The word science is only mentioned twice in the Bible, once in our text words and the second time in 1 Timothy 6:20, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:” and these two text words are typical of the foolish contest between so called ‘Religion’ and ‘Science’. In our text word we perceive that the godly man Daniel is also a man of science. Apparently, there was no conflict in Daniel between his love for God and his scientific knowledge, yet in Timothy the boot is on the other foot, for he was warned by the Apostle Paul to beware of the oppositions of science falsely so called. This statement of the Apostle Paul makes it clear that he thought the scientific oppositions only masqueraded under the name of science.

We should understand that science is the study of God’s Creation. What is bad about that? If an artist paints a picture and some people do not even bother themselves to look at it properly whilst others stop to study and admire his handiwork, with whom is the artist most pleased? Obviously with those who bother themselves to appreciate his work.

When the scientist Galileo used the newly invented telescope to enhance his study of the stars, he soon perceived that the earth and the other planets revolved around the sun, but his joyous and innocent publication of this truth caused only consternation and anger in the established Church of that time, because the ecclesiastics had already decided that the whole universe revolved around the earth. This is not written in the Bible, but nevertheless poor Galileo was threatened with torture and death by the Inquisition if he did not recant his statement, but recanting did not make that which was wrong right, and in the end, Galileo’s truthful statement triumphed over cruel and misguided religious bigotry.

When we regard the splendour and majesty of God’s universe on a clear and starry night and realize how infinitesimally small we are in comparison to the magnitude and vastness of God’s Creation on the cosmic scale, we cannot but be filled with wonder and humility that He who is so great can be so concerned and loving towards us who are so small. The words of that beautiful hymn “How great Thou art!” echo in our ears.

We see that the Lord’s disciples were on a journey, just as we are on a journey through life. When the storm hit them, it must have been very frightening, as they realized it was beyond their capabilities to put a stop to it or even survive it. We read when they realized this, they had enough sense to call on Christ, who they recognized as their Master. They did not just tell Him, but we see the sincerity in their desperation in the words “Master, Master, we perish”. We see how He exerted His power to order the storm be still and there was a calm. We can see that although the storm was over, it is recorded how they were afraid at the power they had witnessed and Christ said unto them, “Where is your faith?”

This was done as an example for us as we travel through life. The disciples must have been so thankful to have had Christ with them. We too, must ensure that we invite Christ into our lives each and every day. We do this when we start our day in prayer. We strengthen this within us as we attend divine service, take into our mind the Word of God preached, which is Christ, and take part of Him and His spirit in the partaking of Holy Communion. Many storms confront us in our lives, crisis times when we feel we cannot cope. Breakdown in communication in our married lives. The cares of the world. The worries. The fears etc. Do we continue on believing we can go it alone? We do not need help! Or as the disciples of the Lord, do we recognize that the situation is getting out of hand, and in all sincerity, call on the Master and confess to Him, “We perish!” In a marriage crisis, if this is done together, before the matter gets out of hand, the Lord will, as He did with that storm, rebuke the storm in our lives and we will inwardly hear His voice, “Peace be still”. As Christ had disciples in those days to wonder and speak of His healing power, so today He has chosen men to continue with this work, and these should be sought out in time of crisis if support is needed. A very good example of this, we read in Acts 27, where Apostle Paul was confronted with 273 souls on a boat that was about to be shipwrecked, and he prayed for them and said, “Be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you.” They held to his word and were saved. We see therefore how important it is for us always to have Christ with us, to recognize when we need help, to recognize Him as our Master, to call upon Him to confess that to believe He will help, without Him we perish, and to thank Him for His love. To fulfil this, we must recognize His right to also ask us the same question He asked His disciples on that night of the storm, “Where is your Faith?”

These words from Solomon imply that we have to spend time in our busy lives to learn from God’s words and ways. In any learning there must be a textbook. Of course, for us, that textbook is the Holy Bible. Like all textbooks certain parts teach us special things and some are more relevant to the problem in hand. Some advice on how to approach this textbook is as follows.

How to read the Bible.

1) Pray before reading that God will help you understand — It is His Book.

2) Read the passage carefully and look for God’s message to you.

3) Think about what you read and answer to yourself some of these questions.

(a) What does this teach about God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit?

(b) What is it teaching me about life? (Command, promise, warning, is a change required in me?)

