I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness … I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. (verses 1-2, 8 ) - I wonder how much our current church culture (at least here in North America) aligns with this passage. It seems that over the last generation Christians have d

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might di

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work – which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the la

To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (verse 2) - I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Paul’s young friend, Timothy. The reason is obvious – he’s my namesake. But he also needed encouragement from Paul, again and again, because of his youth. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,” Paul tells him (4:12). I, too, started ministry young – I’m not so much anymore, but the connectio

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you … The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. (verses 16, 18) - “Grace and peace to you.” Each of Paul’s New Testament letters begins with this very phrase, or some slight variation, but always including these two powerfully loaded words: Grace and Peace. “Grace” is the outpoured, undeserved, unearned, all-encompassing, powerful love of Almighty God, which has

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this,

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. (verse 5) - Sheep dogs have a finely tuned technique. Running back and forth across the open field, they cut off every avenue of escape for the sheep, moving them closer and closer to the goal, until the only route left is the one heading directly into the sheep pen. Mission accomplished. Then, of course, there is the very different methodology of the pig in the movie “Babe” who first established rela

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (verses 16-17) - Stage-fright is real and paralyzing. I know. I experienced it intensely at age 11. I was preforming in a piano recital in a rented hall which seemed, to my young eyes, more massive than any world-class concert hall anywhere. Actually, it was simply a local High Sc

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction … The coming of the lawless one will be in ac

… we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (verses 11-12) - I had a very serious gardening accident a number of years ago. Who knew gardening was so dangerous? My feet slipped on a g

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. (verses 3-4) - Several months back, at Canadian Thanksgiving, we were a smaller crowd than usual. Many family members were out of town. But it didn’t slow the enjoyment of

(Returning to the last portion of 1 Thessalonians) Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he who calls you, and he also will bring it to pass. (verses 23-24) - This is a prayer I pray regularly for myself, several times a week. What a powerful prayer for the beginning of a new year. Sanctification is something that has already been ac

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19) At the start of this year, place your whole life afresh in the Lord's hands. Watch for his activity. Trust his direction. Follow with all you've got. - Photo by Aamir Suhail on Unsplash

MATTHEW 2:1-12 When King Herod … had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” (verses 3-6) - David was born in Bethlehem and grew up to be shepherd

LUKE 2:21-38 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “

JOHN 1:1-18 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth … (verse 14) - John has already told us remarkable things about this one he calls the “Word,” who was with God in the beginning, who is himself God. This one has now come into the world, the very world he made – but upon arrival, he was not recognized, nor was he received by those he himself had created,

JOHN 1:1-18 (John's reflections on the wonder of the Incarnation) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made … (verses 1-3) - What a beautiful, poetic, enigmatic way for John to start his Gospel. “The Word” is clearly a being of great power and position, who was with God from the beginning – he is personally divine and the source of all creation. The very wording of this o

To us a child is born, to us a son is given. Such good news. Rejoice. Merry Christmas. - Photo by Walter Chávez on Unsplash

LUKE 2:8-20 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 Saviour has been born to you; he is Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in

MATTHEW 1:18-25 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” – which means, “God with us.” (verses 22-23) - This unique, concise piece of Jesus’ birth narrative is crucial to the start of Matthew’s Gospel. We see Mary ( “with child through the Holy Spirit” ), Joseph (fretting, yet compassionate, over this pregnancy), the angel (in a dream, assuring Josep