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Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:8-11

With Sweden at war with Poland, King Gustavus Adolphus ordered the construction of a massive warship to strengthen his navy. Construction on the Vasa began in 1626, and it took most of three years for the huge ship to be completed. From the battlefield the king sent a series of messages insisting that the ship be finished and launched as soon as possible. As a result, concerns about the stability of the ship were ignored, and on August 10, 1628, the Vasa set off on her maiden voyage. The ship was extremely top-heavy in large part because of more than sixty brass cannons installed on her gun decks. Because not enough ballast had been added, when a strong gust of wind caught her less than a mile after she left port, the Vasa rolled over and sank in full view of the thousands who had come to witness her first trip.

If our lives do not have a firm and solid ballast at the foundation, we will not be stable when the storms of life blow. We must build on the only sure foundation, Jesus Christ, learning His Word and living by it. Otherwise we will be subject to all sorts of temptations and false teaching. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). In a world of lies and deception we have unchanging and unfailing truth on which to build our lives.

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
 

Anyone who has ever planted a garden knows the value of patience. You place a small seed in the soil, water it, and wait. Days go by with no sign of growth. At times, you might wonder if anything is happening at all beneath the surface. But with each day of sunshine, water, and care, the seed begins to sprout. Even then, the growth is slow and requires continued nurturing. It can take weeks, months, or even years for some plants to reach their full potential and bear fruit. The gardener endures the wait because he or she believes in the harvest to come. In the same way, our trials today prepare us for something greater that we may not yet see.

Often we do not understand why God allows us to suffer and endure hardship. But He always has a purpose in everything that He allows into our lives. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). And when the days are long and the pain seems like it will never end, we have to remember that though we do suffer, it is only for a little while. The day is coming when we will enter the presence of God and all suffering will end forever. Jonathan Edwards wrote, “What tranquility will there be in heaven! Who can express the fullness and blessedness of this peace! What a calm is this! How sweet and holy and joyous! What a haven of rest to enter, after having passed through the storms and tempests of this world.”

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

1 Samuel 17:48-50

Pasqual Perez, originally from the Dominican Republic, got his Georgia drivers license on August 19, 1982. The Atlanta Braves pitcher was scheduled to start that night's game at Fulton County Stadium. But he only spoke and read a little English, and rather than getting on I-85 which would have taken him downtown to the game, he got on I-285 which circled the city instead. Over the next three hours he drove more than 150 miles around Atlanta, never finding where he needed to be. Perez finally stopped and asked for directions. He arrived at the ballpark just as the National Anthem was being played. His emergency replacement won the game in his stead, and it became a source of great amusement to Perez's teammates for the rest of the year. His locker was decorated with road maps, and he was even given a warm up jacket that said I-285 on the back where the name would normally be.

All of us face battles and conflicts every day, and it is vitally important that we be prepared for them. Even if we are facing something that seems like a giant, we should meet it head on rather than driving around in circles. When David ran toward Goliath it was a visible outward expression of his faith in God to give him the victory. There is no battle for God's children to fear, because He is always faithful to fight for those who trust in Him.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

In 2005 memorabilia collector Michael Shaw loaned the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, a pair of the famous ruby red shoes the actress had worn in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. A few months later, a man named Terry Jon Martin smashed the glass display case holding the shoes and stole them. It would take thirteen years for the FBI to finally track down the famous shoes. When Martin was put on trial, he revealed that he had been told the shoes were adorned with real rubies, and that they would be extremely valuable. When he found out they were just colored glass stones, Martin realized that his theft had been for nothing. Because of his poor health he was sentenced to time served and released.

We have one life, and if it is to count for eternity, then it must be spent on things that truly matter. It is easy for us to find the shiny things of the world attractive, but they have no lasting value. One day we will stand before God, and our work for Him will be evaluated. Our sins have been paid by the blood of Christ and we face no penalty for the debt has already been paid. But our work will be measured by the perfect and holy eyes of God, and that which was only temporal will be burned away leaving only that which is real. How we use our time and resources determines whether we will find that day joyful or painful.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. 

Genesis 4:8-10

Corrie ten Boom related the story of how she struggled to deal with what someone had done to her. She simply could not forgive and let it go. It got to the point where she couldn't sleep. She finally went to talk to a pastor who said, “Up in the church tower is a bell which is rung by pulling on a rope. But you know what? After the sexton lets go of the rope, the bell keeps on swinging. First ding, then dong. Slower and slower until there's a final dong and it stops. I believe the same thing is true of forgiveness. When we forgive, we take our hand off the rope. But if we've been tugging at our grievances for a long time, we mustn't be surprised if the old angry thoughts keep coming for a while. They're just the ding-dongs of the old bell slowing down.”

When we are angry over things that have happened and hold on to them we are on a dangerous path. While we cannot forget something that angered or hurt us completely, we can choose not to keep going back to it again and again in our thoughts. If we have really forgiven someone for what they did or failed to do, we will not keep bringing it up, either with them or to ourselves. Instead we will decide to let go of the rope. We must not forget that our willingness to forgive others has a direct impact on our fellowship with God. Jesus warned, “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15).

Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Psalm 32:2-5

Following a fatal shooting in Memphis, Tennessee, the main suspect, Deario Wilderson, fled into hiding when he found out there was a warrant out for his arrest. For months, the authorities tried to find him without success. When the US Marshals Service finally got a tip on his location, they sent a team to the house. As the officers searched through the residence, Wilderson fell through the ceiling from the attic where he had been hiding and was quickly arrested. All of his efforts to escape came to nothing, and he is now awaiting trial.

When we sin, one of our first responses is often to try to figure out a way to keep it from being found out. Like Adam in the Garden of Eden, we hope that hiding from God will keep us from having to account for what we have done. That never works. Hiding our sin only makes things worse. When we try to cover sin we suffer both spiritual and physical consequences. Though God commands us to live holy lives, He also knows our nature, and so He makes provision when we sin for our forgiveness. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). The forgiveness and restoration of close fellowship with Him that God offers only comes to those who confess, repent, and forsake their sin. Any effort to hide in the attic is doomed to failure.

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:1-5

For coin collectors, the 1975 proof set issued by the San Francisco Mint was a chance to complete a full set of US coins from that year. Because pennies from that mint were no longer being circulated, buying a full set was the only way to get one. Nearly three million sets were offered for sale at the price of $7, and were quickly snatched up. But it was later discovered that two of the sets had an error. The dime featuring President Franklin Roosevelt did not have the “S” mark showing them to be from the San Francisco Mint. Because there were only two in the world, these dimes had enormous value. In October of 2024, one of them sold in an online auction for $506,250. It had been purchased in 1978 by a dairy farmer in Ohio and kept in a bank vault ever since. Though its face value is only ten cents, that dime brought an enormous price.

There are many things in this world that seem to not have much value. Often they are overlooked by most people. The world often views the wisdom of God and the instruction of His Word as having little or no value. Yet to those who understand its true worth, it is a treasure beyond comparison. “For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it” (Proverbs 8:11). The “investment” that we make in filling our hearts and minds with the Bible produces results in our lives like nothing else can. We have been given something of great value, but it is up to us to appreciate and use it.

When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places: And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.

Numbers 33:51-53

I read a report that back in the 1800s people in London who had musical training began to notice that the errand boys who walked through the streets often whistled as they went—but they were whistling out of tune. Intrigued by the discovery, some of them began investigating. What they found was that the bells at Westminster Abbey were out of balance so the music was slightly off. The boys did not know there was anything off about the music they heard. They simply copied it, and their music was off as well.

The things around us have a powerful influence on our lives. That is why God gave the Israelites such strict instructions regarding removing the evils of idol worship from the Promised Land. They did not obey His command, and constantly struggled with idolatry and the worship of false gods. The more our influences come from the world around us, the more like the world our lives will become. Jeremiah warned, “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them” (Jeremiah 10:2).

The point is not that we completely withdraw from the world to try to avoid any influence at all. Jesus prayed in the Upper Room, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). Instead, we must keep on guard so that we are not having our hearts drawn away from God by the noise of the “music” we hear around us. This is a battle we can and must win every day.

And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

Joshua 2:9-10
 

When Joshua sent two spies into the land ahead of his attack on Jericho, they found a city that was gripped by fear. The news that two Israelites had entered the city sparked a widespread manhunt. When they took refuge with Rahab, she hid them, because what she had heard convinced her that the God of Israel was the true God, and nothing could stand against Him. This is a remarkable contrast to the report brought back by ten of the spies Moses had sent out decades before. While Joshua and Caleb were excited about the land, the other ten were terrified of the giants. “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:33).

Yet rather than viewing the Israelites as “grasshoppers” who posed no threat at all, the people of Jericho were already on the point of giving up in fear before the battle even started. Too many times we allow circumstances to dictate whether we are willing to trust God, and sometimes we do not even make an effort at all because of our fear of failure. John Newton said, “If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer—His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.” We have the promises of God to rely on, and we should never allow fear to determine whether or not we obey.

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Isaiah 59:2-4

William Bennett was Secretary of the Department of Education during the second Reagan Administration. He did a detailed analysis of problems in schools, and pointed out the staggering increase in crime among young people and what it said about our society. Bennett's conclusion was that unless the underlying moral issues were addressed, nothing else would do. He wrote, “If we turn the economy around, have full employment, live in cities of alabaster and gold, and this is what our children are doing to each other, then we still will have failed them.”

It is nothing new for God's people to live in a society filled with immorality and unbelief. It is not a novel experience to have governments honor and justify things that are wrong and condemn things that are right. History is filled with examples of nations that have turned away from following God. Yet in the midst of those moments, God's people are still commanded to do right. Before we turn our attention to the sins of society, we must make sure that our hearts are clean and the sins in our lives have been dealt with.

Only then will be prepared to answer the call of God for someone to stand up for a sinful people. “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30). Only when our hearts are in tune with Him are we able to pray for the strength and wisdom to be His voice to a world in need.