(c) What future promises can I gain?

 Some helps are found for the following situations.

• Accused wrongfully – 1 Peter 3:16
• Knowing God’s will – Proverbs 3: 1-6
• Angry and resentful – Ephesians 4:26-32
• Loneliness and fear – Psalm 23
• Assurance with God – Romans 8
• Peace of mind – John 14:27; Philippians 4:6-8
• Bitterness to others – 1 Corinthians 13
• Persecution – 2 Corinthians 4:8-18 and 6:3-10
• Coping with loss – Job 1
• Rest and peace – Matthew 11:25-30
• Courage needed – Joshua 1:1-19
• Rules for conduct – Exodus 20:1-17
• Danger – Psalm 91
• Salvation – John 3:16
• Doubts –     Psalm 42; John 20:24-29
• Seeking joy –     Colossians 3
• Discouragement – Psalm 34
• Sickness – Psalm 41
• Disappointment in others – Psalm 27
• Sin and guilt – Psalm 51;1 John 1
• Faith – Hebrews 11
• Sorrow – John 14; Psalm 46
• Forgetting blessings – Psalm 103
• Temptation – 1 Cor.10:13; James 1:2-18
• Frustrated and envious – Psalm 37
• Travelling – Psalm 121
• Future reward – Revelation 21:4
• World seems bigger than God – Psalm 90
• God seems far away – Psalm 139
• Worry – Matthew 6:19-34
• Guidelines for living – Matthew 5-7
• Investments – Mark 10:17-31

Isaiah 34: 16-17 “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them. And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.”

These words of God given through King Solomon over 900 years before Christ came into the world are still as wisdom-filled today as when they were first inspired. If they could only be practiced in our homes, schools, workplaces, where-ever disputes are being negotiated, in our parliaments, and yes, even in our churches, we can easily see how much more peaceful our lives could be. Most parents have experienced how often a few well- chosen, quiet words do more in the chastisement of a wayward child than by many harsh words spoken. Our Heavenly Father, when speaking to mankind through His Spirit over the years, has also always spoken in love, for God is love, and we have all experienced how we respond to His corrections spoken or pointed out to us with gentleness much more than if we are forcibly told. When this happens, our immediate response is to “get our back up”. We should therefore learn by these things that happen to us and try then not to do the same things to others.

The Bible contains many examples of how our text word was proven right. We can read in Genesis 50 the story of how Joseph’s brothers had really mistreated him because of envy, and even sold him as a slave, put much sadness into ‘the hearts of his parents by telling them that he had died, and caused him so much distress that when the time came for them to have to go to him to seek food he was certainly in a position, and some would say today within his rights, to exercise his right to tell them what he thought of them – even reject them – but through the wisdom of God it is recorded he spoke in verse 21, “Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them and spake kindly unto them.” We can read of the many blessings that came to that family by those kindly words which turned away all the wrath. These blessings will also come to every family who will also follow that example.

Christ while on earth as recorded in John chapter 8 also used this wisdom to disperse a whole crowd of angry people when they brought the woman who had been taken in adultery to Him. This crowd had been stirred up by the scribes and Pharisees in an attempt, to tempt Christ into rejecting the law, which stated she should be stoned, so they could then accuse Him. We read how Christ simply stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, and when the time was right spoke softly the words, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”. This soft answer was enough to disperse the whole angry crowd, as they all out of conscience drifted away one by one. These examples of God’s wisdom are given to us so that we may all learn from them.

In the busy world we live in today, so often our text is forgotten, and we forget God’s blessings granted us. I read a report recently written by a Hospital Chaplain in England, which sums up our text. The report is as follows:

I used to be chaplain on the orthopaedic ward of our local hospital. All kinds of casualties ended up there. There were cases of window cleaners falling off ladders, lads tearing ligaments on football fields, farmers who’d been kicked by cows and revellers tripping over kerb stones after late-night parties. The ward was a cheerful place, full of jokes and laughter, because most of the men were not really ill. They were temporarily out of action and very bored. The nurses had a rough time of it, poor things, and were teased mercilessly by the men in plaster casts with nothing but six weeks of bed rest to look forward to.

