old boy, I saw the light of Christ and came to Jesus. Did I see a star like those guys?  No.  Actually, I “saw the light” in that I understood who Jesus is and I understood my sinfulness and need for a Savior. You see, light enables us to see.  Once I saw Jesus and saw myself – I placed my faith in Him as Savior.  In August 1978, Greg Corbin saw the light and came to Jesus.  Praise the Lord!

Perhaps you are reading this blog and you are not a Christian. I would love to connect with you and help you along the road to faith in Him. Go to the “contact” section of this blog and I would love to hear from you.

This is Thanksgiving week, and at some point along the way this week, each of us will likely think about how we should be more thankful.  The truth is that it is difficult in to be thankful in our American culture that breeds dissatisfaction on every hand. We have to work at thankfulness.  No question there. Probably the great teaching the Bible regarding thankfulness is found in Psalm 100…

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:1–4, ESV)

These verses certainly have much to teach us about giving thanks. However, I believe the most important truth is easy to miss.  Did you notice why we can make a joyful noise and serve the Lord with gladness?  Verse 3 is the answer to that question: because we know the Lord is God. He is the Creator. He made us.  The reason we can do these things is because of God himself. He is the sovereign creator and ruler over this world and each of us.  Think about it.

In addition, Psalm 100 ends with a great declaration of God…

“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5, ESV)

The reason that verses 1-4 are true is because verse 5 is true.  Think about it.  Because verse 5 is true, then we are driven to do the things described in verses 1-4.  You see, in the Bible, giving thanks is more than just saying an obligatory prayer at the family gathering.  Biblical thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart that overflows into words and works of praise to God.  Once we recognize God for who He is and we surrender to Him, love Him, serve Him, seek Him, and fear Him, only then can we truly be thankful.

Have you ever wondered why there is such discontent and a lack of thankfulness in our country today?  Actually it is entirely predictable if we study the Bible. So many in our culture have jettisoned the Biblical teaching of creation in favor of evolution and a secular worldview that permeates everything.  Certainly, one result is the moral revolution (for the worse) that our country has experienced in recent decades. However, the lack of satisfaction and thankfulness in America today can be traced directly to a culture that has left God and wants nothing to with Him. How do I know that?  Just read Psalm 100:3 again.  If there is no Creator, there is no reason to give thanks and be content; all that matters is my life and what I want.
Think about it.

Don’t miss the other side of the Psalm 100 coin.  Since we KNOW the Creator, then we CAN give thanks and serve Him. There is a reason to be thankful if we know the Lord, and it is far, far more than simply, “Lord, thank you for my stuff.”  Oh Lord, help us understand this Thanksgiving that the giver is far better than any gift!

For many Christians, next week is very positive. It’s Thanksgiving week. It’s a short work week and a time to gather with family.  Oh yes, there’s quite a bit of food involved too!  However, for some Christians, the very thought of Thanksgiving week is almost unbearable. How could that be?  If you have ever experienced the first Thanksgiving without a loved one at the table, you know exactly what I mean.  For others, this is the first Thanksgiving after a crushing divorce, and still others are wondering if a struggling adult child will even show up for Thanksgiving dinner.  Others are dealing with a cancer diagnosis or great job uncertainty.  Let’s be honest, there are many people (even many Christians) who don’t feel like Thanksgiving right now.  Their pain is very real. They feel that they are on the verge of totally losing hope. What do you do when you don’t feel like Thanksgiving?

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV)

Don’t recoil at reading this verse. It doesn’t say what you THINK it says.  It’s doesn’t say give thanks “for” all circumstances, but rather it says to give thanks “in” all circumstances. That is an extremely important distinction.  Here’s what I mean.  A very good friend of mine recently buried his wife after an excruciating battle with cancer.  He is not thanking God that his wife died.  That is a crushing hurt that only those who have been there know. However, he is giving thanks for God’s faithfulness.  Do you see the difference?   My friend is giving thanks “in all circumstances.”  If we really believe what we say we believe as Christians, we have much to be thankful to our great God for – even if He allows tragedy to touch our lives.  For instance, no matter our circumstances, we can be thankful for God’s love and mercy which was displayed on the cross and extended to us as His children.  No matter our circumstances, we can be thankful that we know without reservation our faith will end in sight and we will live with our Savior forever.  The truth is that even in this life, God has blessed us abundantly more than we ever could deserve.  He is faithful.  He is good. He is Lord.  THAT is why we can give thanks in all circumstances.

So, what do you do when you don’t feel like Thanksgiving?  You must consciously choose to give thanks to God.  Choose to give thanks, even if everything in you feels like giving up. You’ll be glad that you did!

Thank you all for your prayers during this time of transition. The first few weeks at Lakeside have gone very well. Day by day, Lakeside feels more like “home.”  I have had several people ask me about sermons on the church website. I am happy to report that they are now current after our Media Services Director, James Carr, overcame a number of issues along the way to get the website updated, etc.   You can view my most recent messages weekly at…

http://lakesidebaptist.com/pages/media.htm

Finally, don’t forget to join me in praying for the My Hope with Billy Graham emphasis.  The gospel went out to millions last night on the Fox News Channel and thousands of families and churches are hosting My Hope events that are designed to reach out to those who don’t know Christ. In our own church, I am happy to report that we have fifty families who have committed to reach out and attempt to share the gospel in this way.  I am praying that we will see many thousands come to know Christ during the month of November.  If you aren’t familiar or would like more information, you can visit their great website…

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As most readers of this blog are aware, I haven’t posted in some time because I have been transitioning to the role of Senior Pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham. I’ve now had two full weeks in the office at Lakeside and will soon have my second Sunday in the pulpit as pastor, so I can at least breath a little bit and begin to feel like I have some kind of routine.  The first two weeks have been a blur, but they have also been a joy.