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

Psalm 90:1-4

Corrie ten Boom and her family protected over eight hundred Jews from the Nazis during the Holocaust before the ten Booms were betrayed and arrested by the Gestapo in 1944. She was sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp along with her sister Betsie. Amid the death and despair, Corrie later said she had told her sister that God had forgotten about them. “No, Corrie,” said Betsie, “He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: 'For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.'” Betsie died in that camp, and Corrie spent the rest of her life telling people about God's faithfulness. She said, “There is an ocean of God's love available—there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love—whatever the circumstances.”

We have a faithful, unfailing and unchanging Father in Heaven who loves us. He never abandons or forsakes His children, and we can trust Him even in the worst of times. Though He does not always work in the way we would prefer or on our schedule, He is always there. Every day of our lives we can turn to Him. In every trial, temptation, hardship, and circumstance, He offers us the help that we need. “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 4:16). The problem is not that God fails us, but that we fail to seek His provision. When we are distressed or discouraged, He is there. When we see no way forward, He knows the path He has planned for us. We can fully trust in God.

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

Isaiah 43:10-12

During the Civil War, D. L. Moody worked as a chaplain among the Union troops. He told the story of a young man who was a Christian, but was assigned to a regiment filled with godless unbelievers. As they drank and played cards and cursed, he knelt by his bed to pray. They laughed and threw boots at him, but despite the opposition each night, he continued praying. Before long, several of those soldiers had been saved as a result of this soldiers courageous witness, and there was a prayer meeting going on every night. After sharing this story, Moody concluded, “Oh, friends, I am so tired of weak Christianity. Let us be out and out for Christ; let us give no uncertain sound. If the world wants to call us fools, let them to it. It is only a little while; the crowning day is coming. Thank God for the privilege we have of confessing Christ.”

God's plan to reach the world is for His people to tell others about Him. The devil has filled our society with false gods for people to seek and worship. The way to overcome the lies and share the truth is not by trying to blend in so that we are not noticed. The plan God has for us is for us to stand up and stand out, showing the world the difference He has made in our lives and can make for them. “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” (Philippians 2:15).

But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.

Joshua 6:22-23

One of the great responsibilities God gives to those of us who know Him is to work and pray diligently to ensure that our family members know Him as well. The message of salvation that we have received is just as important for them as it is for us. Rahab was spared from the destruction of Jericho because she believed in the God of Israel, but she was not saved alone. She made sure her family was with her when the spies came to rescue her from the crumbling ruins of the city. There is no more important responsibility we have as parents and grandparents.

When the jailer in Philippi came into the prison after the earthquake, Paul did not just have a message for him, but for his family as well. “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house” (Acts 16:31-32). We cannot make the decision to accept Christ for someone else, but we can and must do everything in our power to reach those who are closest to us. John R. Rice wrote this hymn:

How can I meet Him without my loved ones,
How can I smile and know they are lost,
When I see Jesus up in the glory,
Without the souls He bought at such cost?

O bring your loved ones, Bring them to Jesus!
Bring every brother and sister to Him!
When come the reapers home with the harvest,
May all our dear ones be safe gathered in.

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Romans 11:16-18
 

John Chapman moved west from his birthplace in Massachusetts not long after George Washington took office as the first President of the United States. He developed an interest in fruit trees, and in his early twenties began planting his first nurseries of apple trees in Pennsylvania. Moving further west to Ohio, he continued to travel leaving behind fenced lots filled with root stock for apple trees. When the trees were two or three years old, Johnny Appleseed, as he came to be known, would return and graft the strain of apple he wanted on to the root stock. A few years later, those trees would be ready to bear fruit and could be sold to farmers wishing to put in orchards. When Chapman died, he left some 1,200 acres of planted to nurseries to his sister, filled with fruit trees that lived far beyond his lifetime.

The day that we were saved we were grafted into the family of God. Jesus is the “root stock” that not only provides our salvation, but also makes our lives fruitful for Him. Just as an apple tree will not produce unless it is first grafted together with a healthy stock, we produce nothing good apart from our connection to Jesus. He said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). There is no reason for us to ever be proud of anything we accomplish for God, because it is only His power that makes it possible. As we walk closely with Him, we will be fruitful.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Romans 8:9-11
 

The fall of the Alamo in March of 1836 was a pivotal moment in the fight for Texas to gain its independence from Mexico. The brave stand of a badly outnumbered force galvanized the people into action, and with the battle cry “Remember the Alamo” on their lips, they won the war. As far as historians know, only five of those defenders left a surviving photograph to show what they looked like. In an effort to capture the men who risked and gave their lives, the Alamo has undertaken what is known as the “Descendants Project.” They are taking photos from surviving family members and descendants of the men killed at the Alamo to give likenesses of the images of those who fell. The project says, “These portraits will give visitors a better understanding of what the Alamo defenders may have looked like.”

No one living today has seen Jesus. We do not know how tall He was, what color His eyes were, or how His face looked. And yet those of us who are His followers are commanded to show Him to those around us. “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). We form the picture and image of Jesus that is most easily seen by those around us. We shape the way Jesus is viewed by how we act and speak.