One Monday morning, when I entered the ward, my eye was caught by the patient in the corner bed. He looked in a bad way. His legs were in traction, bandages covered his bare midriff, and his face was badly bruised. He must have been in a road accident, I thought. The patient was awake, so I started my ward chaplain routine. “You’ve been in the wars. How did it happen?” “I fell out of an aeroplane!” he said, with a faint grin. I admired his courage and decided to play along with the joke. “Heathrow or Gatwick?” I said. “None of the men in the ward believed me at first,” He sighed. “Even Casualty thought I was having them on. But I did, honestly. “Go on,” I said. “Tell me about it.” It was an incredible story, a miracle in fact. He’d been piloting a small aeroplane which was towing a glider. The glider tow rope had been released and he was bringing the plane around in readiness for landing. Just as he was on the point of touchdown a sudden, violent gust caused one of the wings to hit the grass landing strip. The entire plane rocketed forwards over the cliff edge and rolled upside down.

Quick as a flash, he released his seat belt, and seconds later he landed in a tree at the foot of the rocks, hitting his head, breaking a leg and wrist, and knocking himself unconscious. The next memory he had was of waking up in a hospital bed. “I must be the luckiest man in the world,” he said quietly, after finishing his story. Then he looked up. “There’s something you could do for me,” he said. “Would you say a thank you prayer for me?” So I pulled the curtains round the bed for privacy and said the Lord’s Prayer with him.

We often talk about “being lucky”. “I had a lucky escape,” we say, when somebody overtakes on a blind corner and we manage to avoid a collision by swerving at the last minute. Or “The little boy next door was lucky not to be run over.” And I’ve often heard people say, “Luckily I had a first-rate surgeon. He did a marvellous job on me.” Is it luck when things turn out well, or is it something more? Could it be that somebody is looking after us? I have a strong feeling that what we call luck is not luck at all, but God’s guiding hand watching over us. That’s why we should say a short prayer of thanks to God after a safe journey, or a successful operation, or a narrow escape and even more so when we fall out of an aeroplane and live to tell the tale!

It is hoped that this story will inspire us to remember that we should begin and finish every day in thanksgiving to the Lord, and especially remembering those added blessings granted to us.

This scene has often been relived over and over each year on cards and nativity scenes, but if we follow the Bible we will see that it has a profound meaning to all believers of this incarnate birth. It is often shown as happening on the night of his birth, but we can read that it was some time later that this event happened. Matthew 2:11. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him.” We see that the first group to worship our Lord were the Jewish Shepherds and those devout Jews in the temple and then these wise men of Gentile nations came later to worship Him, showing that He firstly came to save God’s people and then the whole world. These men that came were representatives of an age-old organisation at the time called “Magi”. It was a worldwide organisation made up of wise men who studied the signs and these were coordinated to bring wisdom   together to search the past and future events. They were as is it were the first scientists who coordinated their works. Today we would call them “International Scientific group”. They were made up of five classes.

1. The Hartummim, The expounders of Sacred writings and interpreters of Signs.
2. The Ashaphim, who were conjurers.
3. The Mekashiphim, who were magicians and diviners.
4. The Gozerim, who were astrologists.
5. The Kasdim, who were the Chaldeans or deep thinkers.

We can read in the days of Daniel the prophet how he was appointed by the king to become the chief or prince of this organisation. We today would say that it was the top Scientific organisation operating in the world at the time and how they were shown and believed in this event, the birth of the King of Kings by a virgin as God on Earth. It is a pity science today spends so much of its efforts in trying to prove that this and the happenings by God in this world could not have happened. What a different world it would be if science today would only seek its inspiration from GOD as did their forebears. (Matthew 2:10) “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Here was of course a profound reason why the wise men from the east, representing the whole world at the time, made the effort to journey all that distance to give gifts and praise to this child. We go back over 1000 years before this event to the days of a young King Solomon who had been told by God what was required of him in building the temple for God to dwell in and to judge God’s people. We read in 1 Kings Chapter 3 how earnestly Solomon prayed, not asking for riches or glory, but rather only for wisdom, understanding and judgement. It is recorded in 1 Kings 3:12, God’s answer, “Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.” God also told him that Kings and Queens and wise men would come before Solomon from everywhere to listen to the wisdom of Solomon and give him gifts. History in the bible shows this did happen.  Now God’s word must always be fulfilled and with the journey of the wise men those many years later to Bethlehem signalled clearly to the world that the word of God to Solomon has now come to an end, and as Christ Himself declared to the Jewish leaders in Matthew 12:42 “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgement with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon: and, behold,  a greater than  Solomon is here.” This was shown clearly to the Scientists of those days who worshiped the young child and gave Him gifts knowing that the most wise was now in the world. God always provides for those that love Him and we see that Joseph and Mary who were poor carpenters, were able to use the gifts left by the wise men to flee to Egypt and dwell in that land and to care for themselves and Jesus for almost a year before it was safe to return and dwell in Nazareth. God’s wisdom is now available to all who will make that journey, in childlike faith, to our Lord as did those wise men.

