Verse for Today - Psalm 2:9-11 (click to read)

"Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."

 These verses from Psalm 2 are remarkably pointed.  They speak prophetically of the coming Messiah... and more.  They warn the mighty, the rich and powerful people of earth.  By logical extension, the commands and warnings to them, are commands and warnings to all (ourselves included).

The Kings and Judges of the world might have influence and wealth now, but one day THEY will all give account before the Lord of all.  They are told to respond rightly, with wisdom, to the Christ the Lord.  "Be wise," "Be instructed," Serve the LORD with fear and Rejoice with trembling."  "Kiss the Son." 

Why?  Because when He returns, it will be for judgment.  How one responds to the Gospel of Christ makes all the difference.  Those who pay Him no respect will perish; but "blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."    

"God's grace is free, but it costs you everything."  If you have questions, I can tell you about the One who has the answers.  :)

Verse for Today - James 4:10 (Click to READ)

James 4:10

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of James 4

This verse in James 4 is found amid of exhortations in which the inspired author instructs believes how to see themselves and live in the world.  I remember when I first read and preached on this passage I was almost embarrassed by the strong language and forceful words.  Verse 10 is mild by comparison.

We're told to humble ourselves before the Lord... we do this by recognizing his greatness and our sinfulness.  He is the Lord and Master of all and we are unworthy and undeserving creatures.  I've said before that when we pray with out faces to the ground, we are modeling the proper relationship between ourselves, others and God.  

A little earlier in this passage an important verse from Proverbs 3:34 is quoted: . 

"God opposes the proud 

 but shows favor to the humble."

That should be reason enough for us to obey today's verse... and yet there is also a promise... "and He will lift you up."  How cool is that.

Verse for Today - Luke 2:11-14 (click to read blog)

Luke 2:11-14

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.””

 Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Luke 2

 I thought I should finish the daily verses from Luke 2.  I have always been drawn to the Angel proclamation of these verses.  I’m reminded of Gabriel who replied to Zacharius’ doubt, “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.”  Their proclamations come with heaven’s endorsement and are exactly what they’re supposed to be.  I suppose the same can be said of all Scripture, but there’s something impressive about hearing heaven’s commentary or a “Thus says the LORD.”  I think such words remind us of our creaturely-ness.

 The Angel’s announcement is that Christ has been born… and that they can go and see him.  Then the heavens open up and a multitude of heavenly hosts (angels, warriors, creatures, etc.) proclaim the gracious work of redemption in Christ:

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Verse for Today - Luke 2:8-11 (click to read blog)

Luke 2:8-11

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Luke 2

The simple yet profound account of Christ's birth continues in today's verses.  Verse 7 had just informed us that the time for Mary to give birth had come.  "She brought forth her first born Son, and laid Him in an manger."  

Verse 8 then begins by telling us of some of the subsequent events.  An angel appears to some shepherds who were out in the fields.  We're not told far they were from the city, but we are told what message was given to them.   

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

How beautifully and simply put is that?  Great joy for all the people, because the Messiah, the Savior has been born.  That great joy has and will echo to every generation to the end of the world.  Reminds me of Acts 1:8 

"...and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Verse for Today - Luke 2:6-7 (click to read blog)

Luke 2:6-7

"So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. "

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Luke 2

The previous verses told us that Mary and Joseph had traveled to Bethlehem because of the census.  While there, she gave birth to the incarnate (in the flesh) Son of God... the second person of the Trinity.  That a man could be a real God, we could never believe.  That Almighty God could enter humanity through the gestation process, that we can and must believe... as the Angel Gabriel had said to Mary in Luke 1, "For with God all things are possible."

Verse 7 then identifies the place in which Jesus was born and why.  Jesus was likely born in a stable and feeding trough ( manger ) was used as a bed, as there was on room for them in the inn.  Simple reality...there were lots of people in Bethlehem for the census.  But typological or representative as well.  Listen to how John speaks of this reality in John 1: 

¹⁰ "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him."

Verse for Today - Luke 2:1,4-5 (click to read)

Luke 2:1, 4-5

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Luke 2

While for years the prophetic timetable seemed to make little headway, as we read the opening passages of the Gospels everything is moving along quickly. The details surrounding the birth of Christ are interesting and contextualizing.  They provide a witness and record of the events to show that what we're dealing with in the Christian faith, took place in real time and space (history).  In Mark 1 these preliminary events are overlooked and goes right to the meat of the matter, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." 

For a time liberal scholars castigated the Scriptures as being unreliable and inaccurate.  One of their straw men was that there was no extant evidence of Quirinius or the census mentioned in verse 2.  We should not be surprised that sometime later archaeological evidence validated them both.

