The first gospel proclamation came to humble shepherds in a field. With all the fanfare and glories of heaven surrounding them, they received the song of “peace on earth.” This peace came in the form of a baby boy, born to a teenager surrounded by beasts of burden. This God-Man would be the key to peace on earth for all people.
The Song of Zechariah is compiled of almost no original material. After nine months of no talking, Zechariah’s lips are loosed and he sings the praises of God for his Messiah. With nothing but Old Testament memory, Zechariah shows how God fulfills all his promises. God’s people have been rescued, and Zechariah’s own son will prepare the way for this Messiah child.
Mary's Song shows us everything we need to know about the blessing God gives and should be given. He is blessed because he is our Savior. He is blessed for who and what He is. And He is blessed for His promises fulfilled to us. In the Song of Mary, we have all the lyrics for the magnifying of God.
Our lives are fragile and finite. Death comes for all of us. But God has revealed that eternity awaits. We have the offer of grace in Jesus Christ so that we can live in confidence that our future is secure. Trust him today.
As sinners living in a fallen world, God is constantly exposing our need for grace. He has provided it vertically for us in the person of Jesus Christ. He then graciously empowers us to administer grace horizontally to one another in our journey home.
Whether it's life's problems, relational conflict, or spiritual decisions when things are ignored or allowed to linger they get worse, not easier. This is true whether we're resisting legalism, dealing with sin, or trusting Christ. Ask hard question, do hard things, and rest in Jesus finished work.
Job wants to plead before God. But he feels inadequate. He reasons from 4 different angles: If I could stand before God, what would I say? If I say I’m innocent, we both know I’m not/ If I fight for my joy, it still would be incomplete. If only I had a mediator, then I could be at peace with God. Without a mediator, no amount of tradition or religion will bring us hope. Jesus is the Mediator.
It's hard to know when and how to give encouragement to those who are hurting. We can learn from Job and Eliphaz that assumptions block our ability to gain insight, shame blocks our message of grace, and pride hinders the opportunity to show compassion.
Sometimes it's too dark to see, too hard to hope, and to painful to find rest. In those times, we pour out our souls to God, who cares and understands. He is deeper than our pit.
The context of suffering is not only difficult but complex. Wise friendship saves the lectures and enters the pain. Comfort comes as we share the emotional and spiritual load and ease whatever burdens we can. All of this is possible because Jesus not only understand our pain, but bears it for us.
God is all sovereign and gives us both prosperity and adversity. Tests are inevitable and more will be coming. Don't be surprised. Don't be disillusioned. Our prayer is for God to increase our faith and keep us from lowering our view of Him.
God gives us everything we have. We will leave this earth with nothing, but our souls for which we are accountable. In the meantime, we live on what he has let us borrow. Let's live lives of contentment in Christ and glory to God.
God is sending and allowing things to come into our lives that we don't anticipate but are best. Job will remind us that there is an invisible reality and a sovereign God overseeing all of life and working it together for the good of his people.
Christ has fulfilled the law for us. So we have liberty to enjoy the life he gives. This liberty can be fully enjoyed only as we realize we are connected to our fellow believers, we are accountable to God for actions, and we are individuals with differing convictions.
God promises a place with Him forever through faith in his son Jesus Christ. We will be with Him at death or when He returns to Earth. Ultimately he will renew our world and bring heaven to earth forever.
Worry and fear are slave masters that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection frees us from. He empowers us to turn our worry list into our prayer list, choose joy in any circumstance, and become contagious witnesses to the truth that Jesus is enough.
Jesus was the most humble and submissive person to ever live. He humbly submitted to death for us. He now calls us to follow his example in being people who submit rather than resist. Submitting to God and submitting to right authority.
Because Christ has bore our sins, we can stop respecting shame and start sharing it with those who understand. Because Christ alone is qualified to shame, we can stop judging others and start cultivating compassion.
This is an extremely pivotal time to be a Christian. It’s an extremely crucial time to be a faithful follower of Jesus. We must be the church in the world to the world without being influenced by the world. We must stand fast without compromise on the word of God and be faithful and bold in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus. Lines are being drawn in our culture and some of those lines are very blurry. But for the follower of Jesus the lines are very clear. Those who are rooted in the word of God w...
When David collaborates with his son on the 72nd it will be his final song. Solomon will pen the prayer that was prayed for him by his father for a kingship marked by justice, flourishing, dominion, and blessing fueled by attentive empathetic love. But the prayer will become a complete reality only in King Jesus who leads sacrificially with love and justice drawing God’s children to Himself while transforming us to live and look like Him.
Might our exhaustion of striving melt away as we climb onto the back of Jesus our King of Glory and watch Him transform us into a generation who truly seek Him with deep hunger. Maybe you don’t even feel like you can stand up, let alone ascend the mountain of God and stand in the presence of God. There isn’t a mountain in this universe too high for the King of Glory to climb. Climb on His back and rest your weary bones.
No one can wash away our sin but God. In Psalm 32 we learn the joy of forgiveness, the agony of guilt and shame, the relief of confession, a prayer for protection, and the wisdom of instruction.
In this life, there will always be authorities refuse to submit themselves to God. Instead they lead in their own carnal desires, selfish pride, and godless standards. The collateral damage of this can be severe but the hope of the promised King of kings remains our hope no matter who is king.
God is a refuge, a strength, and very present help in all trouble. This is a promise of his power and his presence for all who trust his sovereign care. We experience this care by remembering his past works, reflecting on his present workings, and resting in his future promises.
God never promises to prevent danger from coming against us—he promises to protect us in the midst of danger. Yet his protection is not in the form of prosperity nor possessions. It’s in the form of a person—Jesus Christ, the crucified, risen, and ascended Almighty Son of God.
When God brings custom made crisis into each of our lives it is designed for us, not our circumstances. We are able to receive it as grace as we trust God's love, receive new perspective, and reflect on his care for us in Christ.
When telling people about Jesus: Start where they are and develop need, use the familiar to get across anything unfamiliar, be clear and logical, and apply it personally and effectively.
Story is one of the best ways to learn spiritual truth. Jesus was a master storyteller. A great example is Mark 4:1-20 and the parable of the sower, seed, and soil. What type of soil are you?
When communicating the Bible, first, make sure the text is observed, explained, and applied. Second, keep the text central. Third, Illustrate any difficult ideas with personal/relevant material.
