Today’s Walk in the Word

We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.             —Matthew 2:2 Charles Schulz’s A Charlie Brown Christmas made its television debut on December 9, 1965. Fearing that quoting the Bible would offend viewers, network officials asked Schulz to omit the “Christmas story.” Schulz refused. […]

Give up your old way of life with all its bad habits.    —Ephesians 4:22 Charles Dickens’ novella, A Christmas Carol, is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, described as “a tight-fisted, wrenching, grasping, scraping, covetous, old sinner!” “Merry Christmas, uncle!” shouts his nephew. “Bah! Humbug!” growls Scrooge. “Every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ […]

What do you have that God hasn’t given you?                             —1 Corinthians 4:7 Nativity scenes commonly display a gaggle of shepherds staring at the manger and three wise men presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. There’s a French production that is […]

Give him your [body] as a living sacrifice.                          —Romans 12:1 The Little Drummer Boy is a seasonal favorite, with its oft-repeated drumbeat, “pa rum pum pum pum.” It’s the fictitious tale of a young boy being summoned by the Magi to the scene […]

[God] did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us.     —Romans 8:32 O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi is the love story of Jim and Della, each wanting to give the other a special Christmas gift—but they had no money. Jim’s prized possession is a gold pocket watch; Della’s […]

Be on your guard against all covetousness.                                —Luke 12:15 Solomon had a boatload of money; his daddy left him a bundle, and he made piles of it on his own. He handled his inheritance well, using a significant chunk of […]

The Lord will guide you always.                   —Isaiah 58:11 Has your GPS ever sent you on a weird course? Mine has. I recently voiced an address—I knew the way to the area, but not the specific location in that neighborhood. I got wacky directions from the get-go. […]

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.                  —Deuteronomy 31:8 “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a hundred times!” Once, when my mother said that, I smart-mouthed, “If I’ve heard you say that once, I’ve heard you say it a hundred times.” Believe me, I […]

You will keep in perfect peace those [who] trust in you.         —Isaiah 26:3 How’re you doing? “Well, except for . . .” If you can finish that sentence, you’re not OK. Worrying and Complaining are twin sisters that keep us on edge. Is there any way to defeat these sister-sins? Yes. […]

You will take me into glory.             —Psalm 73:24 Psalm 73 specifies Asaph’s problem—and its solution. The problem. Asaph’s problem is not uncommon: “My feet had almost slipped . . . for I envied the arrogant when I saw [their] prosperity” (vv. 2–3). Asaph was jealous of the fat cats. […]