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“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 1:10–13

Gaius Octavius Thurinus was born into a wealthy but not noble Roman family in 63 BC. His father died when he was only four years old, and much of his youth was spent with his grandmother. While still a teenager, Octavius distinguished himself as a leader by successfully guiding a group of shipwreck survivors through enemy territory to reach the Roman army headed by his great-uncle, Julius Caesar. He was designated as Caesar’s heir, and following the murder of his relative, rose to become the leader and first emperor of Rome. Caesar Augustus, as he is known to history, owed his power to the adoption offered him by Julius Caesar.

Ever since sin entered into the world, each person born has been under the curse of sin, and part of Satan’s family. Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).

The beauty of the Christmas story is that Jesus became the son of Mary so that we would have the opportunity to become sons and daughters of God. It is not through our merit or worth that we achieve this exalted standing, but through His grace that we receive adoption.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

Luke 2:8–10

Maybe you’ve seen the Peanuts cartoon where Lucy comes in and says to Charlie Brown, “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown. `Tis the season of peace on earth and good will toward men. Therefore, I suggest we forget all our differences and love one another.” Charlie Brown, whose face lights up at this, replies, “That’s wonderful, Lucy. I’m so glad you said that. But tell me, do we have to love each other only at this season of the year? Why can’t we love each other all year long?” To which Lucy retorts, “What are you, a fanatic or something?”

The message of Christmas is not one that is appreciated by much of our society today. Those who love the truth of Christmas are often regarded as crazy or fanatics. Some people go to great lengths to avoid even using the word “Christmas” so as to not have to deal with the real meaning of this special time of year. But the message first brought by the angels to the shepherds—and then shared by the shepherds with everyone they could find—is true, and it is meant for the whole world. It is not just a message that applies once a year in December, but every single day.

The angel who announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds brought the message that Christ’s birth was “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (emphasis added). It falls to those of us who have heard and received that message to share it with the rest of the world.

“For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:20–23

One of the earliest and most successful record companies in America was the Victor Talking Machine Company. Though they have long been out of business, their logo, showing a dog listening intently to a record playing the voice of his master, is still seen today. In 1925, Victor applied for a trademark on the phrase “the gift that keeps on giving” to promote their products. They wanted people to realize that they were not providing a gift that would be used once or twice and then discarded, but rather one that would be used again and again and appreciated for years to come.

Most presents that we give or receive are only temporary. A book may be read once or twice, an article of clothing worn for a few months or perhaps years, and a game may be played now and then. But with a few exceptions, we normally do not expect to use the majority of our Christmas presents long into the future—and certainly not forever. God’s presents are far beyond anything we could imagine, and His gift of salvation has no expiration date.

The gift of eternal life is one we can never use up or wear out. It never goes out of style, becoming dated or obsolete. The Victor Talking Machine Company went out of business decades ago. The gift of eternal life—not deserved but freely offered through grace—never expires. It will last us all the days of our earthly journey, and then throughout eternity.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”

John 1:14–16

Though we cannot with our limited understanding fully grasp how Jesus could be at the same time both fully human and still fully God, we know that it is true because the Bible teaches it. It was essential for our salvation that a sinless substitute be offered in our place, and Jesus as the Word made flesh lived the perfect human life that allowed Him to atone for our sins rather than His own. The measure of God’s love for us is seen in the enormous sacrifice that Jesus made in order to become human.

Paul wrote of Christ, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7–8). Jesus is worthy of all the praise and honor and glory of Heaven—yet He willingly laid all that aside in order to be our Saviour.

The baby boy that Mary held in her arms that first Christmas was the fullness of God’s grace and the offer of salvation. It is important that we remember what Jesus gave up in order to become human as we think of Christmas, for it places in perspective our need for salvation, and it is the key to our being thankful for all that God has done for us.

“When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,”

Matthew 2:3–5

When the wise men brought news to Jerusalem that the king of the Jews had been born, the evil and paranoid King Herod immediately decided to kill this threat to his rule. So he brought in the Jewish religious leaders—those who knew the most about the Scriptures—and asked them to give him a location for the birth of this promised king. They did not have to consult commentaries and dig through their libraries. They knew immediately that Bethlehem was the place because they knew that Micah 5:2 prophesied the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

But that knowledge raises the question: why weren’t they in Bethlehem? The timing of the birth of the Messiah had been laid out in detail in the prophecies of Daniel. They knew that the time was near, but instead of going to look for the Saviour, they remained in Jerusalem, caught up in the busyness and intrigues of their daily lives. They missed the point of God’s plan and ignored what was most important.

That is a challenge that we too face at Christmas. One humorist said, “Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.” Christmas is not about the decorations, presents, and parties, but about the birth of Jesus Christ. Nothing that takes our attention and focus away from Him is helpful to our lives. Nothing can ever be allowed to take His rightful place at the center of lives, thoughts, and actions.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

Isaiah 9:6–7

It was not long after Jesus returned to Heaven following His resurrection that heresies about the nature of Christ began to impact the church. Some false teachers denied the humanity of Jesus while others denied His divinity. The tragedy of false doctrine regarding Christ is that it deforms our thinking and keeps us from seeing Him as He truly is—both God and man.

Charles Spurgeon said it well: “He who never began to be, but eternally existed, began to be what he eternally was not, and continued to be what he eternally was.” Jesus didn’t become God when He was born in Bethlehem’s manger, nor did He cease to be God at that point. As God He existed in eternity past, and as God, He humbled Himself to take on flesh and be born as a baby in a manger.

The key to understanding and worshiping Jesus as we should is to take what the Bible says about Him seriously. Colossians 2:9 says, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Jesus was more than just a baby in a manger. He did not come for the primary purpose of being a good example or doing good deeds. His life was focused on fulfilling the will and purpose of His Father in Heaven, and His express purpose was to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:14–16

Again and again in the Gospels, we see Jesus reaching out in kindness and compassion to touch the lives of hurting people. At the grave of Lazarus—even though He knew He was about to raise His friend from the dead—Jesus wept over the sorrow in the hearts of Mary and Martha at their great loss. He cared about the people He met, and He cares about us. When we feel that no one notices or cares about us, we should remember that Jesus does.

