Today cars equipped with the OnStar navigation system are common. With the touch of a button, the occupants can receive 24/7 accurate and precise directions. Using satellites orbiting orbiting the Earth, the global positioning system (GPS) can determine exactly the car’s location and a route to the destination. Finding your way is as simple as following the directions. As is …
A Name of Praise
The Name Jesus Christ is heard frequently in our society. Unfortunately, His Name is used commonly as an expression of disgust, anger, irritation, or other emotional distress. Conversely, using The Name Jesus Christ in association with His Gospel or our faith in Him is met with scorn and mocking. More recently, glorfying His Name brings the threat of a lawsuit …
Light in the Manger
What is the first thing you do when you enter a dark room? If you are like most people, you look for a light. Even a familiar room can be threatening when no light is present. For example, if your wife has rearranged the furniture in the bedroom, you may have stubbed your toe as you traversed your usual path. …
The Tablecloth
The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. …
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Where can you hear the Gospel preached on prime time television? Don’t laugh – it’s a rare event, but it occurs faithfully every year in early December. It doesn’t come from a famous preacher, celebrity, or politician, it comes humbly from a child. For over fifty years God has chosen to preserve a precious ray of light by using a …
On Duty
Does the daily grind of life make work seem like a duty or obligation? Are there days when your efforts seem to be routine and pointless? Perhaps there are even times when going to church seems routine and your heart is uninspired. These times exhort us to remember that even though our duties seem ordinary, God is always working in …
Doubling Down on Death
Barely out of the womb, our Savior, Jesus Christ, came under the threat of death. King Herod had sent the Magi on a mission to find the Christ child under the pretense of wanting to worship Him (Matthew 2:7-8), but his true intention was to kill Him. As commissioned, the Magi found Baby Jesus and worshipped Him, but God double-crossed …
Salvation Captain
The angel Gabriel told Joseph, “[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus is the captain of our salvation, the High Priest of our confession, and the Savior of the world. It is only through Him that one can enter …
Everlasting LIght
Tonight at sundown, the Jewish holiday of Chanukah begins. It is a holiday Jesus Christ celebrated faithfully (John 10:22), and Jewish people celebrate the miracle God performed in anticipation of His Son’s arrival. For Christians not familiar with Chanukah, the following background information shows its relation to Jesus Christ and our faith in Him. Chanukah is the festival of lights …
Meet the Parents
How much do you know about Jesus’ Earthly parents, Joseph and Mary? If you’re like most of us, some details may be fuzzy details. The Bible contains relatively little information about Jesus’ parents, and is what God considered sufficient for us to know about them. However, a few important facts exist that all Christians should understand about the man and …