Have you ever spent time living in a place very different from where you grew up? At first it feels very disorienting. You have to learn new customs, new wa250pxys of speaking, new routines in daily life. Over time, though, that experience often gives you a fresh perspective, not only on the new place, but also on your old home.
     Peter tells us that something like this has happened to us spiritually. When God brought us into his light through Christ, he made us “foreigners and exiles.” We didn’t cross . . . . a border or move to another country. Instead, our whole way of life changed. Once we lived according to human nature, without lasting hope. Now we belong to God. In Christ, we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession (1 Peter 2:9).
     That word “foreigner” can sound negative. It can suggest not fitting in or being out of place. But for the Christian, this “foreignness” is a gift. It means we no longer belong to the darkness. Our values and hopes are shaped by Christ, not by the patterns of the world around us.
     Because of that, Peter urges us to take our souls seriously. Sinful desires are harmful. They wage war against us. This may sound obvious, but there are plenty of people who don’t pay attention to the condition of their soul. We care for our souls as the most precious thing God has given us in Christ, our Savior.
     So be thankful today. God has brought you into his light. Even if that makes you “foreign” here, you already belong fully to him. He has redeemed you for your eternal home.
 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. (1 Peter 2:11)

Of all the things we pursue, the greatest is life with the Lord. There is no more fulfilling or hopeful path than that of knowing God and his grace.

And along with seeking the Lord goes seeking humility. They belong together. The prophet Zephaniah joins them in the same verse for us: Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, … seek humility … (Zephaniah 2:3).

Ever wonder why God on so many occasions brings up his opposition to the proud and lifting up of the humble? It’s such a strong thread in the message of the . . . . Bible that a number of verses have become well-known sayings among believers:
 

• Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).
• For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Matthew 23:12).
• God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble (James 4:6).

Those who are too proud in themselves don’t have space for God’s working, mercy or guidance. A humble lifestyle is one we seek out with the Holy Spirit’s enabling because it’s not the natural way.

How has the Lord led you to a more humble approach in your relationships, your job, and your life goals? Humility is not in any way weakness, but it does take us away from the need to serve ourselves and to a better attitude of putting others’ interests first.

In our life with God, a grateful and humble faith receives God’s grace in all its forms. Jesus taught and lived in a servant way as he took the path to set us free and give us eternal life.

It may go against the grain, but whatever others may tell you, humility is the way of blessing in God’s kingdom.

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger. (Zephaniah 2:3)

Over four million podcasts. More than one hundred million YouTube channels. At almost any moment, we can open a screen and learn something new, hear an opinion, or be entertained. Much of this is a gift. We can study Scripture more deeply, understand the world better, and stay connected in ways previous generations could not have imagined.

With so many voices come some important questions for Christian discernment: “Who are we listening to?” and “What is shaping our lives?”

Not all content leads us toward the light. Some of it feeds anxiety, anger, envy, or despair. Isaiah, the prophet, describes this well. He talks of voices that . . . . lead to “distress and darkness and fearful gloom.” Sometimes without realizing it, what we consult day after day can pull us away from the light and into the shadows.

There are also plenty of speakers that point us to the light. They teach the truth of God’s creation. Their proclamation of the Word can steady our soul. When the light of Christ dawns on us, Scripture says, there is joy and rejoicing.

Isaiah gives a simple test: “Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn” (Isaiah 8:20). Does what we’re hearing align with God’s Word? Does it draw me toward faith, love, and hope or toward fear and darkness?

What voices fill your days? What messages shape your thoughts? Return again to the truest voice, the Word of God, the light that never leads us astray or disappoints.

Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn” (Isaiah 8:20)

Animals are often used to describe people. Some are seen as cute and cuddly, like puppies. Others are clever like dolphins, slow and deliberate like sloths, or strong and intimidating like grizzly bears. We even use animal language to describe personality types or leaders. Richard the Lionheart, an English king, was known for bravery. In the 1990s NBA, I remember the appearance of Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson, a nickname meant to announce he was going to dominate the league.

So when John the Baptist sees Jesus Christ approaching and says, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” (John 1:29), it’s a choice. In Scripture Jesus is called a lion as well. But John leads with the name of “the Lamb.”

For Jewish ears, this was an image full of meaning. The lamb belonged at the center of God’s saving work. Lambs were offered for sin. A lamb’s blood . . . . marked the doorposts at Passover so God’s people would be “passed over” and live. Isaiah spoke of the Servant who would be led like a lamb to the slaughter, silent and willing. To call Jesus “the Lamb of God” was to say, “This is how God will save.”
John’s words were powerful enough that his own disciples immediately followed Jesus. Just hearing that he was the Lamb told them everything they needed to know. This Messiah would not conquer by force but by sacrifice. He would not crush sinners but carry their sin away.

We are not looking for a helpless puppy or a violent animal to attack us. We are pointed to the Lamb who willingly gives himself. In him is real power, the power that takes away the sin of the world, including yours.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

“Epiphany” comes from a Greek word that means “reveal.” It is the season when you see Jesus begin his public ministry, revealing the reason the Son of God came to earth. During Epiphany, you will come to understand that when the true identity of Jesus is revealed, you realize your own true identity as well. 

A good scavenger hunt depends on mystery. If you’re handed the exact location of the prize right at the start, the excitement is gone.

In one sense, Paul tells us a mystery in Ephesians, chapter 3, that is no longer mysterious. God has already revealed it. Through the apostles and prophets, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the secret has been made known and written down for us. We are not left guessing about God’s plan.

And the mystery Paul describes sounds surprisingly simple: Through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6). Jews and Gentiles are brought together . . . . as one in Christ. That’s the mystery?

Yes. In Paul’s day, it was shocking. Centuries of separation and suspicion stood between these groups. Yet the gospel of Jesus Christ tore down those barriers. In the early church, people of many nations were united by a shared hope in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection from the dead, and new life in Christ.

The gospel remains a mystery to many today. It’s a mystery to those who believe salvation must be earned, who keep certain people “outside” the reach of God’s Word because of race or lifestyle, or who expect Jesus to always look impressive by human standards.

But truly knowing the mystery means something different. It means recognizing that we are all in the same “sinner boat,” all outsiders who are brought in by grace alone. It means resting in the peace that if Christ’s promise is for the world, then it is also for you.

You know the mystery. Now, like the apostle Paul, make it known.

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6

“Silent Night” was written originally in German by Joseph Mohr, with music composed by Franz Gruber. The carol was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. Legend says the church organ was broken, prompting Gruber to compose a simple guitar accompaniment. Subsequently accompanied by many instruments and translated into many languages, the text paints the picture of the incarnation. The last phrase is repeated, so in the second stanza we hear it twice: “Christ the Savior is born!” Every word of that phrase is significant, and every line of the Christmas carol describes a Bible truth. We use the beloved hymn to ponder the profound message of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

A Christmas That Is Merry

Merry Christmas to you and your family in the celebration of Christ’s birth! May your “merriness” be the same as it was for Jesus’ mother: … my spirit rejoices in God my Savior (Luke 1:47). God has come near to us with his grace and truth. As you gather with loved ones, joy and peace are yours in a confident faith in your Savior.