He was the high and exalted Lord of Heaven, praised by angels in unending glory, but He laid all that aside out of His love for us. It is beyond human ability to comprehend the full scope of Divine love, but we see it clearly demonstrated in the story of the birth of Christ. T. DeWitt Talmage said, “Son of Mary! Son of God! Child of a day—Monarch of eternity! In that eye the glance of a God. Omnipotence sheathed in that Babe’s arm. That voice to be changed from the feeble cry to the tone that shall wake the dead.”

The humanity of Jesus also means that He understands the pains, hurts, and temptations we face. He knows what it is like to be betrayed, to be tired, to lack and to weep. When we understand that Jesus truly became human, it builds our faith to trust Him more.

“And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Luke 2:46–49

One of the best known mountain climbers in the world, George Mallory dreamed of reaching the peak of Mount Everest. In 1924 he and another climber named Andrew Irvine were near the summit of the world’s highest peak when they vanished. Their bodies were not found until an expedition in 1999 located their remains. In the introduction to the book Last Climb, John Mallory, who was just three when his father perished wrote, “I would so much rather have known my father than to have grown up in the shadow of a legend, a hero, as some people perceive him to be.”

All of us face choices each day concerning how we will use the time, talents, and resources God has given to us. Many people fail to accomplish what they should because they spend their time on things that may be pleasurable or urgent, but are not truly important. By contrast, Jesus, even from a young age was focused intently, not on what He desired, but on what God wanted Him to do. Because of His focus and sense of purpose, at the end of His life Jesus was able to say, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). Our choices each day determine what our lives will accomplish.

“And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

Zechariah 9:8–9

Kings and rulers of the world are routinely accompanied by great ceremony. Flanked by guards, their presence announced by music or trumpets, they enter ostentatiously with fanfare and do things to draw attention to themselves. Media and photographers follow them everywhere, keeping their faces before the public and reporting on their every move. They have press secretaries and publicists to make sure that their image is guarded and they receive plaudits and praise.

In contrast, though Jesus possessed and deserved all the glories of Heaven, the Old Testament foretold Him as a humble ruler. We see this even in the circumstances of His birth. Born to a family of little means, and placed in a borrowed manger used by the animals, Jesus had no glory in His coming. The angels told the Good News, not to the high and mighty in Jerusalem, but to a group of shepherds in the fields with their flocks.

Because of their constant contact with the sheep, shepherds were ritually unclean, and were looked down on in polite society. Because of their proximity to Jerusalem, it is very possible that the shepherds of Bethlehem were raising lambs for the Temple sacrifices. Yet because they were unclean, they would not be allowed inside the Temple. It was to these men who were despised, that the message of the birth of Jesus was first revealed. He laid aside His glory so that He could become our perfect Saviour.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”

Matthew 1:18–20

For most people in our day Christmas is a celebration—family, food, presents, decorations, songs, church services, and more fill the holiday season and give us many reasons to be happy. The first Christmas, however, was different. It was filled with uncertainty, trouble, hardship, and danger. Yet even with all the turmoil, God was still in control.

There are four angelic appearances in the Christmas story. An angel appeared to Zacharias and told him about the birth of John the Baptist. An angel appeared to Mary and told her she would be the mother of the Messiah. An angel appeared to Joseph and told him that Mary had not been unfaithful to him. And an angel appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. All four of these angels accompanied their good news with this instruction: “Fear not.”

The human tendency is to be afraid when we feel that things are out of our control. But God’s plan has never been for us to be in charge. When we are trusting God and loving Him as we should, we will not be afraid. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

John 3:15—17

I heard about a family who was driving to church for a Christmas Eve service and singing Christmas songs. Each member was choosing a favorite that they all would sing. When it came to the youngest boy in the family, he said that his favorite Christmas song was “Jesus Loves Me.” While that’s not what we normally think of as a Christmas carol, it is certainly fully appropriate at Christmas and all through the year, for it sums up the message and meaning of Christmas perfectly.

This special time of year is a celebration, most of all, of God’s amazing love for us. We had nothing good in ourselves—no hope of salvation and no reason to expect grace. Yet the greatest love in the universe brought the very Son of God from Heaven’s throne to a manger, and then to a cross. The message of Christmas is the message of God’s love.

Jesus did not come to be praised and worshiped, though He is worthy of all praise. He did not come to take an earthly throne, though one day He will rule the world. Jesus came to provide us the gift of eternal life. He said, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). As you celebrate Christmas this year, remember that Jesus loves you, and that He loves the world. Then do all you can to share that love with those who have not yet received it.

“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

Hebrews 6:19–20

Ever since the perfect fellowship between God and man was broken by Adam’s sin, mankind has been seeking a way to interact with God. Religion teaches that if we do more good works than bad works we can attain salvation. But this teaching goes against what the Bible teaches concerning the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. Sin brings a division: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).

The gulf created by sin is so great that man cannot cross it. That meant that if we were to have any hope, it had to come from God. In the Old Testament, the high priest entered into God’s presence before the Ark of the Covenant to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat each year, but that was merely a temporary covering for sin—it did not take it away. But because Jesus is perfect, He was able to enter God’s presence with His own precious blood and make a complete atonement once and for all for those who believe.

T. DeWitt Talmage said, “Glory be to God that Jesus came from throne to manger that we might rise from manger to throne, and that all the gates are open, and that the door of heaven, that once swung this way to let Jesus out, now swings the other way to let us in.” There are no other avenues to God. All religions do not lead to God. There is only one way to Heaven. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”

John 8:56–59

Most of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day did not respond to His message with faith and acceptance, but rather with resentment and refusal. They repeatedly tried to trap Him into giving an answer that would either discredit Him with the people, or give them something to take to the Roman authorities and bring the weight of the legal system to bear to stop Jesus. On more than one occasion they actually tried to kill Jesus.