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

1 Samuel 17:34-36
 

All of us have received numerous blessings from God, not because we are wonderful, but because of His grace. This does not just happen occasionally. Every day we are blessed far beyond what we deserve. David wrote, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah” (Psalm 68:19). These blessings give us the provision we need for daily life, and give us the strength to overcome temptation and win spiritual victories we could never win on our own. We must be mindful of what God has done for us, for the natural human tendency is to lose sight of all that we have received. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” (Psalm 103:2).

When we stop to remember what God has done for us, it builds our faith for the future challenges we will face. Everyone in Saul's army, including the king, questioned the ability of a young man like David to stand against the giant Goliath. But David was fully confident—not because of his military prowess, but because of the power of God he had seen displayed in his life. The more that we are thankful, the stronger our faith becomes, because every act of thanksgiving is a reminder of what God can do. God has not changed. His promises are still just as faithful and true as ever. His working in our lives in the past is an encouragement to us to trust Him for the future.

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 2:12-15
 

In 81 AD, to honor the recently deceased emperor, the Arch of Titus was constructed in Rome. The massive arch which is 50 feet tall and 44 feet wide is still standing after extensive restoration work in the 1800s. One of the main features of the arch is the depiction of some of the items taken from the Temple in Jerusalem when the Romans conquered the city. Among them are the menorah, the trumpets, the fire pans, and the table of shewbread. Depicting these items of a conquered people was a way to display the might and power of Rome and to honor the victorious general. The Roman tradition of the “triumph” a public celebration of a victorious leader was immortalized in stone for future generations to see.

When Jesus defeated the devil, rising from the grave after dying on the cross, He openly demonstrated His victory, making it clear for all to see. It is that victory that makes it possible for us to be forgiven and freed from the power of Satan once and for all. “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:25-26). The tribute to that victory is not a statue or a column or a city, but the individual believers who rejoice in their deliverance and give thanks to God for providing the ultimate and eternal victory.

For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Psalm 22:28-31

The first elections under the US Constitution were held in 1788, and the first Congress took office the following year. One of their early acts was to pass a resolution calling for a national day of thanksgiving. In response President George Washington issued an official proclamation for a “Day of Publick Thanksgiving.” He wrote, “I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks—for His kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war.”

There is never a day when we do not have multiple reasons to be grateful, and our thanks to God should be far more than a once-a-year event. Giving thanks has a powerful impact on our own lives and hearts, but it is also a powerful testimony to those who come behind us. As we retell the ways God has worked in our lives and blessed us and answered our prayers, we establish a foundation of faith for our children, grandchildren, and those yet to come. Being thankful to God is not just about the past but is a powerful investment in the future as well.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Colossians 3:8-11

John Bunyan lost his mother at a young age and went into the army when he was just sixteen. He picked up a number of bad and sinful habits along the way. After his conversion Bunyan described himself in his early years as, “the very ringleader of all the Youth that kept me company, in all manner of vice and ungodliness.” After Bunyan was saved, he became a preacher. In addition to preaching, Bunyan wrote a number of books including his most famous, The Pilgrim's Progress. 

Bunyan also wrote a book entitled The Jerusalem Sinner Saved; OR Good News for the vilest of men being a help for despairing souls, shewing that Jesus Christ would have mercy in the first place offered to the biggest sinners. In his introduction to this book Bunyan said, “One reason which moved me to write and print this little book was, because, though there are many excellent heart-affecting discourses in the world that tend to convert the sinner, yet I had a desire to try this simple method of mine; wherefore I make bold thus to invite and encourage the worst to come to Christ for life. I have been vile myself, but have obtained mercy; and I would have my companions in sin partake of mercy too.” The old nature that all of us were born with is sinful in every way. We have nothing good to offer to God, and nothing we can do to earn His grace. It is freely given to us, and it is up to us to live according to the new nature we receive at salvation.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:19-21

No matter how much our culture may try to deny its existence, sin is real. Any behavior that violates God's law is wrong, and every attempt to downplay or excuse it is doomed to failure. There are no acceptable reasons for sin in the eyes of God. Sin is not only real, but sin is powerful as well. 

We all have a propensity to sin that makes us susceptible to temptation. As the old hymn puts it, we are “prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” Even when we try to do right in our own strength, we come up short. Paul admitted, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Romans 7:19).

The good news is that grace is even more powerful than sin. Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, God's grace is applied to the lives of those who accept Jesus as Savior, not just for their salvation but for daily victory over sin as well. The abounding grace of God is always there for us, and it should be growing stronger and stronger in our lives. J. C. Ryle wrote, “When I speak of a man 'growing in grace,' I mean simply this—that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, his spiritual-mindedness more marked. He feels more of the power of godliness in his own heart. He manifests more of it in his life. He is going on from strength to strength, from faith to faith, and from grace to grace.”

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 1:21-23

Jesus was always fully and completely God. He did not stop being God when He, just as the ancient prophets had foretold, was born as a human baby in Bethlehem. Jesus was God since eternity past, and He will be God for the rest of eternity.

But to most of the people crowded into Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born, His birth went unnoticed. But it was announced with great joy to shepherds who rushed to see the baby. The birth of any child is a cause for happiness, but the birth of this Child was the source of hope, the voice of love, and the proof of God's faithfulness. Jesus came to be our Savior, and because of that, we rejoice.

