And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
The Savior has come. Sing hallelujah!
The Savior has arrived. Let us give thanks to the Lord.
The Savior is here. There is now hope for the hopeless.
The Savior has come. There is help for the helpless.
The Savior has appeared. The forgiveness of sins is possible.
The Savior has entered. Jesus takes away our guilt and gives us His righteousness.
The Savior is with us. And He is with us forevermore!
May God bless you all with a glorious Christmas Season.
Holiness is a moral attribute of God. At its core, holiness means to be distinct, set apart. The biblical word “holy” (as it applies to God) carries with it the idea of God being separate and distinct from any other person or anything else in the entirety of the universe. Holiness also imparts the fact that God (being uncreated and eternal) “does not depend on anyone or anything to bring Him into existence or to sustain Him in being.” [1]
God’s holiness means He is majestic and powerful. The Scriptures declare “There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2) God is above and beyond all His creation. He is sovereign over all creation.
Isaiah’s vision of God holiness was breathtaking and awesome. Around the throne of God, the angels cry out “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3). Nothing can compare to the God of Scripture.
In Revelation 4, John gives us a companion scene to Isaiah’s vision. The cries of “Holy, Holy, Holy” rise up continually amidst the throne of God. He is awesome, mighty, and powerful. No one can resist His plans.
Dear fellow Believer, the God of the Bible is holy. The God we serve and owe everything to, He is Holy, Holy, Holy. He calls us to be holy and separate as well. “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 6:7) He is holy. Therefore, we should seek holiness every day.
“Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.”
Luke 6:24
It’s easy to fall into the trap of placing our trust in material wealth and possessions. We live in a world that constantly tells us that more is better, that financial security is the key to happiness. But Jesus challenges this notion, reminding us that worldly riches are fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying.
This isn’t a blanket condemnation of wealth itself, but rather a warning against the worship of money and the false sense of security it provides. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (1 Timothy 6:10). Our true security and provision come from God alone, who promises to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
**God’s Mercy
Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1Timothy 1:13
**God’s Forgiveness
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
Ephesians 1:7-8
**God’s Power
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18
**God’s Compassion
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
**God’s Presence
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
**God’s Security
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:19) Peter’s words seem strangely out of place for us today. In our age and time, we seem to value to comfort and ease above most anything else. It is for this reason that Peter’s teaching (as inspired by the Spirit of God) strikes us so forcefully.
As Christians, we will suffer. Suffering is not limited merely to the realm of the wicked. The righteous also endure pain and agony as we traverse this life.
We want to think that following Christ will somehow exempt us from suffering. But, the hard truth remains that Believers struggle with physical hurts, material deficiency, relational pain, and emotional injuries. Suffering occurs in everyone’s life at some point.
There will be times that we will even suffer as a result of following God. Peter says that those who “suffer according to God’s will” should continue to follow God and love others. Following Christ may result in particular pains as those in the world reject us, harm us, and smear us.
In those times of heartache, remember that God is with you. (John 14:8) We should also understand that all who follow a righteous path will suffer. (Matthew 5:12) And we ought to consider that Christ suffered for us. (1 Peter 2:21)
We can make it through difficult times. The pain that we endure is only temporary. We await a day when we will be with Jesus. In Heaven, all suffering, heartache, and pain will cease. (Revelation 21:1-7) Even so, come Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)
In our journey through life, we often find ourselves at a crossroads between two paths: the way of the world and the way of the Kingdom. While the world beckons with its glittering promises of wealth, pleasure, and acclaim, there’s a deeper, more fulfilling path that leads to true joy and eternal satisfaction.
Today, may we ponder the warnings against worldliness found in Luke 6:24-26 and reflect on the profound wisdom these verses offer for our lives. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:24-26)
These words might seem harsh at first glance, but they carry a loving warning from a God who desires the best for His children. While wealth is not inherently evil, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Trust in the Lord, your Provider. He will be your supply always.
6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 6:6-11
In the end, the question “Who is Jesus?” isn’t just about accumulating knowledge. It’s an invitation to a transformative relationship. It’s a call to believe Him, trust Him, and serve Him with our whole hearts. As we do so, we’ll find that Jesus is not only who He claims to be but that He is everything we need and more than we could ever imagine.
In that vein, let us examine one more attribute of Jesus from Luke 6 today.
**Jesus is the Truth Teller
In His interactions with the religious leaders, Jesus consistently spoke truth, even when it made people angry. This reminds us of several important points:
Truth doesn’t change with societal shifts or popular opinion
God’s truth applies to all people, in all places, and at all times
Speaking truth, even in love, may sometimes make others uncomfortable or angry
As followers of Christ, we’re called to speak the truth in love, not compromising on God’s Word while also not speaking from a place of anger or hatred.
6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 6:6-11
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day struggled to accept the truth about Jesus. Their inability to see beyond their traditions and preconceptions led them to oppose the very One they should have embraced. Let’s not make the same mistake. Instead, let’s open our hearts to truly know Jesus for who He is by looking at another of Jesus’ attributes from Scripture.
**Jesus is the Miracle Worker
The account of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath beautifully illustrates His miraculous power. With just four words – “Stretch out your hand” – Jesus reversed the natural course of disease and restored what was lost.
This miracle reveals several truths about Jesus:
He can reverse the natural order of things
He can restore what seems irretrievably lost
His actions are motivated by love
These truths apply not just to physical healing but to our spiritual condition as well. When we come to Christ, He reverses the curse of sin, restores our relationship with God, and pours out His love upon us.
mrtonyfrench 