What a contrast there is between their actions and responses and the actions and responses of Abraham. We do not know how fully the great hero of faith understood the details of God’s plan of redemption, but Jesus said that Abraham knew that Jesus was coming—and that he rejoiced in it even before it happened. Christmas is a great source of joy and hope to those who understand what the celebration is about, and often a source of frustration and aggravation for those who do not.

But even those of us who know the truth can find the pressures of the season stealing our joy. Joel wrote, “The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men” (Joel 1:12). We need to keep our focus on what truly matters so that we do not miss the joy of Christmas.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

1 John 4:9–11

A pastor once told me the story of a couple who separated after having tremendous marital difficulties. The wife moved out, and at first the husband didn’t even attempt to locate her. However, the pastor and his church family were able to lead the man to Christ and he began to realize that he had not been a good husband. Finally, after a prolonged search, he found his wife two counties over.

He wrote her letters for several months, but she did not respond. As Christmastime approached, he decided to go to the motel where she had been living and ask her to come home. To his delight she agreed to go with him, and they began to work on repairing their relationship. He later asked her why she agreed to go with him. She said, “Before, you just sent letters. This time you came personally.”

If God had not taken the initiative to bring about our salvation, no one would be saved. Paul wrote, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:10-11). But God’s love was so great that He sent His Son to be the sinless sacrifice to purchase our redemption. This is the foundation of our salvation. Jesus left Heaven and came to find the lost so that we could have a restored relationship with Him.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9–11

When the angel appeared to the shepherds that first Christmas night, he brought “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10). But while the Good News is for mankind, we are not the primary focus of Christmas—God is. The great host of angels came to sing the praises and glory of the God who had planned our salvation and was providing the means whereby we might escape the penalty of sin and spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

The message of salvation is to be given to all, and all who receive it in faith reap the amazing benefits that come from accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Yet we must never forget that salvation is all of God. We do not earn it, deserve it, or somehow find ways to contribute to the process. All of us were sinners, hopelessly lost and apart from God when in love He reached out to us and offered us salvation. In the great hymn “Rock of Ages” Augustus Toplady expressed this truth:

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

There are no good works we can do to merit salvation. We simply acknowledge our sinfulness, believe in Christ’s sacrifice, and receive His gift. Because salvation is completely God’s work—not our good works—He alone receives honor and glory when the gospel is presented and the lost are saved. Jesus said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:8).

“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

Luke 2:16–19

In the book A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens told the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser who cared for money instead of people. Over the course of the story as Scrooge is forced to look back over his life, and consider the future, he undergoes a major shift. Scrooge commits himself to a new course of action. He declares: “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”

The true message of Christmas is not meant just for a few days in December, but for all of our lives. The world around us urgently needs the Good News that Jesus’ coming to earth offers. We live in a society that is becoming increasingly hostile to the truth. Christmas frequently becomes a battleground as lawsuits, protests, and boycotts are used by some to try to force their vision and preferences on everyone.

But keeping Christmas does not require that others agree—it simply requires that our own hearts are where they should be. Mary lived in a nation ruled by a foreign occupying force, under a brutal king who would soon order the murder of all the boy babies in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill her son. She gave birth to her baby among the animals because there was no one willing to take her in. Yet circumstances could not take away what she kept in her heart.

“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,”

Luke 2:25–27

If you have small children or grandchildren—or if you have ever spent any time around young people—you know that patience and Christmas don’t necessarily go hand in hand. There is a constant looking at the calendar, counting down the days, and occasional expressions of wishing “Christmas would just hurry up and get here already!” (That’s true for some of us adults as well.) Most of us find it difficult to be patient. We want things to happen on our schedule, but God wants us to trust Him with the timing as well as with the results.

We are not told in Scripture how much time passed between the message given to Simeon that he would live to see the Messiah and the birth of Jesus, but it appears to have been a considerable length of time. When Simeon met Mary and Joseph at the Temple, where they had gone to dedicate Jesus as the law commanded, his prayer of thanks and praise included an expression that his life was complete. He had dedicated himself to living in obedience to God and waiting patiently for what had been promised to Him.

God does not move on our timetable. Peter wrote, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). But God does always keeps His promises.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Romans 8:2–4

No one who watched British runner Derek Redmond compete in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 will ever forget what happened. During the 400 meter semi-final, Redmond was running at top speed when a hamstring injury ended his dream of an Olympic gold medal. In great pain, he attempted to finish the race, though all hope of victory was gone. But the pain of his injury was so great, that he could not go on. Redmond’s father pushed past security and made his way onto the track. Placing his son’s arm around his shoulders, Jim Redmond supported Derek until they both reached the finish line. Though the official Olympic record lists Derek Redmond as “did not finish” because he had to have assistance, his father took him all the way to the end of the race.

Because of the power of sin over the lives of the lost, we have no ability to keep God’s perfectly righteous demands. The law cannot give us that power. All it can do is tell us what God requires—it cannot help us meet His holy standard. For that, we must have something better than the law. We must have Jesus. Because He perfectly fulfilled the law during His sinless life, we can have His righteousness applied to our account. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

Matthew 2:9–11

In 1739 Charles Wesley wrote a new poem to be sung at a Christmas service. He wanted to focus on the amazing news that the angels brought to the shepherds on the first Christmas night—that the baby born in Bethlehem was so much more than just another child. His original composition was later edited by George Whitefield until it took the form and the words that we know today as “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come,
Off-spring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail, the incarnate deity
Pleased as Man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!”

When the wise men reached Bethlehem, they acknowledged Jesus as being worthy of great respect, not only with the gifts they had brought but by kneeling down before Him. The expression they used in seeking Jesus, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2) is not normal. The child of a king is a prince at birth, not yet a king in his own right. However from the moment of His birth, Jesus was rightly recognized as the great King. He did not claim the rights and privileges of kingship, choosing instead to be born into a poor and humble family, but that lack of outward prestige did not change His true nature.