When we celebrate Christmas, we are not just marking a day for family and feasting and presents. We are remembering the most important birth in all of human history. We are observing the only reason we have hope for eternity. Sometimes Christmas can be so hectic and frazzled that we lose sight of its true meaning, but we must take the time to stop and reflect on what the birth of Jesus means. When we do that, we will have the joy of Christmas in our hearts.

Martin Luther captured this well in the following poem:

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep,
I too must sing, with joyful tongue,
That sweetest ancient cradle song,

Glory to God in highest Heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given
While angels sing with pious mirth.
A glad new year to all the Earth.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

1 Peter 1:18-21
 

The promise of a coming Savior was first given to Adam and Eve after sin entered into the world. The clothing they made of fig leaves did not suffice, and so in a depiction of what Jesus would do, God killed a lamb to provided a covering for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). Just a few verses earlier, God gave the first promise of a Savior: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15).

While that was the first promise that Jesus would come, it was not the start of God's plan for our salvation. That plan was formed even before the world was created. The fact that God made man knowing that we would sin and need redemption, and knowing the price of that redemption is a powerful statement of His love for us.

Throughout the centuries, people who believed the promises of God looked for the Messiah to appear. Yet when Jesus came, many did not recognize Him as the fulfillment of the promise. “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” (John 1:10-12). In our day many people still do not see Jesus as the only Savior for their sins. Some view Him as a deluded zealot. Others claim He was a good teacher and example. All men need salvation, but only those who accept Jesus become the children of God.

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.

Luke 2:25-26

During his lifetime, Charles Wesley wrote more than 6,500 hymns. Even as he traveled and preached and ministered with his brother John, Charles took time to write constantly. Among the hymns to which Wesley penned the words, at least 18 were focused on Christmas. One of the first of those was a meditation on the way Jesus' coming fulfilled ancient promises. It is titled “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.”

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Through the centuries, God's people had waited for the promised Messiah. By the time He appeared, many of them had lost sight of the spiritual nature of the Savior. Instead they were seeking deliverance from Roman rule and for Israel to be restored as an independent nation. This mistaken understanding was found even among those who followed Jesus most closely. 

The reality is that Jesus will come again and will set up a physical Kingdom. As Christians, we look and long for that day. But until then, we should remember that Jesus came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Jesus came to save us from our sins, and He gives us the opportunity to tell others how they, too, can know Him as their personal Savior. 

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:7-10

In a Peanuts comic strip Lucy is speaking with Linus at the base of a hill. She says, "Someday I'm going over that hill and find the answer to my dreams...Someday I'm going over that hill and find hope and fulfillment. I think, for me, all the answers to life lie beyond these clouds and over the grassy slopes of that hill!" Linus removes his thumb from his mouth, points toward the hill, and responds: "Perhaps there's another little kid on the other side of that hill who is looking this way and thinking that all the answers to life lie on this side of the hill." Lucy looks at Linus, then turns toward the hill and yells, "Forget it, kid!"

Jesus came into the world for a purpose. He came to a world filled with people who had no hope for this life or the next, and offered them abundant life. There was nothing accidental or selfish about the life Jesus lived. He dedicated Himself even as a child to accomplishing the mission God had set for Him. When His parents asked why He had remained behind in the Temple when they set out to return to Nazareth, Jesus expressed His priorities. “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 2:49). The meaning and purpose of life are only found in Him, and our hope for eternity is fixed on Him as well.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 2:14-17
 

In the fourth century, Athanasius was one of the leaders in the fight against the Arian heresy that Jesus did not always exist. Athanasius insisted that Jesus was and had always been God, just as the Bible teaches. Five times he was exiled from his church in Alexandria, Egypt, for his fearless stand for the truth, but he never recanted, and continued to return to his pulpit. He was called Athanasius Contra Mundum for declaring that if the whole world stood against the truth, then he would stand against the whole world. Speaking on the nature of Jesus, Athanasius said, “He became what we are that He might make us what He is.”

Jesus did not come into the world with only His divine nature. He did not come as an angel. Instead, He came as a man, fully human while still being fully God. He knows what it feels like to be tired, to be hungry, to be lied about, to be forsaken, and to suffer. He understands exactly what our lives are like. “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” (Hebrews 4:15). When we come to Him in prayer, we do not have to explain why we are struggling. He understands us, and He loves us. When we trust Him as our Savior, He saves us and changes everything about our lives.

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:13-16

In 1997 author and TV host Larry King celebrated forty years as a broadcaster with a special program. King had become most famous as an interviewer, asking questions of a wide variety of guests on his shows. That evening the tables were turned, and he was on the receiving end of the questions. Bryant Gumbel asked him, “What questions would you ask God if He were a guest on your show?” King responded, “Do you have a Son?” King was not a Christian, but a self-described agnostic, yet even he recognized the importance of that question.

The nature and identity of Jesus and how we respond to Him is the central question of all of life. How we answer it determines our eternal destiny. Jesus was not a good teacher, or a revolutionary, or a deluded misfit. He was, and is, and always will be God, and the only Savior for a lost and dying world. Every individual must answer the question Pilate asked at Jesus' trial. “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified” (Matthew 27:22).

