Not Presents, But His Presence | Revelation 22:12

‘Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.’ (Revelation 22:12 NLT) There were a lot of people who missed the first Christmas, the night that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Of course, there were no the telltale signs that we have today. Th…

Start with Thank You | Psalm 116:12

What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? (Psalm 116:12 NLT) The psalmist David asked, “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?” Then he goes on to say, “I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord’s name for saving me” (Psalm 116:12–13 NLT). One of the most …

God’s Gift to You | 2 Corinthians 9:15

Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! (2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT) There are gifts that you may receive this year that soon will be out of date or out of fashion. Some gifts, however, only grow in value over time. Maybe it’s a family heirloom that you received a long time ago, and it has be…

Christmas Is a Promise | Acts 13:23

‘And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel!’ (Acts 13:23 NLT) The shadow of the cross lay over the beauty of the first Christmas night. It was there from the very beginning. That is why red is the color of Christmas. It isn’t because Santa wears red o…

Room for a King | Micah 5:2

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. (Micah 5:2 NLT) God could have directed Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in many ways, but He chose to do it through a …

At the Name of Jesus | Philippians 2:10

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (Philippians 2:10 NLT) Juliet asked Romeo, “What’s in a name?” And then she answered her own question: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” That might be n…

The Story of a Gift | Isaiah 9:6

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NLT) The story of Jesus coming into the world is not so much the story of a birth as it is the story …

Honored Guest or Permanent Resident? | John 14:23

Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’ (John 14:23 NLT) Being a Christian isn’t merely trying to follow the example of Jesus Christ. Being a Christian is having Jesus Christ Himself taking residence in ou…

How to Have a Blessed Christmas | Psalm 132:7

Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord; let us worship at the footstool of his throne. (Psalm 132:7 NLT) The Bible doesn’t tell us much about the boyhood years of Jesus. But it does give us an instance where Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration, and they took twelve-year-…

Faith and Obedience | Luke 1:46–48

Mary responded, ‘Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.’ (Luke 1:46–48 NLT) Mary was a good Jewish girl who would have learned the Scriptures from her youth. And …