Moving to a new church is exciting and filled with expectancy, but it is never easy to transition.  However, many churches and pastors are in transition right now. Our Alabama Baptist State Convention tells us that on an average day, there are between 150-200 Alabama Baptist churches who are searching for a pastor.  It’s not just me and Lakeside who are transitioning.  Interestingly, literally at the very same time I was in the pulpit preaching in view of a call to Lakeside, my friend Allen Hays was preaching in view of a call to Calvary Baptist Church in Scottsboro.  Just yesterday I received a call from a fellow pastor in the state who is considering a move to another place of ministry. It happens all the time.  In light of this fact, I thought I would share a handful of truths that I have learned about churches and pastors…

(1)   Every church is unique and has its own personality.   Remember, there is a reason why the Bible refers to “the church in Sardis” and “the church at Ephesus” and so on. Every church is located in a geographical and cultural context, but every church also has a history and membership that is unique to the individual church.  This is why it is imperative for a new pastor to get to know his new church.  As a new pastor, you are joining a family of believers that you need to get to know and who need to get to know you. It takes time for relationships to bond and trust to develop.  Years ago, I heard a wise pastor say, “You have to love what is and then envision what can be.”

(2)  Every church has challenges.  Certainly, a church that has been declining in attendance for years has many challenges, but so does a church that has been growing consistently.  There are challenges if your church is in a rural area, and there are challenges if your church is located in a metropolitan area.  There are challenges in being a small church with no staff, and there are challenges in being a larger church with many staff members.  Don’t let the fact that your church faces challenges discourage you. Just know that your church is normal!  Simply reading the New Testament will quickly prove that even the earliest churches had difficulties.

(3)  Every church has been shaped by its leaders.  Let’s face it; most churches have had multiple pastors in their history.  Most Christians have had multiple pastors as they have attended church over the years.  Every pastor has his own set of gifts, strengths, and weaknesses. Therefore, one pastor may have been especially loved by one group of members, while another pastor meant more to some other members.  This is just human nature and shouldn’t surprise any of us. It only becomes a problem when it becomes a source of division in the church…

“For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:4–7, NKJV)

The truth is that any pastor is really only a “minister through whom you believed.”  It’s God who saves. It is God who blesses. Our faith is in the Lord and never a man. At Lakeside Baptist, we have former pastors who are still members.  Dr. Richard Trader has served the church as interim pastor twice in the last six years.  Dr. Earl Tew served as pastor for over twenty years, and Dr. Mike McLemore pastored Lakeside for over twenty-five years. All of these men are still active members at Lakeside.  I am not threatened by their presence, but rather I am blessed by their presence. The Lord has used each one of them greatly during key seasons of the church’s life.  They are all personal friends and fellow pastors who have shaped and blessed Lakeside.

(4)   Every church has hope.  The hope of every church is the Lord of the church.  In Matthew 16:18, Jesus told us that the church is His church and He is building it. If your church is going through a discouraging time, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that a new pastor is the hope of your church. Fall on your knees and begin asking God to move in your church.  I have seen the Lord breath new life into dead churches.  Every church also has hope because every church can reach and disciple someone.  Certainly, some churches may have more opportunities than others due to their location, but every church can touch the life of someone. The gospel works. Jesus saves.  Get out into the harvest field and watch Him build His church!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. –  Proverbs 3:5-6  (NKJV)

Those verses have long been among my “life verses” but I have clung to them especially during the last few weeks. As many readers of this blog have already heard, on Sunday, September 22nd, I was called as Senior Pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in the Birmingham, Alabama area.  Actually, it’s the Acton Road exit off Interstate 459 if you want to get specific!   It was a glorious weekend with the Lakeside church family, and I am looking forward to getting started serving among those great servants of Christ. However, leaving our church family here at Whitesburg will be exceedingly difficult and sad for all of the Corbin family.  We have spent some of the happiest, best years of our lives here and love everyone at Whitesburg. Pray for us during this time of transition.  My first Sunday in the pulpit as Pastor at Lakeside will be October 20.

The main reason I am writing this post is to update readers on what God is doing in my life and ministry. Needless to say, I have just a few things going on right now!  I do plan to continue this blog/website while I serve at Lakeside, although I may retool and update it a little bit. Please be patient, and I will get back to blogging soon.  Thanks for your prayers!

““The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44–46, NASB95)

These famous parables of Jesus do not teach that a person may buy his salvation. The emphasis is on the value of finding Christ and being part of His kingdom.  The treasure in the field and the pearl of great price were so valuable that each of the men gladly sold every everything to obtain them. That’s the point – the value of Christ.  He is worth everything. He is more valuable than anything.  The Apostle Paul said the same thing only he did not use a parable…

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,” (Philippians 3:7–8, NASB95)

Years ago, I read a statement in a book that said too many people have the idea that Christ is the means to their treasure.  The truth is that Christ is the treasure. Nothing should stand in the way of your coming to faith in Him.  Don’t let a sin you want to hold onto or the opinion of other people keep you from surrendering to Christ. He is worth it all! No pleasure and no pursuit will mean more than Christ.  He is worth it all.  Treasure Him.  Come to saving faith in Christ today!

Finally, perhaps you are reading these words and you have been a believer for a number of years. Treasure Christ. Make sure He means more to you now than ever before!  Make sure you love Him more than ever before. You have followed Him, and it is worth it all!  Love Jesus, rejoice in Jesus, talk to Jesus, live like Jesus, and talk about Jesus.  He is not a means to your treasure, He is your treasure.