And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? I Peter 3:13 REFERENCE I Peter 3:13-17 In a world where people are given to doing evil, where evil looks right, apostle Peter here admonishes believers to be followers of what is good. This simple verse tucked in here is so powerful. The promise of God here is that a man who has devoted himself to following after good or doing good will need not be afraid of any harm coming to him. A good man need not fear any terror or horror of...
Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 REFERENCE Habakkuk 3:17-19 Life is not just about the destination, it is a journey and the story of any travel is in the experience of the journey. So, while you may not yet have arrived at the destination you want in life, you may...
Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal… Hosea 11:8-9 REFERENCE Hosea 11:1-11 (NLT) Here, covenant is calling to God. He had entered a perpetual covenant of love with Israel’s fathers, and He is a covenant keeping God. Therefore, it was hard for Him to let out the full weight of His wrath on Ephraim (Israel) and...
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” ~ Luke 2:23-24 REFERENCE Luke 2:8-16 The wonder of the person of Christ is here revealed on the date of His birth – heaven and earth ‘kissed,’ and angels and shepherds rejoiced together. Why? Because the child born on that night was both divine and human; He was Deity wrapped in human frailty. Think about it: Shepherds in the orient at the time of Christ’s birth had a tough, dangerous and not a very dignified job....
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity…” ~ Ephesians 2:14-15a REFERENCE Ephesians 2:11-18 In the 1800s in France, a clergyman asked a poet member of his parish, Placide Cappeau, to help him pen a poem for the coming Christmas mass. Placide felt honored to share his talent with the church. While traveling in a coach, from the gospel of Luke, he imagined himself being there the night Christ was born, and that became the inspiration for the song in French, “Cantique de...
“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” ~ Matthew 2:11 REFERENCE Matthew 2:1-12 You would most likely remember a Christmas service where three boys (perhaps, yourself), wearing cardboard crowns and bearing gifts, acted as the magi from the east, following the star, as this hymn was sung. Quite a dramatic and arresting event surrounding the birth of the Christ. John Henry Hopkins Jr. (1820-1891), a Theologian and the music instructor at...
“Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary…you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest...” – Luke 1:30-32 REFERENCE Luke 1:26-38 Although not a traditional hymn, “Mary Did You know” has become a beloved song at most Christmas services. It was written by Mark Lowry, a musician and songwriter, himself the son of a singer, songwriter and pianist mother. The inspiration for the song came when he was asked to write a program for a...
“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” ~ Philips Brooks “O Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past!” Micah 5:2 (TLB) REFERENCE Micah 5:2 (TLB) As we approach this special season of Christmas to pause and celebrate the greatest Gift ever given to mankind, Jesus...
My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice – indeed, I myself. Proverb 23:15 REFERENCE Proverbs 23:15&16 Yesterday, we saw the value and virtue of wisdom as extolled through the pages of the bible. It says, “Wisdom is better than strength…,” “it is better than weapons of war.” “Wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.” “By wisdom, kings reign, and rulers decree justice.” To have wisdom is to have the capacity to show experience, knowledge, and good judgment. It is responding sensibly or intelligently to a particular situation....
My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice – indeed, I myself. Proverb 23:15 REFERENCE Proverbs 23:15&16 Scripture makes us understand that “Wisdom is the principal thing,” and that in all our getting, we should get understanding. Why is wisdom so important? It is simply because we make daily decisions and choices, and these affect the quality and direction of our lives. Poor decisions can lead to a life filled with crisis, while good choices can set one on the path to greatness. Alas, it is difficult to live a meaningful and impactful life without wisdom. When a...