At this time of the year, many begin to consider obtaining gifts to pass to their loved ones and those less fortunate. It is a time when we consider the gifts given or offered to mankind by our Heavenly Father.

Since man was separated from God at the downfall, no flesh can stand in the presence of God and live. Exodus 33: 20 – 21, “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said, Behold there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock.” That rock of course is our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring about the rebirth to allow us to see God and live. How the Father has yearned for this over the years.

To make that day possible, the Father had to give us that greatest gift to become our rock. Luke 2:10-11, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Now Jesus was also given gifts at His birth, inspired by God, as shown in the text, for Him to pass on to believers when He ascended, that will allow us to prepare to be as Him for that great day when God’s last enemy, the corruption inherited by all, can be changed by our rock, 1 Corinthians 15:52, “In the moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised in corruptible, we shall be changed.” We review these gifts, all based on the Grace of Christ, and should commit ourselves to use them in our lives, so as not to offend the gift giver our Heavenly Father. Matthew 2:11,“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.” The gold represents a kingdom, and the entry is provided by baptism with water to redeem us from the inherited sin. This was passed to us by Christ to His Apostles recorded in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

Frankincense (Holy Spirit). John 20:22-23, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” The Holy Spirit promised as the power, to forgive our ongoing confessed sins.

The fullness of this gift was sent to the Apostles at Pentecost Myrrh, used to embalm bodies so they can be preserved. This represents Holy Communion for the remission of sins thus preserving our bodies to be able to be resurrected on the return of Christ.  To be as Him and being able to see the Father, face to face and live. This was passed to His Apostles recorded in Matthew 26:27-28, “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

We must use these gifts to prepare for the coming Kingdom.  As we consider gift giving or receiving during this time, let us never forget the greatest gifts from heaven. Truly we see the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham almost 4000 years ago.  Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

It is often asked if God is love, merciful, and almighty why He is allowing pain and suffering. The truth is good people and bad people will encounter pain and suffering. Matthew 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Many of us have already experienced pain and suffering in our life.

Many prophets suffered and were persecuted, such as Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, and Job.
How to deal with pain and suffering? The answer is “Patience and endurance”. Romans 5:3-5 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

We should learn from the life of Job. When we read the book of Job we divide it into three parts.

1. Job 1-2. Job has no idea about his suffering. But this world is the reality of the physical and spiritual world.
2. Job 3-37. Human reasons. Why are people suffering? They are arguing why Job is suffering.
3. Job 38-39. Divine response. How do we solve the problem of the mystery of suffering? God knows the best? God is sovereign to solve our suffering. Job 33:12 “Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.”
God never explains to Job why he is suffering. God answered Job’s question not by explaining about the devil, the world, and about all those. He simply answered Job’s questions by His presence and by showing Job who He is. And Job discovered and said, Lord you are the all mighty, Lord of Lord, and you know the best. The greatest blessing of Job was the intimacy with God. Job 42:5 “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now my eye seeth thee.” Job obeyed even in the midst of suffering, and he endured and trusts God. He worships God even in pain and Job prays for his other friends. That is true repentance. He surrenders his life to do what God wanted him to do. And God restored, Job’s fortune doubles. Job is indeed a righteous man. Job no doubt took comfort in the Lord’s promise of a peaceful kingdom coming to all who wait on the Lord. Job 19: 25-27  “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”
We have to learn how to cling on to God in the midst of pain and suffering because He is faithful. We have to cling on to His goodness because He is omnipotent and omniscient. God knows everything and God knows the best for us. We may not understand our suffering as Job. But we have to trust and cling on to God because He knows the best for us, He loves us, we have to entrust our whole being to God as Job. James 5:11, You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord’s dealings that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth.”