Luke 2:12 “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” [ESV] When the angel appeared to the shepherds, they certainly had no fore-warning. They were quietly watching over their flocks when the glory of the Lord appeared. The Continue Reading…
Luke 2:10-11 “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” [ESV] Taxes…lots of taxes. Political power on steroids. A religious establishment Continue Reading…
Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The contrast could not be sharper. Jesus’ arrival and departure on earth paint stark differences. Mary’s kiss of affection on her baby’s cheek is replaced with Judas’ greedy kiss of betrayal. Adorned in Continue Reading…
Luke 2:35 “…And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” I recently had opportunity to attend the annual Christmas concert at the college where I teach. The joy of the season emanated through every song, but there was one arrangement that especially touched me. Mary Did You Know? Continue Reading…
Luke 2:15-16 “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off….’” Leave your sheep and leave your lambs. Leave your Continue Reading…
Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” Do You Hear What I Hear? You’re probably familiar with this seasonal melody. It was written in Continue Reading…
Luke 7:16 “…God visited his people.” (ESV) A number of years ago we received a calendar from some missionary friends living in France. The December scripture was taken from this passage in Luke 7: “Dieu a visite son peuple.” I remember thinking how much that verse captured the essence Continue Reading…
John 1:10 “He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.” No one could ever accuse Jesus of maintaining the status quo…. From the outset of his birth…the long-expected Messiah came to the world in the most unexpected of ways. Continue Reading…
Luke 10:4 “Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.” How much room do you have in your heart this season for Jesus? When my son flies home from Nashville to Pennsylvania, he typically jams all his belongings into a Continue Reading…
John 4:10 “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’” Jesus told the Samaritan woman that he would have given her even more than she Continue Reading…