You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. —Luke 2:12 In our class-conscious day, the birth story of Jesus would be shocking to a first-time reader. If the Son of God were to enter the world as a baby, […]
No Room in the Inn Read More »
How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. —Ephesians 3:18 It’s hard to imagine that Jesus voluntarily went from being worshipped by angels to sleeping in an animal feeding trough—gave up equality with God to become human (Phil 2:6–7). At this season, we think about
Love That Surpasses Knowledge Read More »
The light shines in the darkness. —John 1:5 Much of the world pauses at this season to celebrate the birth of Jesus. “The Word [Christ] became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Jn 1:14). When John spoke of his coming to live
The Light Still Shines Read More »
A Savior has been born. —Luke 2:11 “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you” (Lk 2:10–11). The news was good. But that it would cause great joy for all the
Good News of Great Joy Read More »
By his wounds we are healed. —Isaiah 53:5 The dream was vivid—the whip whistled through the air and split Jesus’ flesh across bloody, gaping wounds already there from previous blows. As the soldier raised the Roman flagrum to strike again, the dreamer moved in to stop him.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial. —James 1:12 Duffy Daugherty was football coach at Michigan State 1954–1972. In demand as an after-dinner speaker, the colorful coach gave his rubber-chicken speech hundreds of times, proclaiming you only
We eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. —Galatians 5:5 Paul closed his love eulogy with the triad tribute: “Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor 13:13). Love gets top billing. But don’t slight faith and
Light at the End of the Tunnel Read More »
The cheerful heart has a continual feast. —Proverbs 15:15 I confess that I have a negative attitude toward Christians with a negative attitude. To be sure, there’s a bunch of rotten stuff going on in our world. But the Christian has reason to
Nullify the Negative Read More »
Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. –Philippians 2:3 It was on television for the world to see: our at-the-time president rudely shoving smaller-nation leaders out of the way so he
Ready or not, one day it will be over. There’ll be no more sunrises, sunsets, or birthdays. Position and possessions will be history. Whether you lived in a castle or a cottage will be irrelevant. All you accumulated, both treasures and trinkets, will pass to someone else. Your proficiency, polish, and pedigree will be meaningless.
