Shadows of Bethlehem 02 | Rachel’s Tears
Jeremiah not only describes Rachel’s weeping over the death of Judah, he invites her to dry her tears (Jer. 31:16), comforting her with a revelation of new life.
As Rachel was expiring from childbirth she named her son Benoni: son of my sorrows. And then Jacob’s cherished wife dies. Jacob had worked under Laban’s tyrannical demands for fourteen years in order to claim Rachel as his bride. She’d been barren for long years before bringing forth his beloved son Joseph. And now his... Continue Reading
What Is the Significance of the Three Gifts the Wise Men Offered to Jesus?
The Magi’s presents pointed forward to Jesus’ great high-priestly work.
The fact that non-Jewish pagan religious leaders came to worship Christ shouts out that the Savior came to rescue not just Jews but people from every tribe, nation, and tongue. So some thirty years later the same Jesus would command his followers to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Editor’s Note: Campbell... Continue Reading
Think You Know the Christmas Story?
Here Are Five Common Misconceptions
It seems likely, then, that Mary gave birth to Jesus while they were staying at the home of Joseph’s relatives in Bethlehem. But the room in which they stayed—likely a tight guest room or hastily added chamber—couldn’t accommodate a birth. So, Mary had to give birth in the larger family room and lay Jesus in... Continue Reading
The Baby Who Came to Annihilate Death
. . . Came Down for You
Picture the sinless Savior willingly submitting himself to God to be born into our sinful world, coming to save those who spurned his name. What love is this? Only the love of Jesus. Only he would take off his crown and robe, replacing them with human flesh and a crown of thorns. He left glory to... Continue Reading
The Glory of the Incarnation (John 1:14)
The Son of God became human.
In the incarnation, the Son of God took on flesh to dwell among man, die for us, be raised for us, and will come again for us one day. In all these things, He is glorious, and as we love Him, we will one day see His incarnate glory forevermore!2 John 1:14 captures the incarnation... Continue Reading
Praise Him, All Creatures Here Below
The Story of Thomas Ken's Doxology
In 1674, Ken published A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Scholars of Winchester College. In it, he gave instructions for the devotional use of a series of his new compositions of Morning and Evening Hymns, including “Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun” and “Glory to Thee, My God, this Night.” What we now... Continue Reading
Trials Are Gardens for Lies
How Thankfulness Guards Us Against Satan
When your trials and temptations come, don’t let Satan and his schemes have your ear. Don’t assume that God’s sovereignty over all things means that temptation is from him. Rather, in your suffering, remember that he’s a good and perfect Father. He’s the giver of every good thing you might lose, and he’s the giver of every comfort or... Continue Reading
Christian Assurance
God has given us saving faith and all the graces necessary for godliness.
Genuine believers can fall into the fleshly trap of self-focus. They can become neutralized by this because that is what this does. On the other hand, walking in repentance, though quite painful at times, is the only way for us to continue in this growth pattern and remain fruitful. In this our assurance will grow... Continue Reading
A Devotional on the Excellency of Christ Seen in Christmas by Jonathan Edwards
The creation of the world was a very great thing, but not so great as the incarnation of Christ.
Edwards repeatedly uses the word condescension, and we need to understand that this is a theological word and concept, with no hint of the negative connotations that the word holds in common usage today. Christ’s condescension was his descent from a higher divine state to a lower human one, accompanied by his relinquishing of divine... Continue Reading
Irresistible Grace
Spiritually dead men and women can neither do nor will themselves into a better relationship with God unless God does a work in them.
Irresistible grace happens in us, as the eternal salvation of God enters our personal existence through the supernatural work of conversion. This first taste of saving grace, which is experienced more and more each and every day through Christ, is what the true Christian savors both now and forever: the riches of His grace that... Continue Reading
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