Belief Should Transform
When our theology is not transformative, we are just playing with academics. We may stroke our own ego with what we know, and may even feel superior to those who know less, but if what we have learned has not humbled us at the foot of the cross of the crucified God, then it
Full Plate
We may all be sitting at the same table but eating out of different plates. With what life deals us, we do not all have our plate filled with the same things. We carry our own burdens and may hide our secret pain. Be careful what you say and be careful how you respond,
Joining Belief and Practice
It is easy to reduce Christianity to believing the right things in order to get to the Father’s house. Jesus’ teachings tell us how to live in the world now; these teachings join belief and practice. We follow the One who is Lord through paths in the middle of our daily struggles. To follow
Be Ready
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone...For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will” (Matt 24:36, 44). No one knows the time
Not Knowing
“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him” John 1:10 (NASB). The purpose of His coming was to be made known. The failure to know does not rest with Him but with us. Our preconceived ideas about Him, our inattention and self-focus hinder
Children of God
“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” John 1:11-12 (NASB). As we receive the Son, we are received as the children
Advent’s Hope
He has come! He is here! He will come! He has come, born of the Virgin Mary, as the promised descendent of David to set up an everlasting kingdom. He is here in the Presence of the Holy Spirit. He lives in the midst of the gathered people of God, and He lives in
The Incarnation
The incarnation was a deliberate action on the part of God to enter the human condition, including suffering and death. The incarnation is a testimony that God does not stand aloof from the suffering of the world He created, but fully enters it in the name of love. He has entered humanity and the
The Humility of Christ
In the face of the humility of Christ, I am smitten by my pride. I did not see nor own it as pride until I saw the humility of God in Christ. The King was born in a stable. He lived as a refugee in Egypt. He grew up in the humble town of
Birth Announcement
A baby is born! His name is Jesus! He is the promised Messiah! God’s promised future has arrived! The New Age is here! New Creation has broken in! The life-creating Spirit is moving! Persons will be born of God and filled with the Spirit. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
Lamb and Shepherd
Mary knew the Hebrew phrase, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” In the New Testament, Jesus is both Lamb and Shepherd. The Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John
The Preexistent Christ
He was the son of David, yet He was the Lord of David. He was before David, yet was born of David’s line. He was the son of Mary, yet He was the Lord of Mary. He was before Mary, yet He was born of her by the Holy Spirit. He was before Adam,
Christ and the Serpent
It was a serpent inhabited by the Serpent that led humanity astray. It was the heel of Christ that crushed the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). Christ’s triumph means that the Serpent will be bound and cast into a bottomless pit. Ironically, Jesus was lifted up on a cross in the same way
Babies and Rescue
“Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” Luke 2:11 (KJV). Bethlehem! City of David! A Baby! Descendent of David! Promised Messiah! More than once, in the history of Israel, God raised up a baby for His purposes. There was Sarah’s baby, born of
The Manger and Sheep Food
Jesus’ cradle was a manger, a crude feeding trough for sheep. In this manger sheep food was replaced with the body of Christ. He would later speak of the necessity of His disciples eating this food (John 6:32-65), fulfilled both by the Lord’s Supper and the spiritual nature of eating and thriving on His
God is Now Revealed
It has long been established in Christian thought that the only way we can know the Infinite God of the Universe is that He would choose to make Himself known to us. He revealed Himself through the patriarchs and prophets, but the fullness of His revelation came through His Son when He entered the
Christian Parenting
Joseph and Mary were model parents. Their lives separately and collectively were centered in God and obedience to His will. The first requirement for parenthood is to be God-centered. It is to sing from the same page of our loving God, to worship and do His will. This would solve so many problems in
Joseph Heard God Speak
"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 1:20 (NASB). He hears God speak at least four times (Matthew 1:20; 2:13, 19, 22). Joseph’s revelations came over a period of years. Hearing God
Joseph and Compassion
“And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly” Matthew 1:19 (NASB). Joseph is considering another way to break off the engagement. He wrestled with the letter of the law to come up with a better way to deal with Mary’s pregnancy. He
Joseph and God’s Story
Joseph’s life was a part of a story bigger than he could know, even more earth shaking and world changing than he could ever have imagined. As his namesake, the other Joseph went to Egypt to save Israel from famine and extinction, so this second Joseph went to Egypt to save his Son so
Joseph’s Obedience
Joseph obeyed the Lord without hesitation or delay. He obeyed when he took Mary as his wife. He obeyed when he was commanded to go to Egypt. He obeyed when he returned to Israel. It is one thing to hear God speak, and it is another to obey. Joseph did both. May our obedience
Mary’s Inconvenience
It was very inconvenient for a pregnant Mary to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to give birth in a stable, just because a politician wanted to count heads so he could get more tax money. And, he insisted on his subjects going to their native town for the count. While she was there, the
God’s Will and Mary
Mary embraced the will of God. Submission to the will of God can be costly. Her reputation! The scandal! The gossip! In a heated moment the religious leaders said to Jesus, “We were not born of fornication” (John 8:41), they may have been casting aspersions on Jesus’ origin (reflecting on Mary as well). The
Mary and Mystery
Mary embraced Mystery. All the things that were said about Jesus baffled Mary. We are rational beings. We think we have to explain everything. He is more profound than all of our lofty theology about Him. You cannot explain Him nor all of His ways in your life. He is working a great
Mary and Women
God again declared womanhood very good when He entered the world through Mary’s womb: “born of a woman.” Eve, the first woman came from the body of the first Adam. The second Adam (Jesus Christ) came from the body of a woman. Mary is the beginning of the gospel for male and female that