We can choose to ignore and reject Him as the mob that called for Jesus' death did. We can choose to let others do whatever they like as Pilate did. But unless we choose to accept Him as our Savior, we have no hope for the future. “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

Exodus 12:5-7
 

One of the Old Testament events that paints a clear picture of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice happened surrounding the final plague that struck Egypt. Because Pharaoh refused to let God's people go, God declared that on a particular night every firstborn in the nation would perish. But He provided a way for those who believed His promise to be spared. Each family was instructed to take a lamb, sacrifice it, and put the blood on the top and side of the door. The sight of that blood meant that death would pass over that house. God commanded this night be remembered with the annual observance of Passover. Jesus fulfilled that picture. “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

It is not a coincidence that the angels announced the birth of the Messiah to shepherds. Jesus did not come as a conquering king, but as a sacrificial lamb. That is the way John the Baptist introduced Him to the nation of Israel. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus came into the world on a mission to provide the sacrifice that would make it possible for us to be saved. He was the perfect, spotless Lamb who would lay down His life willingly out of His great love for us. When Mary laid Jesus in the manger, His path to the cross was already set.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 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.

John 3:14-16
 

The conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus happened under the cover of darkness rather than in public. In that private setting the religious leader felt free to question Jesus about His teaching. When Jesus talked to him about the new birth and the need of mankind for a Savior, it caught Nicodemus off guard. He wasn't sure what Jesus was talking about. Then Jesus made it clear that He had come down from Heaven for the purpose of saving the lost. He referred back to the Old Testament story of the brass serpent that Moses made when poisonous snakes started biting the complaining Israelites. Anyone who had the faith to look at that serpent would be healed. In the same way, looking to Jesus for salvation is the only cure for our sin.

There is an interesting side note to that story Jesus referenced. The Israelites kept that brass serpent. Originally it was a reminder of God's healing power, but over time it actually became an idol they worshiped. Finally during the reign of Hezekiah the brass serpent was destroyed. “He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan” (2 Kings 18:4). At this time of year it is easy for us to lose our focus on what really matters. If we are not careful, we can fall into the trap of paying more attention to the things God provides than to Him. We have to keep Christ at the center of our lives, not just at Christmas but every day.

He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Numbers 24:16-17
 

When Balak, the king of the Moabites, saw the vast host of the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land, he was terrified. He did not think his army could win a battle against so many. So he called for the prophet Balaam to come and curse them. Though God at first told him not to go, eventually He allowed Balaam to make the journey. Balak wanted curses, but Balaam spoke blessings instead, because that is what God gave him to say. Along with the blessings Balaam announced a vision of the future, that included one of the Old Testament pictures of the coming Messiah, calling him a Star. This matches the language the wise men used when they arrived in Jerusalem. “Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). 

Prophetic voices through the centuries gave notice that Jesus would come, including the place and approximate timing of His birth. Every prophecy was fulfilled to the last detail. But many of the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus were focused on His second coming, not the first. Those prophecies have not yet been fulfilled, but we can be certain that they will. The Star rose, just as Balaam spoke. The Sceptre will also come and Jesus will return. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Matthew 21:42-44

I heard a story about a woman who was doing her last-minute Christmas shopping at a crowded mall. She was tired of fighting the crowds. She was tired of standing in lines. She was tired of fighting her way down long aisles looking for a gift that had sold out days before. Her arms were full of bulky packages when the elevator door opened, and it was full. The occupants of the elevator grudgingly tightened ranks to allow a small space for her and her load. As the doors closed, she blurted out, “Whoever is responsible for this whole Christmas thing ought to be arrested, strung up, and shot!” A few others nodded their heads or grunted in agreement. Then from somewhere in the back of the elevator came a single voice that said, “Don't worry. They already crucified Him.”

It can be easy to look at all the Christmas decorations and hear the old carols being played in public and think that the world is softening its opposition to the message that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. That is not the case. Jesus was not received with open arms then, and He is not being received now either. “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3). Yet the rejection of the world does nothing to change the fact that Jesus is the chosen cornerstone and will one day rule the entire world.

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

With the war raging in Israel last year, the Jerusalem Post reported there was “No Christmas in Bethlehem.” The report said, “Bethlehem is normally at its busiest at Christmas, but this year’s war has scared away tourists and pilgrims from the Palestinian town in the West Bank, leaving hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops deserted. 'We have no guests. Not one,' said Joey Canavati, owner of the Alexander Hotel, whose family has lived and worked in Bethlehem for four generations. This is the worst Christmas ever. Bethlehem is shut down for Christmas. No Christmas tree, no joy, no Christmas spirit. All we get on the email is cancellation after cancellation after cancellation.'”