“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

Luke 1:35–38

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that she would be the mother of the Messiah, he was bringing news that was joyous, because it was the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation and deliverance. Yet at the same time, it was terrifying news, for it posed a great threat to Mary’s future. Once her pregnancy became known, her promised marriage to Joseph would almost certainly be called off, and she would be considered by everyone to be an immoral young woman.

Though the Romans did not allow the Jewish people to enforce their law, being found pregnant while unmarried was an offense punishable by being stoned. Yet when confronted with this life-changing news, Mary’s response was a simple acceptance of God’s plan for her life, despite the cost.

Often people struggle with knowing what God’s purpose and will is, but in truth it is far more important to have a heart that desires to please and honor Him than to know exactly what is coming in our future. George Müller said, “Nine–tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.”

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Isaiah 53:11–12

The religious leaders in Jesus’ day rejected Him because He did not fit their idea of what the Messiah should be. One of the things Jesus did which particularly outraged them was reaching out to people the leaders rejected because of their public sin. “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children” (Matthew 11:19). Thank God that Jesus is a friend of sinners! Without His love and grace we would have no hope. All of His life—from the moment of His birth and even in His ancestry—Jesus, though perfect, identified with fallen and sinful man.

Dr. John Rice said, “He was the Son of kings. He was the Son of poverty. When Mary brought the baby Jesus into the Temple and offered the sacrifice, she offered the sacrifice that poor women would offer- two turtledoves or two pigeons, because she was poor. The Son of kings and riches, and the Son of poverty and lowliness, too. He was the Son of Ruth the Moabitess as well as the Son of the Jews. He is the Son of Rahab the harlot, the Canaanite woman, as well as of the Jews because that is all in the ancestral line.” The love of God for us is not because of our goodness, but because of His nature.

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”

Joshua 1:1–3

Three hundred years ago, the English playwright Christopher Bullock included the line “‘Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but death and taxes” in his play The Cobbler of Preston. It is believed to be the first time the expression appeared in writing, but the saying is apparently much older. As Christians we know one more certain thing—the promises of God given to us in His Word. Even so, the reality is that we live in a world filled with change. People we counted on may move, turn against us, or die. Companies that seemed to offer stable employment go out of business. The doctor calls with test results that weren’t what we wanted to hear.

Joshua faced a major transition. For forty years Moses had led the Children of Israel, taking them from bondage in Egypt to the edge of the Jordan River. But now the great leader was gone, and Joshua had big shoes to fill and major challenges to face. In His first words to Joshua, God reminded him that although Moses was no longer with him, God still was. And the same promises on which Moses had relied would be true and faithful when Joshua claimed them. There is not even a hint that God will ever change. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:12–14

The greatest enemy of the early church in Jerusalem was Saul of Tarsus. Fanatical in his opposition to the followers of Jesus Christ, he took every opportunity to persecute, arrest, and even execute Christians, not just in Jerusalem but across the country and in neighboring lands. Saul was on his way to Damascus when an encounter with Jesus radically changed his beliefs. Though he became just as ardent a follower of Jesus as he had once been an opponent, the man who came to be known as Paul still had the blood of many on his hands.

Paul could have allowed the memories of what he had done before he met Jesus to hold him in bondage. He could have been overwhelmed by guilt and remorse, but he put the past behind him and kept his focus on the future. One of the most important benefits we receive from God’s freely offered salvation is freedom from the burdens of the past.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). The devil works hard to keep us in bondage to the past because he knows how much it hinders our service to God. The Christian life is not meant to be lived while looking backward. Instead God’s forgiveness allows us to look forward, and to accomplish all that we can for Him.

“And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.”

Numbers 14:7–9

When Moses sent twelve spies into the Promised Land, ten returned with a report that focused on the difficulties that would have to be faced if the Israelites did as God directed and entered the land. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, returned with a report that focused on God. Because of the bad report brought by the majority, the Israelites refused to even try to obey God and take the land. As a result, they spent the next forty years wandering in the wilderness.

There were real obstacles posed by the defenses of those who lived in Canaan. There were giants in the land. There were strong, walled cities. Yet while those presented difficulties to the Israelites, to God they were nothing at all. He destroyed the great walls of Jericho while the Israelites simply marched around the city. He gave them victory after victory when Joshua finally led the people into the land. His power was far more than enough to meet every challenge.

You and I may face hardship, trouble, loss, grief, disappointment, pain, and suffering in the coming year. But none of those difficulties will be too much for God. We need to keep our focus on Him and keep our faith in Him. J. Sidlow Baxter wrote, “What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity.”

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:17–19

After many years of faithful and effective ministry, Dr. Curtis Hutson was diagnosed with a serious and advanced form of cancer. Even as he sought treatment, Dr. Hutson continued to travel and preach. When it became apparent that he would be going to Heaven rather than be healed, he preached faithfully anyway. Most of his final messages included what had become one of his very favorite songs, “I’m on the Winning Side.”

I will never have a fear, for my Lord is ever near,
And in Him so often I confide,
He’s the keeper of my soul since I gave Him full control,
And He placed me on the winning side.
Well, I am on the winning side, yes, I am on the winning side,
Out in sin no more will I abide;
I’ve enlisted in the fight for the cause of truth and right,
Praise the Lord, I’m on the winning side!

This world is not friendly to Christians, but this world cannot overcome the power of God. He is not challenged by any circumstances that come into our lives. And though we may endure hardship, suffering, loss, and even death, we cannot lose for He is with us. Not even the gates of hell can withstand God’s children operating in faith in God’s promises. His plan is for our ultimate triumph.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Hebrews 13:5–6

When Elijah faithfully confronted the evil king Ahab and announced God’s judgment on the land for their idol worship, he placed a large target on his own head. He had to flee and hide himself to avoid being killed by Ahab. During the great drought that came when it did not rain for more than three years, God provided for Elijah’s needs. First, he sent ravens to take food to the prophet by the brook Cherith. When that dried up, God sent Elijah to a widow whose meager food supplies miraculously lasted for the remainder of the drought. Though Elijah did not have everything he could have wanted, he never lacked for anything he needed, because God was always there.

