Worthy Words

Each one of us has a life story.  Our stories include all of our experiences and all of the people who have been a part of our lives. Certainly, along the pages of our lives, there are people who for better or for worse have had a significant influence on our lives. Like all stories, the pages that make up our lives are not just meant to be written, but to be read by others. The life and art of Christ-following is passed on, down the line, from person to person to person, from generation to generation. Christ-following is centered upon the content of the Bible.  Yet, the application of that content is absolutely learned in the trenches of everyday living.  Someone has talked to you and shared the story of their life and how Jesus is a part of it.  Someone has role modeled the Christ-following life for you. When the apostle Paul said, “The things you have heard me say in the presence of witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach ot...

But when the right time came, God sent his son, born of a woman, subject to the Law. - Galatians 4:4 (NLT) Most folks have certain traditions when it comes to Christmas gift opening. Some families open their gifts on Christmas Eve. Some families open their gifts on Christmas morning. Some spread out their gift opening over several days to extend the enjoyment. Some open them according to age. Regardless of when or how you open your Christmas presents, you sense that you are in the “right moment”.   It’s intriguing to me that God’s gift to us, the birth of His son Jesus—when God became human— was just at the right moment. Not a moment too early and not a moment to late. “But when the right time came,” the Bible proclaims.   Gratefully, we have the guarantee of God’s Word that Jesus did indeed come. That Jesus lived among us. That Jesus died for our sins. That Jesus conquered death and rose again. We have the benefit of Christ-followers who have gone before us. They...

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. - Luke 2:17-20 Having heard the angel’s pronouncement concerning Jesus’ birth, and having heard the heavenly army praising God, the shepherds left their fields and flocks to find Jesus. They wanted to see for themselves. After they had seen Jesus, they didn’t keep the amazing circumstances to themselves. As the Gospel of Luke records, “they spread the word.” Then, they returned to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God.   No further description is provided about these shepherds in the Scriptures regarding how their lives were impacted by what they had heard and seen. But, it’s easy to ima...

One thing is certain; waiting is not part of our nature. In this generation, waiting seems to be unacceptable. Amazon Prime promises packages to be delivered in two days but that’s not fast enough for consumers, so Amazon is developing technology with drones to air-lift a package and drop it off at the customer’s door the same day it’s ordered. Something tells me even that service will exasperate those who can’t wait. One of the most difficult lessons a Christ-follower can learn is to wait. God often delays answers when we pray. If you have been knocking at the door of heaven and have yet to receive a reply there are reasons God is keeping you waiting. Before I suggest those reasons, be encouraged with this passage from God’s Word in Isaiah 30:18; “Therefore the L ord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” This is a profound insight into the heart of God. He is t...