There are dozens of wars, conflicts, rebellions, and civil uprisings taking place across the globe today. The world rejected the Prince of Peace when He came, and there will never be true peace until Jesus rules the world. Yet even before that day comes, there is another peace available to those who trust Him, and it is far more important than the absence of earthly conflict. Through His grace all who come to Jesus as Savior can have peace with God. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Sin does not just spark conflict between individuals and nations. Sin drives us apart from the presence of a holy God. Sin robs us of the most important peace of all, and only through the righteousness of Jesus applied to our account can we enjoy a peaceful relationship with God.

Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Psalm 33:8-11

It is easy for us to look at the world around us and think the human leaders and powerful nations are in control of what happens. But while they certainly have a great deal of influence, they are not in charge—God is. He can turn any human heart in whatever direction He chooses, even the heart of a powerful ruler. “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). This knowledge gives us great certainty and strength in our faith. No matter what we see happening around us, God is in control.

We see this truth illustrated in the Christmas story. The ancient prophets had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, but Mary and Joseph lived some ninety miles away in Nazareth. That posed no challenge to God. He arranged matters in the most powerful empire the world had ever seen to fulfill His promises: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed” (Luke 2:1).

We do not need to know in advance how God will work out every detail in our lives to do all that He has spoken. We simply need to trust His faithfulness and goodness and rely on Him to arrange the things that must happen that are beyond our control. We can fully trust God no matter what is going on around us, because no matter what is going on around us, He is still in charge. No effort on the part of anyone to thwart His plan will ever succeed.

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

In a Peanuts cartoon strip, Charlie Brown goes to Lucy for a nickel's worth of psychiatric help. She proceeds to attempt to pinpoint his particular fear. “Perhaps,” she says, “You have hypengyphobia, which is the fear of responsibility. Charlie Brown says, “No.” “Well, perhaps you have ailurophobia, which is the fear of cats.” “No.” “Well, maybe you have climacophobia, which is the fear of staircases.” “No.” Exasperated, Lucy says, “Well, maybe you have pantophobia, which is the fear of everything.” “Yes,” says Charlie, “That is the one!”

Fears are a reality of life in a fallen world. Yet we do not have to live in fear. As children of God we can live in the peace and certainty that His promises provide. As believers who have received the good news of a Savior and have trusted in Him, we can have joy rather than fear. As we grow in our understanding of God's love for us, our fears will subside, and our love for Him will increase. The Bible tells us, “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).

The shepherds were terrified when the night skies lit up with the presence of a host of angels. They had never seen anything like that before. However what they did not realize was the very thing that was filling their hearts with fear was actually the solution to fear. The angel's “Fear not” is a message that still echoes today. The birth of Christ and what it means, when we understand and believe it, places us in a position where we need never live in fear again.

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:32-35

The town of Bethlehem was important to Israel's history even before it became known as the hometown of David, Israel's greatest king. It was the place where Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin and was buried. Rachel's husband Jacob told his sons, “And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem” (Genesis 48:7). Bethlehem was also the home of Ibzan, one of the judges of Israel. But it entered prominence with the arrival of Ruth, who would marry Boaz. Their great-grandson David would be born there in a town whose name means “house of bread.”

There is no more fitting birthplace for the Bread of Life than Bethlehem. He came to provide the food that brings eternal life, and that provision is not limited in its scope. There is more than enough for all who believe. “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The reason that Naomi and her family left Bethlehem for Moab was a famine—a shortage of bread to eat. Those who come to the Savior born in the house of bread will always find Him willing and able to meet their greatest need. Jesus Christ, of the seed of David and born in David's hometown, is the Bread of Life for all mankind.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:4-7
 

In 1878 Civil War veteran and noted hymn writer Daniel Whittle adapted a poem that had originally been published anonymously into a new song that began to be used in D. L. Moody's evangelistic crusades. It asks a pointed question—a question that every one of us must answer.

Have you any room for Jesus
He who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission,
Sinner, will you let Him in?

Room for pleasure, room for business;
But for Christ, the crucified,
Not a place that He can enter,
In the heart for which he died!

Room for Jesus, King of Glory!
Hasten now, His word obey!
Swing the heart’s door widely open!
Bid Him enter while you may.

When Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem, there were no hotel chains, no Airbnb, and no short term vacation rentals. Travel was difficult and dangerous, and apparently there was only one inn there in the town for visitors. Because so many people traced their lineage back to David, the town where he was born was crowded because of the Roman census. There was no place for the couple to stay, despite the fact that Mary was pregnant. So the Son of God was born, not in a palace, or even a home, but in a stable and placed in a feeding trough for animals. Certainly if the people of Bethlehem had realized that the Messiah was being born in their town, they would have willingly given up their own bedrooms. But they had no room in their hearts or their homes for Jesus.

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. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1:14-17

Fiorello LaGuardia was mayor of New York City during the Great Depression and World War II. His colorful antics made the “Little Flower,” as he was known, a popular figure. Often he would ride with firefighters or policemen, joining them on the front lines rather than sitting back in his office. One night in January 1935, LaGuardia took over from a night court judge and began hearing cases. An elderly woman was brought up under charges of stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia she had stolen the bread because her daughter's husband had left the family, the daughter was very sick, and her two grandchildren had nothing to eat. Despite her sad story, the store owner insisted on pressing charges. LaGuardia said, “I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions—ten dollars or ten days in jail.” He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a $10 bill. “Here is the fine which I now remit,” LaGuardia said. According to newspaper accounts, the lady left the court room with an additional $47.50 in her pocket, contributed from those in attendance.