God does not promise us an easy life. He does not promise us that nothing will ever go wrong. In fact He promises that if we do what we should, trouble will follow as a result. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Yet in the moments of trial and tribulation, we will never find ourselves abandoned by God. No matter who else may stand with us or forsake us, He will be there.

No child of God is ever abandoned. Our loving Father will never turn away from us. Our task is to rest on that promise, believing it in faith, and living in light of this wonderful truth. “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Psalm 48:14). A Christian has no reason to live in fear, no matter what may come.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Romans 8:28–30

When the calendar rolls over to a new year, we have to remember to write a new date on documents, checks, and letters. But most things will not be any different because the calendar reads 2017 instead of 2016. And among the things that do not change is God’s overall purpose for our lives. His overarching purpose for us, established before the world was created, was that we would be like His Son.

Many people primarily focus on specifics when it comes to the will of God. Where should I live? What should I do for a living? But God’s primary focus is inward, not outward. He is far more concerned with our hearts than with our circumstances. “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Our focus needs to be first and foremost on being like Jesus. That will place us in God’s will. A. W. Tozer said, “The only fear I have is to fear to get out of the will of God. Outside of the will of God, there’s nothing I want, and in the will of God there’s nothing I fear, for God has sworn to keep me in His will.”

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1–2

Our generation is obsessed with sports. Passionate fans of football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and a host of other sports and competitions fill arenas across the country. There are entire television networks dedicated to specific sports, hobbies, and interests.

The Roman Empire was much the same in its passion for competiton. Though the Coliseum in Rome is the best known of the ancient arenas, there were hundreds of stadiums, amphitheaters, and arenas scattered across the Empire. Tens of thousands of people gathered for the entertainment offered by the different contests, games, events, and fights.

The writer of Hebrews uses the imagery of a runner in a coliseum to describe what the Christian life is like. First he describes some of the great men and women of faith who have gone on to Heaven, and then he explains that they now, like spectators at an event, watch to encourage us in our race.

The devil is going to do everything he can to hinder your race. He tries to load us down with weights and sins that will keep us from finishing the course God has laid out for us. It is our responsibility to put those aside and run with our focus on Jesus. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”

1 Corinthians 6:12–14

The three-legged race is one of the most entertaining events at many picnics, reunions, and school outings. Two people stand next to each other with their inside legs tied together at the ankles, and then they try to run. Invariably, as they hurry, they will get tangled up. It is rare to see anyone go quickly through this kind of race without falling at least once. Trying to coordinate moving the legs together with tangled feet is extremely difficult.

This race is a picture of how many Christians attempt to live. Although they want to make progress in their spiritual life, they keep themselves so tied to the things of the world that they become entangled with them and invariably find that their spiritual progress is slow going.

The word expedient in the verse above comes from the Latin word for “having your feet free” and has come to refer to something that is helpful to our progress. The call of God is for us to be moving forward, not drifting in place; but we cannot do that unless our feet are free.

Jesus warned of the problem faced by those who allow themselves to be entangled by the things of the world as He told the parable of the Sower and the seed, which represented God’s Word. About the seed planted in thorny ground He said, “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). Our service and work for God are important enough to be worthy of setting aside the things of the world so that we are not caught in the entanglements that would keep us from accomplishing His work.

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”

Hebrews 3:12–15

People from many different cultures, backgrounds, languages, national identities, and regions have been saved through the centuries. But despite the differences, all of us have gotten saved in the exact same way. That is because there is only one way to salvation: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Christians are often referred to as believers in recognition of the fact that we trust Christ by faith.

Yet even we who have trusted Christ as our Saviour, struggle with our belief from time to time. Even John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest man ever born, went through a period of doubt: “And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” (Luke 7:19).

During times of doubt, we are more vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. When we fail to keep our faith strong, it has an impact on every part of our lives. The writer of Hebrews warns us that when our hearts are not believing, they will become hard, and we will be ensnared by sin. This is one reason that those who have served God for years may become entangled in sin. The roots of these great falls can usually be traced back to a lack of faith that was allowed to grow over time.

This is why it is so important that we give God’s Word continual entrance into our hearts and respond to it in faith. Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:”

1 Corinthians 9:24–26

Frank Shorter’s gift for running became apparent at a young age. He was a standout college athlete, winning NCAA and US National Titles in distance races while still in school. He won repeatedly at distances varying from the five thousand meters up to the marathon. At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Shorter focused on the grueling twenty-six miles of the marathon. By tradition, the Olympic marathon concludes inside the Olympic stadium. Shorter was preceded into the arena by a German named Norbert Sudhaus—not a fellow competitor, but an impostor who had not run the whole race. Though Shorter crossed the finish line second, he won the gold medal because he had completed the entire race according to the rules of the event.

There are no prizes for those who do not follow the way God has laid out for us in Scripture. Yet often we are tempted to take matters into our own hands and do things our way rather than God’s way. Satan tempted Jesus to do exactly that: “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread” (Matthew 4:3). Jesus refused, because even though the act was not sinful in itself, it would still have been wrong to do because it was not according to God’s design for His life. Ever since the Garden of Eden, people have been falling for the temptation to decide for themselves what is acceptable rather than trusting and obeying what God has said.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

1 Peter 5:8–10

During the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, the great Kenyan runner Bernard “Kip” Lagat was interviewed. At one point the reporter asked him why his country produced so many champion distance runners. With a smile, Lagat replied that they had a special motivation in his nation for success in running—the signs placed along the roads where the runners trained that said, “Beware of Lions.”

All of us are called by God to run the race of the Christian life. If we are to run successfully, we must never forget the enemy who stalks our path. This knowledge should motivate us to stay as close to Christ as we can and faithfully run our race. It only takes a brief moment of taking our eyes off Jesus for us to be drawn away and devoured. Like a lion, the devil desires to destroy us and render us ineffective for God’s service. We need to take the warnings seriously.

