Today’s Walk in the Word

You shall name him Jesus.            —Matthew 1:21 Parents-to-be give serious thought to the name of their baby-to-be. The baby’s name isn’t a trivial tag. It establishes an identity that will follow the child from the cradle to the grave—and beyond. Mary and Joseph weren’t asked what their baby’s name would […]

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.                               —Luke 2:11 In 1739, Charles Wesley wrote the lyrics to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. In 1753, Wesley’s friend, George Whitefield, altered […]

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 some viewers, network officials asked Schulz to omit the “Christmas story.” Schulz […]

On earth peace, goodwill toward men.                          —Luke 2:14 Edmund Sears was depressed. The United States and Mexico were struggling in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). And Europe was staggering under the weight of the numerous revolutions of 1848. It seemed to […]

You will find a baby lying in a manger.                            —Luke 2:12 Walking to his one-room apartment after a midnight Christmas Eve service in New York City in 1934, Robert MacGimsey passed the open door of a pub. The raucous swearing was, he […]

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart.         —Hebrews 4:7 God singled out Moses and saddled him with a heavy mission: “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Ex 3:10). God singled out Saul and saddled him with a distasteful […]

Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin.                   —Matthew 18:7 St. Bernard of Clairvaux resolved that his actions must pass three tests: Is it lawful? Can I do it and not sin? Is it becoming in me as a Christian? Can […]

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.                            —Psalm 106:1 If only my spouse was more understanding. If only my child was more respectful. If only I didn’t have to deal with such jerks. If only I had more money. Does […]

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.                               —Psalm 103:8 The world puts the rich, charismatic, articulate, and connected on a pedestal. But Jesus seemed partial to the marginalized, outcasts, and nobodies. See him […]

The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.                 —1 Peter 5:8 Raymond Brown was a postman. One day, he had a letter to deliver to a new resident on his route. When he started up the walk, he was confronted by the […]