Tragic
Read: Matthew 2:13-18 Then Herod . . . sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem . . . who were two years old or under. (v. 16) In Advent we celebrate the good news of the arrival of God’s salvation. But to a lot of parents in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, Jesus’ advent […]
Shocking Guests
Read: Matthew 2:1-12 Behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. (v. 1) Matthew 1:23 says that Mary’s child—though named Jesus—would be called “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us.” For Israel, having God dwell in their midst—first in the tabernacle and then in the temple—was a great gift. So the average Jew in Matthew’s day […]
Righteousness
Read: Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (v. 19) Joseph was a good man. He was “just,” which means he was a righteous man. This was the goal of every Israelite: to be righteous in God’s sight. Being righteous meant your life […]
The Whole Family
Read: Matthew 1:1-17 . . . and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. (v. 16) Writers, public speakers, and preachers all know that you only have one shot at catching the attention of the reader or listener. Spending extra effort to make your […]
Immediately
Read: Mark 1:9-13 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. (v. 12) Mark’s favorite word is “immediately.” Everything in Mark’s Gospel happens at lightning speed. Mark seems eager to show us that there is tremendous power in Jesus! But the first two instances of “immediately” seem at odds with each other. Mark contains […]
The Diagnosis
Read: Mark 1:4-8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. (v. 8) All four Gospels make clear that John the Baptist was the necessary forerunner to Jesus. You can’t get to Jesus without going through John. And John was all about repentance. John’s message was simple: Each […]
December Prayer Guide 2021
INDIA — Words of Hope’s Director shares this encouragement: “We must use all our God-given intelligence, physical strengths, and the available resources in our network. However, we must never forget that in spite of all our efforts, we must seek God’s will, God’s favor, God’s given principles, and God’s Kingdom on top priority, even at […]
The Beginning
Read: Psalm 145 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (v. 1) Advent is a new beginning. Advent is a fresh start for the cosmos. Today, Mark brings us to this beginning. That first verse packs a wallop. In his usual terse way—Mark is never one to waste words—Mark tells […]
Open Hands, Fulfilled Needs
Read: Psalm 145 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. (v. 2) When we choose to hold the things of this world loosely, letting go and letting God, we open up our lives to worship him more fully. As one of David’s psalms of praise, Psalm 145 reminds me […]