Peter experienced this truth firsthand. Before his betrayal of the Lord, Jesus had warned him of the danger. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). Yet in his self-confidence, Peter vowed that even if everyone else forsook Christ, he would remain faithful. He did not. Instead, Peter denied even knowing who Jesus was. Realizing that Satan is focused on our destruction is a daily necessity for victory in the Christian life.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Philippians 1:3–6

Noted portrait artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff had already painted some of the most famous figures in the business, political, and social realms when she was asked to do a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She visited the president at his “Little White House” in Warm Springs, Georgia. Roosevelt went there often to soak in the warm natural springs for relief from the pain of his crippling polio. Shoumatoff began her work on April 12, 1945, but during their first session, Roosevelt complained of a headache. He died later that day from a massive cerebral hemorrhage. The famous “Unfinished Portrait” still hangs in the building where it was started, but never completed.

God has promised to do a work in our lives that begins at salvation, and continues for as long as we live. We need have no fear of that work not being done, for it is not our work, but His. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus not only began the work of our salvation, but He has promised to complete it as well. The victorious declaration on the cross, “It is finished,” is a cry of faith. The results have not yet been fully revealed, but our future is already sure and certain. There is no question about the end result of God’s plan for us.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 2:5-8

After a long and successful business career, Raymond Donovan agreed to serve as Secretary of Labor under President Ronald Reagan. In 1987 Donovan and several others were charged with larceny and corruption in relation to a subway construction project. After the trial, in which Donovan and all the other defendants were acquitted of all charges, Donovan held a press conference on the steps of the courthouse. In his statement Donovan asked, “Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?”

Webster’s Dictionary defines reputation as the “Estimation in which a person or thing is commonly held, whether favorable or not; character in the view of the public, the community, etc.” It’s important to have a good reputation in the sense that we are not dragging the name of God (which we, as Christians, carry wherever we go) through the mud by our lives. That is what David did in his sin with Bathsheba. The prophet Nathan said, “Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die” (2 Samuel 12:14).

But our concern should never be the prideful kind that cares about reputation for our own sake. Instead, like Jesus we should be willing to be looked down upon and falsely accused as long as we are doing right. The world does not have to admire us, but we should live in such a way that our faith is evident and real.

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Colossians 3:22–24

California has more billionaires than any other state in America. According to a 2016 Forbes study, there were 124 people in the Golden State whose net worth exceeds one billion dollars. It’s hard for us to even imagine how much money that is. Yet, with all that great wealth floating around in California, I don’t expect to receive any of that money when those billionaires pass on. Because I’m not related to them or have a relationship with them, I do not expect them to remember me in their wills or leave me an inheritance.

On the other hand, I am part of a family that offers far greater resources than all the billionaires of the world put together. Because of God’s grace made available to me through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, I have been placed in line for an inheritance that dwarfs anything the world can offer. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17).

My hope for an inheritance is not based on the things of the world, but on the eternal and unchanging nature and faithfulness of God. Many times people are cut out of wills here on earth because they have done something or failed to do something, and thus displeased the person leaving the inheritance. But my standing with God is based on the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, and He will never put me out of His family.

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

Galatians 5:13–15

Originally meant to be installed by 1876 as a gift from the people of France to celebrate the 100th anniversary of American independence, the sculpture “Liberty Enlightening the World” is better known to us as the Statue of Liberty. Some of the leading architects and engineers in the world worked on the massive statue, which stands more than 150 feet tall. The American people provided the funding for the pedestal on which the statue stands.

The Statue of Liberty was finally installed on Liberty Island, and dedicated in 1886 by President Grover Cleveland following a ticker tape parade through the streets of New York City. In his speech, President Cleveland said, “We will not forget that Liberty has made her home here, nor shall her chosen altar be neglected. A stream of light shall pierce the darkness of ignorance and man’s oppression until Liberty enlightens the world.”

Today a lot of people have a faulty concept of liberty. They view it as the ability to do whatever they want, without having to endure any criticism or consequences as a result. That is not God’s definition. Instead, the Bible tells us that our freedom from sin is given to us to allow and equip us to do what is right and good for the sake of God’s work rather than our own pleasure. This is what Christian liberty looks like: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11–12).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

John 1:1–5

In bright, direct sunlight, a candle is almost invisible. We can barely see the flickering flame as the wick burns. However, on a truly dark night, a single candle casts a light that can be seen for up to ten miles. The difference is not in the candle, but in the conditions around it. We live in a society that is rushing headlong toward darkness. It often seems as though efforts are being made to extinguish every possible light.

This is not a surprise, for it conforms to the sinful nature of man. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Light has an exposing and limiting influence on those who would prefer for their deeds not to be known. The challenge we face is to refuse to be cowed by opposition or persecution, and instead to continue to shine brightly even if things around us become more dark.

The purpose and calling of God for us is not that our light is given to us for our benefit, but for the benefit, instruction, and even reproof of others. Jesus said, “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light” (Luke 11:33). We were made lights for a reason, and though the darkness may not appreciate the light, it still needs it.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

Philippians 2:14–16

People get paid on all different schedules. Some people get a check once a week, while others get paid every two weeks. Some companies pay twice a month, and a few pay just once a month. Then there are people who are paid on commission on an irregular basis. But all of these people have something in common—they all expect to get paid. Very few people would go through the daily grind of getting up, getting dressed, going to work, and laboring through day after day if there were nothing to be gained by doing so.

We take for granted that there will be value in the money we receive in exchange for our work. (If your boss started paying you in Monopoly money, how long would you continue to work?) We recognize that it would be foolish to trade a large portion of our lives for something that has no meaning or value when it comes to work. Yet when it comes to our priorities, do we remember that lesson?

Paul was greatly concerned that what he did counted for something in the end. He recognized the temporal nature of this world and the permanent nature of the next, and he didn’t want to end his life with a huge pile of “Monopoly money” that didn’t have any real meaning or significance. All of us have different talents and abilities, but we each have the same amount of time each day. The difference between a meaningful life and a wasted one is how we choose to invest it.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

John 17:3–5

In 1968, marathon runner John Stephen Akhwari from Tanzania traveled to Mexico City for the Olympic Games. The high altitude of Mexico City caused great difficulty for the distance runners. In fact, a quarter of those who started the marathon did not finish. Already laboring with leg cramps, Akhwari was involved in a collision with another runner near the halfway point of the race that left him with a dislocated knee.

