For my eyes have seen your salvation…
Summary: Birthdays are a reason to celebrate, and Jesus’ birthday is no different. Well, maybe a little different…
Continue reading “Luke 2: 29-32 — Christmas Day”Luke 2: 29-32 — Christmas Day
Luke 1: 38 — Christmas Eve
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Summary: It is easy to get caught up in “going with the flow” and celebrate Christmas without knowing why. Pausing to think about why we celebrate Christmas will add meaning and light to our celebration.
Continue reading “Luke 1: 38 — Christmas Eve”Isaiah 9:6 — Who is Us?
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Summary: Merry Christmas!
Continue reading “Isaiah 9:6 — Who is Us?”James 4: 13-14 — Stage Fright
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Note: Somehow I skipped over verses 13-17 in chapter 4. I’m not sure why, but as I started preparing for James 5: 12 I was reminded of the passage I had skipped over. So, let’s rewind for a few days and visit these words of James.
As I write this the world is embroiled in a war against an unseen enemy. A virus known as “Covid-19” has been unleashed and is running rampant. Wherever it goes, it lashes out at everyone around it. What sets it apart from other viruses is its speed and the potential nastiness of its effect on a person’s lungs. Within a matter of weeks beginning last December, the virus has infected most of the rest of the world. Slowly (it seemed) more information has become available. Suddenly, it seems, the country was shut down and we are all sitting at home.
Today we wonder how this happened. How did we become virtual prisoners in our own homes?
Continue reading “James 4: 13-14 — Stage Fright”The Perfect Gift – James 1: 17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
What did you get for Christmas this year? Did you enjoy receiving a gift? Was it a good gift? Was it perfect? Does it need batteries? Does it break? Does it wear out? Did you have to return it?
Continue reading “The Perfect Gift – James 1: 17”Wisdom Wednesday – Merry Christmas!
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.
Genesis 3: 15
The Perfect Gift
Today’s “Wisdom Wednesday” text is not from the traditional wisdom literature in the Bible. Instead, we are looking at the wisdom of God in action.
Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior. The reason we need a savior is that Adam and Eve could not resist the wiles of Satan. Having sinned, they became spiritually dead, separated from God. At the same time, they were able to see something they had been protected from while they were alive in God. They could now see evil. The tragedy was (and is) that people do not always recognize evil for what it is.
Continue reading “Wisdom Wednesday – Merry Christmas!”Santa’s List – James 1: 10-11
But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
James’ letter is a lot like Santa’s List. Most of us have heard about Santa Clause, and how, like God, he knows if we have been “naughty” or “nice.” The modern legend of Santa goes back to a real-life believer in God, a man whom we know as Saint Nicholas.
Like St. Nick, James is concerned about how people behave toward each other and whether or not having material possessions is clouding their judgment. Why would this be a problem for the early church?
Continue reading “Santa’s List – James 1: 10-11”