Today's verses provide just a little bit more of the circumstances and setting for the birth of Christ Jesus.  A couple of things are clear.  1. Another witness to Joseph's obedience to the Angel's directions to take Mary as his wife.  2. Their trip to Bethlehem was approximately 6 months from the angel's visit.  Mary has visited Elizabeth for three months... returned home and was found to be with child.  3. The time for her to give birth was approaching.

All this is part of the Gospel.  Well does the QA 22 of the Heidelberg Catechism say that true faith consists, not only with the conviction that all that God has revealed to us in his Word is true, but it does begin with this.  Do you really believe what Scriptures says?  It is the great discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Confidence in God's written Word isn't enough to save you, but it is the foundation on which true faith stands.

True faith also includes a hearty trust that not only to others, but to ourselves individually, God has freely granted the forgiveness of sins, eternal righteousness, and salvation, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits.  

Verse for Today Blog - Luke 1:76-78 (click to read)

Luke 1:76-78

"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven...."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Luke 1

Today's Verse is the conclusion of the Zechariah's prophetic song.  Zechariah is John the Baptist's father.  He had previously sung about the One greater than his Son, but is now speaking now of the work and ministry of John the Baptist.  He will be "a prophet of the Most High."  This reference to God is generally used to refer to God the Father, but here it's not necessarily exclusive.    As Christ is God Incarnate it may well refer to Him also.

John's ministry was preparatory.  He was calling the nation of Israel to repent...  to get real about their faith... to view themselves and their sin more accurately.  It's important to realize that the summary of John's ministry was, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."  Formality and traditions had been substituted to true and sincere religion.  John was preparing them to humbly receive the Christ.

The final phrase is most beautiful. "because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun (Dayspring) will come to us from heaven."  In other words, God has shown us his compassion and let the light of His grace in Christ shine upon us.  How wonderful is that?  The song then concludes with these words, 

⁷⁹ To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, 
      To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Verse for Today - Luke 26-28 (click to read)

Luke 1:26-28

"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Luke 1

This begins Luke's account of the conversation between the virgin Mary and the Angel Gabriel.  The account is set in history by the sixth month, which might be the 6th month in the calendar or as we learn in verse 36, the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. 

We're told relatively few things.  The angel's name, Gabriel, the woman's name, Mary.  That she was betrothed (promised to be married) to Joseph, who was of the house or lineage of King David.  

What follows is his words of greeting.  She is urged to rejoice as one highly favored, blessed among women.  If we would stop there, some confusion would remain.  In fact, Mary's response is just that.  She is puzzled or as the text says troubled at his words.

He then explains that she will give birth to the promised Messiah:

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. ³³ And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

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Verse for Today Blog - Galatians 4:4-5 (click to read)

Galatians 4:4-5

"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Galatians 4

This is a great verse to remember during the Christmas holidays.  It reminds that God knew exactly what He was doing.  As He is God Almighty... He not only created all things, but also governs all things to fulfill the purposes.  He was directing the events of history and even those of the geo-political landscape in anticipation of of the coming Christ.  

Things were ready prophetically.  As per Daniel's prophecy, nations had risen and fallen and now was the time for the Kingdom God to become established on earth.   Things were read practically.  Among of the benefits of the Greek-Roman World was universal language (Greek).  Another was ease of transportation (roads/ships).  

This is all part of what was meant by the phrase "When the time had fully come."  When everything was set, God sent forth His Son...born of a woman, born under law for the express purpose of fulfilling our redemption.... "to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the adoption to sonship."

In short, this is the gospel.  Hallelujah, What a Savior!

John 3:16,17 makes the same point:

¹⁶ "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Verse for Today Blog Deuteronomy 18:15 (click to read)

Deuteronomy 18:15

 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”

 Read at Bible Gateway

 Read all of Deuteronomy 18

 This is one of the major prophecies from Moses regarding the coming Messiah.  This expectation becomes evident during the course of Jesus earthy ministry.   We hear hints of this after the Sermon on the Mount when the people say that Jesus taught with authority and them not as the scribes.

  When John the Baptist began his ministry along the Jordan he was asked several occasions if he was the Prophet.   He proclaims that he is not the Prophet, but that the He is soon to come.  When he sees Christ before his baptism, he proclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

There are several places that Deuteronomy is quoted with reference to Christ.  The most clearly in Acts 3.  However, one of the most striking is found in John 6 after Jesus fed the 5000 we read the conclusion of the multitude.

  ¹³ ”Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. ¹⁴ Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.””  There is a similar reference in John 7:31:

 “And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?””

 In conclusion note the implication of what should be done when the Prophet appears.  We must listen to him.  These words are echoed in the transfiguration… when God the Father thunders from heaven, “THIS IS MY WELL BELOVED SON, LISTEN TO HIM!“

 Do you hear what I hear?  Are you listening?