Left far behind the other runners in the pack, Akhwari continued to make his way forward. Finally, more than an hour after the winner crossed the finish line, and after the sun had set, the few remaining spectators in the stadium saw the limping, bleeding Akhwari complete the marathon. When asked why he had continued on despite his injuries, Akhwari said, “My country did not send me five thousand miles to start the race; they sent me five thousand miles to finish the race.”

There are many Christians who start out with high hopes and good intentions. Many of them make good progress for a while, but then something happens and they stop moving forward. Paul asked the Galatians, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” (Galatians 5:7). It is not enough to start out well. All of us who run for Christ will encounter difficulties and setbacks along the way. The important thing is that we not allow obstacles to derail us. Instead we must continue on to the end if we wish to hear God say, “Well done.”

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”

Matthew 6:25–27

The needs that we have in our lives are not unique. Generations before us have faced the necessity of finding food, shelter, and clothing. The question is not whether we need those things—we all do—but how we approach getting them. We can worry and frantically rush around trying to figure out how we are going to take care of them, or we can trust that the God who created the world has promised to supply the things that we truly need.

The poet Elizabeth Cheney wrote:

Said the robin to the sparrow,
“I should really like to know,
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.”
Said the sparrow to the robin,
“Friend I think that it must be,
That they have no Heavenly Father,
Such as cares for you and me.”

There will never come a need in your life that takes God by surprise. I’ve been caught off guard by health issues, financial distress, and people’s actions, but the things that seemed to me to come out of nowhere were long foreseen by my Father in Heaven. And He has never yet failed to keep a single one of His promises. The God who knows when a sparrow falls and provides food for the birds can be trusted to deal correctly with every challenge and difficulty that we face in life.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6–7

Many words change meaning over time. When we hear the word “careful” today we usually think of being cautious, but the original meaning, the one used in the Bible for careful, is “to be filled with care”—in other words, to worry. This is not how God wants us to live. In fact, He tells us not to be worried about anything at all. Yet while we know that God does not want us to worry, we find it hard to trust Him when things go wrong.

In his sermon from this passage in Philippians called “God’s Cure for Anxious Care,” Dr. John Rice said, “What sin to leave the impression upon a sinning world that it is a thorny, troubled, defeated life to be a child of God! No, no do not so dishonor your profession, and so slander the God you serve! Get victory over anxious care, and be a happy, victorious Christian, shining forth like a joyful light in a sad and bitter and darkened world.”

Someone said, “Worry is wasting today’s time, to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles.” The cure for worry is to take the things that cause us distress and lay them before the Lord in prayer. It is when we take matters into our hands instead and try to solve problems apart from God’s plan that we often end up in the worst trouble. While we certainly must do our part—faith does not mean sitting around and expecting God to drop things into our lap—there is no substitute for relying on God’s promises and love for us. When we trust Him and pray, we can overcome the things that would lead us to worry.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Romans 8:26–27

If you’ve ever traveled to another country where you didn’t speak the language, you know how hard it can be to shop or order a meal in a restaurant. Sometimes what you are first presented with isn’t anything like what you wanted. And trying to ask for directions to a place you can’t pronounce correctly in a language you don’t speak may lead you to some interesting detours, but the chances of getting where you want to go are small. What you need is someone who speaks both languages and can interpret for you so that you get what you want.

The Bible teaches that our prayers need an interpreter. We like to think of ourselves as knowing what we need, and if we are not careful, we may find ourselves instructing God as to how He should work in our lives. Instead of seeking His will, we end up seeking our own. That is not what prayer is for, and God’s will and glory should always be foremost in the petitions that we take to the throne of grace.

But beyond the vital matter of submission to God’s will in prayer, the bottom line is that we simply do not have the knowledge or perspective to understand what we really need. (We have all had the experience of looking back in gratitude at the unanswered prayers for things we really wanted at the time but later discovered would not have been good for us.) What we need is the guidance and direction of the interpreter—the Holy Spirit—who speaks both our language and God’s, and who knows what we need.

“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Psalm 16:8–11

When the Children of Israel came to Mt. Sinai, God called Moses apart to receive the instructions and commandments that would govern their lives as a nation. During the time they were together, Moses asked for a revelation of God’s glory, only to be told that if he looked on God directly, he would die. God did allow Moses to glimpse His glory from the rear as He passed by, and it had a dramatic impact on Moses. Though Moses himself did not know it, that very limited exposure to God’s presence made his face shine: “And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him” (Exodus 34:30).

It is impossible for us to spend time in God’s presence without it having an impact on our lives. Many Christians who are struggling on their own without spending time in God’s presence, lack the joy, peace, and power they need because they are operating independently rather than living with a strong connection to God. Going to church once a week (or less) and only half-hearted, sporadic times of prayer and Scripture reading does not make a victorious Christian. Andrew Murray wrote, “May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love and joy of God’s presence and not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love.”

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:8–10

Someone said that the three hardest words to say in the English language are, “I need help.” We don’t like to say those words because we don’t like having to admit that we don’t have everything under control. The world (and sadly sometimes the church) places a great premium on having everything together. As the old commercial put it, the prevailing attitude is, “Never let them see you sweat.” Yet in truth, all of us face trials and troubles that are beyond our ability to resolve. We must have Divine help—and that requires an admission that we need help in the first place.

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He gave them what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer. Then He illustrated what our attitude in prayer should be with the story of a man who unexpectedly had company arrive late at night and was forced to ask his neighbor for help: “For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?” (Luke 11:6).

