How wonderful that the Messiah was born long ago! That He lived back then and not now…in a culture far more respectful of life in general–and life in the Lord specifically–than we know today. Ages prior to the pro-life community’s appealing to God’s Word to choose life, the Lord held out His hands to His […]
If God’s Christmas List contains what He wants, not just at Christmas, but always, then fearing the Lord instead of man would be a big-ticket item. Joseph knew that. In the Christmas story, Joseph heard that Mary was pregnant and that meant shame. In their culture, Mary would be stoned to death for being pregnant […]
At the Annunciation—the angel’s proclamation from God to Mary about her becoming the mother of the Messiah—have you ever stopped to think about how Mary was reflecting back to God the beautiful Image of God in her? “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). Mary displayed […]
In the song “God’s Christmas List” which inspired this year’s Advent Devotional series, the second verse goes “As children we believed/ The grandest sight to see/ Was something lovely wrapped beneath the tree/ Well heaven surely knows/ That packages and bows/ Can never heal a hurting human soul” and then launches into what grown-ups would […]
In 2 Peter 3:9, we read that God wants everyone to come to repentance. It doesn’t matter if we’re a butcher, baker, candlestick maker, or even a priest. Since we all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), there’s repentance God wants from each and every one of us…individually. And sometimes, the means […]
Perhaps since I announced this year’s theme “God’s Christmas List” you’ve been thinking it’s mighty presumptuous to imagine God’s Christmas “Wish” List, especially since He doesn’t need anything. There are plenty of Scriptures that lay out clear as a Christmas bell what God wants. From you. From me. From us. He wants willing shepherds and […]
