Moments For You

The nativity is one of the best-known stories in history. Asked to describe the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, most people could probably give the basic components of the story: An angel tells a young virgin she’s going to give birth to the Savior of the world…. Mary and Joseph travel... Read more →

“In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13-14). Paul, the human author of these words, is saying that when you listened to... Read more →

I have done my share of grumbling about the way Christmas shopping seems to begin earlier every year. But, to be honest, in my own way I’m much worse than the advertisements and stores. I vote for an early Christmas. A very early Christmas. Isaiah Isaiah would understand what I... Read more →

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Paul urges us to cleanse ourselves. The matter of growing in holiness, of cleansing the dirtiness and defilement in our conduct... Read more →

“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the... Read more →

When Abraham and Sarah believed the promise that God would give them a son, they didn’t get pregnant immediately. In fact, there was a 25-year gap between when God made the promise they’d have a son and when Sarah got pregnant. Now, 25 years is a long time to wait... Read more →

Jesus underwent a human birth so that we who believe on Him might have a heavenly birth. (Luke 2:11; John 1:12) Jesus took His place in a manger in a stable, so that we might have heavenly mansions. (Luke 2:7; John 14:2) Jesus became a member of a human family... Read more →

Christians have the bad habit of isolating Bible verses from their appropriate context, and then claiming the verse as a promise God has given to them personally. In many cases, the promise gives tremendous comfort to us in the moment, but it’s been taken out of context so it’s a... Read more →

One tragedy of the first Christmas is that so many came close to Christmas yet missed it all. There were the political leaders of the time, the innkeeper, Herod, and the religious leaders. But that is only half the story. The shepherds to whom the angels appeared while they were... Read more →

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). A lot of life’s letdowns have a greater purpose. That five-minute delay looking for your misplaced car key? Maybe the Lord kept you out of a deadly... Read more →

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’” (Matthew 1:20). Joseph’s presence at Christ’s... Read more →

Our Thinking God’s Promise It’s impossible All things are possible (Luke 18:27) I’m too tired I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30) Nobody really loves me I love you (John 3:16; John 13:34) I can’t go on My grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) I can’t figure things out I... Read more →

Of all the extraordinary women in Scripture, one stands out as the most blessed, most highly favored by God, and most universally admired by women. Indeed, no woman is more truly remarkable than Mary, the one chosen by God to be the instrument through which He would at last bring... Read more →

There are two series of seven characters mentioned by name in the first chapters of Luke. Note the unlikely “stars” of the nativity. Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Simeon, Anna, John the Baptist The first seven are representative of the faithful ones among the people of God. Even though the world... Read more →

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). It is here, in the thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the profoundest and most... Read more →