How hard is it for us to say to God “I have nothing”? But unless and until we reach that point, we will not receive His help. God had Gideon send home more than thirty thousand soldiers until only three hundred remained. With that small group, God worked a miracle of deliverance and victory (Judges 7). When we reach the end of ourselves and God is involved, nothing is impossible.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

1 Corinthians 2:14–16

Every two years, following the Summer or Winter Olympic Games, there is another competition for those who suffer from physical disabilities. The Paralympic Games feature many of the same sporting events as the regular games despite the difficulties they pose. During the 2014 Winter Paralympics, Kelly Gallagher from Great Britain won the gold medal in the Super-G downhill skiing competition. The demanding course sees skiers reach speeds of close to sixty miles an hour. Gallagher, who is almost completely blind, cannot see the twists and turns of the snowy course. A sighted guide skis the race in front of her, calling out the turns and jumps over a wireless headset. It is the guide's voice that enables Gallagher to safely complete the race.

The Christian life is filled with many obstacles and challenges—and often we cannot see them coming. We need to have a reliable and trustworthy guide to help us stay on course. Jesus described the ministry of the Holy Spirit this way: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13). No difficulty we face presents a surprise to Him, and no decision we must make confuses Him. We have been given this amazing resource as part of our inheritance as children of God, and we need to use it every day.

“Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.”

John 11:20–23

Outside of the disciples, Jesus had no closer friends on earth than Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. They welcomed Him into their home near Jerusalem, providing Jesus a place to rest and eat during His busy times of ministry in that city. When Lazarus took sick, Mary and Martha immediately rushed a message to Jesus, asking for His help. Yet the Lord delayed coming until Lazarus was dead and all hope was lost.

At some level, however, in Martha’s heart, there was a faith that even reached beyond the grave. Even as she expressed her disappointment that Jesus had not come to heal her brother, she expressed faith that Jesus would do the will of God. As you read this passage, you see Martha’s faith rise and fall somewhat throughout it. But she trusted that God wanted what was best for her and her family, and that He could deal with any problem she faced. In the end, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and God was glorified.

Too many Christians miss out on what God could and would do for them because they lack the faith to ask. James wrote, “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2). Why do we not pray as we should? While there are many reasons for prayer failure, the greatest is a lack of faith in God. No matter what we may say out loud, in our hearts we do not believe that God is willing or able to help.

“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

Acts 20:22–24

The difference between people who live by faith and those who walk by sight is not explained by their circumstances. The faithful face the same challenges, obstacles, and reverses that everyone else faces. It is part of living in a fallen world. The difference is that they continue to trust God, no matter what. Even after Job had lost everything to an attack from Satan that he did not deserve and did not understand, Job trusted in God. He said, “Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (Job 13:14–15).

When Paul said, “None of these things move me” he was saying that the circumstances of life carried no weight with him. Paul did not base his future on what was happening, but on the one who had called him to the work. Notice the focus of Paul’s heart. He did not love his own life, but instead loved God above all else. As a result, he was willing to face and endure hardship. I’m sure Paul would have preferred to skip the shipwrecks, the beatings, the imprisonments, and the stonings. But he was willing to allow God to direct his steps, wherever it took him, and whatever consequences followed. That is what faith in action during uncertain times looks like.

“And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

Malachi 3:5–6

For decades, ships traveling through the treacherous waters off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada relied on the Church Point Lighthouse as a landmark to make their way safely to port. Even after GPS and other tracking technology came into use, the lighthouse still stood as a visual marker for those traversing the seas. But in 2014, a massive spring storm with winds nearing hurricane force swept the 140-year-old wooden structure completely off its foundation and destroyed it. What once had been a certain landmark for travelers disappeared overnight.

The world around us is filled with change and uncertainty. Companies come and go, governments are replaced, and economic upheaval is the order of the day. It seems that nothing is sure, settled, or absolute—and many people seem to like it better that way. Yet through every alteration in our circumstances and surroundings, God remains unchanging and faithful. Because of His nature, we can count on Him to be consistent and reliable in every struggle. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

This year’s science textbook may be completely different from the one published just a few years ago because of new discoveries. This year’s history book may have been altered by archaeological findings. This year’s balance statement may be different because of new legal requirements. But the Bible is still the same, reliable, true rock because it is God’s revelation.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Romans 8:35–37

The Great Depression hit J. C. Penney’s businesses hard. Though a man of deep faith and convictions and very honest, Penney was overextended, and the crushing financial pressure took a toll on his health. He had to be hospitalized, and nothing the doctors tried seemed to help. At one point, thinking he was about to die, Penney wrote farewell letters to his wife and children. He later said, “I was broken nervously and physically, filled with despair, unable to see even a ray of hope. I had nothing to live for. I felt I hadn’t a friend left in the world.”

The next morning Penney heard singing from the hospital chapel and went to the service. The song was “God Will Take Care of You.” Penney sat through the music and the preaching, and left a changed man. He wrote, “Suddenly something happened. I can’t explain it. I can only call it a miracle. I felt as if I had been instantly lifted out of the darkness of a dungeon into warm, brilliant sunlight.” That reminder of God’s care in “the most dramatic and glorious twenty minutes of my life” stayed with Penney until his death many years later at age ninety-five.

God loves and cares for us just as much and just as wonderfully when things are going well as He does when things are going poorly. He never abandons or forsakes us, so we can always rely on Him. There is no power that can take away or hinder God’s love for us. We can rest in His love.

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:27–30

The world is filled with people trying to get to the top. There are endless courses, seminars, and books written about gaining attention, moving up the ranks and becoming famous. We look up to people who have succeeded in their fields, and often treat them as worthy of more respect than others because of their accomplishments. While there is certainly nothing wrong with succeeding through diligence, hard work, and character, receiving the praise and acclaim of men should never be our goal.

For a brief time, John the Baptist was the best known and most famous preacher of his generation. Huge crowds flocked to hear him, and many responded to his message which called for repentance and belief in the coming Messiah. But when Jesus began His ministry, most of those who once followed John began following the Lord. John could have responded by being angry at his diminished stature in the public eye, but instead he rejoiced.

That is because John understood what is truly important in life. F. B. Meyer wrote, “The only hope of a decreasing self is an increasing Christ.” God’s purpose is not that we be glorified, but that our lives glorify Him. “And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not…” (Jeremiah 45:5).