Before we come to the baby in a manger, we must see the Lord sitting upon his throne in all his glory and holiness. But the only way for us to come before the Lord is by the baby in a manger.
Tag: devotional
Who added it? We’re not sure. When was it added? Probably some time in the second century. Why was it added? That’s a great question.
The Christian life often feels like being a sheep wandering in the desert, with little sustenance and dangers all around. Left to ourselves we have no guarantee of safety. For those of us charged with leading our fellow believers—whether we be pastors, ministry volunteers, mentors, parents, older siblings, or any other leadership role—we often feel unequipped and overwhelmed. The good news is, we have a Good Shepherd leading us.
Many people expect righteous people to look strange, but Jesus’ righteousness was a strange kind of strange. Jesus kept company with fisherman, tax collectors, and sinners. He flipped tables in the temple courts. He publicly criticized religious leaders—and they publicly executed him.
Jesus has become a polarizing figure. People either love or hate him. In the face of that, Jesus is not making his message more digestible for a broader audience. He himself is drawing sharper lines. Teaching in parables is the next development in that separation.
Jesus teaches us that he brings a new kind of religion—one that is rooted in mercy and celebration.
After enduring the anxiety of death and all the chaos of hell, Jesus rose as the King of kings, the crowned Prince of heaven who was victorious over all his enemies. And the first words this champion king spoke to his fearful disciples was “Peace be with you.”
We have not been left in our sin any more than Jesus has been left in the grave.
People are desperately looking for hope, for meaning, for understanding, for purpose, for relief from suffering, for forgiveness of all the wrong they’ve done. The God of the Bible offers all of that and we as Christians are in the same position as Jonah. We have the words of life for those in desperate need—though they may sound like words of death.
If you’re anything like me, you have one primary question on your mind at the end of Jonah 3. Where is the justice? How can God relent His punishment? Like we already said, no amount of personal suffering can undo all the evil Nineveh has done; their enemies are still dead, raped, and homeless. How can all of that go unpunished? It can’t. And it doesn’t.
Take Note Of This 