Grace gives us what we do not deserve, and it is only because of Jesus that God's grace is available to us. He came into the world bringing the grace which is our only hope. Nothing we do can deserve what God freely gives. Insisting that we must do something to receive it denies the nature of grace. “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).

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 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 3:17-19
 

The brightest man-made light in the world is believed to be the Sky Beam at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a room near the top of he pyramid shaped building, thirty-nine xenon lights are focused by mirrors to shoot up into the night sky. Each bulb is 7,000 watts, and together they produce a light measured at 42.3 billion candelas which is the equivalent output of 130,000 100 watt light bulbs. When all the lights are on, the temperature in the light room can reach nearly 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The light is visible to pilots from nearly 300 miles away. Scientists say it reaches up so far and is so bright that you could read a book by the light of Sky Beam if you were 10 miles out in space.

Jesus came into a world darkened by sin as the light that would offer men a way to God. Though His glory was cloaked because He had a human body, it was still there. That glory is bright enough to make the sun unnecessary. “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23). And just as the moon reflects the brightness of the sun in the night sky, as children of God we are to reflect the light of Jesus to the world around us. It is in our words, and even more in our actions, that their opinion of His light is shaped and formed.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah 40:3-5

In 1650, King Charles II sent instructions to the royal governors of the colonies of Massachusetts and South Carolina to begin work on a road that would link the northern and southern colonies. The Old King's Highway would stretch from Boston, Massachusetts, to Charlestown, South Carolina, covering some 1,300 miles. Though construction began quickly, it would take eighty-five years before the road was finally completed. Building the road required careful planning and then extensive excavation and building bridges. The goal was to make the trip as smooth as possible so every possible obstacle needed to be removed. The route was well-chosen, as many years later much of it was later paved over and became part of the highway system, including US 1, US 17, and US 20.

The arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem was the result of a great deal of preparation. All of the pieces had to be in place to fulfill the ancient prophecies, and God worked behind the scenes to ensure that everything was right. The ministry of Jesus was the same, and John the Baptist was sent as the final messenger to announce the arrival of the Messiah. “He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias” (John 1:23). In our day it is our responsibility to clear out any obstacles that would keep people from hearing the gospel. When our lives are straight and true, it makes it much easier to tell people about Jesus in such a way that they will receive the message.

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 2:7-9
 

The moment sin entered into the world through Adam's fall, a divide between God and man was created. Once, Adam and Eve had enjoyed perfect fellowship with God, but now instead of rushing to meet Him, they tried to hide. Now, we are all born into this world as sinners who are separated from God because of our sin.

God's perfect holiness cannot tolerate the presence of sin. But His perfect love desires a relationship with us. So God sent His Son into the world to bridge the divide and pay the penalty we could not. That is the meaning of Christmas. “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:37).

Though we do not usually think of it as a Christmas song, “He Came to Me” perfectly sums up the reason Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

The gulf that separated me from Christ, my Lord,
It was so vast the crossing I could never ford;
From where I was to His domain, it seemed so far,
I cried, “Dear Lord, I cannot come to where you are.”

He came to me, O, He came to me.
When I could not come to where He was, He came to me.
That's why He died on Calvary,
When I could not come to where He was, He came to me.

And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Isaiah 25:7-9

The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was cause for rejoicing, as the angel told the shepherds. “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 2:10). Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, some seven hundred years before Jesus was born, had already described the coming of the Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled all of those promises. In fact in His first public sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth where He had grown up, Jesus read one of those prophecies and declared that He was the one whose coming had been foretold. “And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21).

However, many of the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus have not yet been fulfilled. The accuracy and reliability of the promises of God that have already come to pass build a foundation for our faith that all of the other things foretold will happen just as God's Word says. That is a source of great joy for us as we look forward to the day when death will no longer exist, our tears are wiped away, and the whole world lives under the rule of the Prince of Peace. There are days when we look at the world around us and see only trouble, but the ultimate triumph of Jesus is already assured.

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. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Luke 2:17-20

A Canadian pastor wrote about a Christmas Eve service in the 1800s when a thunderstorm unleashed a bolt of lightning that plunged the church into darkness. The pastor handed out candles to everyone present. People lit their candles in much the same way as many churches do on Christmas Eve, each person lighting the candle of the person next to them. The worshipers then made their way through the church's winding hallways to the front door. Peering out, they could see the rain coming down in sheets. They soon realized that the entire city was in darkness. There in the darkness they stood, a little band of Christians, each clutching a light, not sure whether to venture out into the storm or stay inside the church in hopes that the storm would soon blow over. He said, "It occurred to me then that this is the temptation I face every day. It is easy to play it safe and be a good Christian in church. It is a lot harder to venture out in faith into the storms of the world.”

The real message of Jesus' birth is not just for us and our benefit alone, but for us to share with others as well. In a time of darkness, the light shines more brightly. Sharing that light with others is God's plan for each of our lives. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16).