Good Words for Today

"God walked down the stairs of heaven with a Baby in His arms." Paul Scherer

"What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart." Christina Rossetti

"It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself." Charles Dickens

This is the central truth of Christianity: God has entered human history in order to provide for our salvation. What we could not do, he did for us through his Son. Everything else flows from this truth. If he had not been born, he could not have died for our sins. And he would not have risen from the dead. He had to become like us in order to save us. There was no other way.

Lord Jesus, grant that in all my going and coming that I might not be too busy for you. You are welcome in my heart and my home today! Amen.

We sometimes hear that Christmas proves how important we are to God. After all, he sent his Son to save us. That's true, but it's not the whole story. Christmas proves how messed up we are. Jesus didn't come for perfect people because perfect people don't need a Savior. If you don't see yourself as a sinner, then Christmas is just another holiday. But if you are wiling to admit that you are lost, then you can be found. Christmas is for broken people who aren't ashamed to admit it. The self-righteous need not apply. They missed him when he came the first time, and they still miss him today.

If the world had needed education, God would have sent a teacher. If the world had needed an army, God would have sent a general. If the world had needed more money, God would have sent a banker. But since the world needed a Savior, God sent a baby! That is the surprise, and the wonder, and ultimately the delight of Christmas. God did what we would never have done, and in so doing, he opened the door to heaven for all of us.

Some people think about Jesus each year at Christmastime. Deeply touched, they resolve to know him personally. Then the moment passes and the pressures of a new year lead them away from the manger. There is great danger in coming near to Christ but never making a commitment. You can’t cram for heaven the way you cram for a chemistry exam. You can’t take a crash course to get into heaven. Sooner or later, you’ve got to make a personal commitment that Jesus Christ will be your Lord and Savior. Every time you put it off, it becomes harder the next time.

"In manger poor the Babe He lies That made the world and rules the skies." From an ancient English carol called "I Heard a Mess of Merry Shepherds," ca. 1611

How far is God willing to go to save you? He’s willing to leave the glories of heaven. He’s willing to be carried in a virgin’s womb. He’s willing to be born in a stable and wrapped in rags. He’s willing to be ignored by the world. He’s willing to become just like you. He’s willing to shed his blood for you. How far is God willing to go? You can’t even imagine the answer to that question. There is no pit so deep that the love of God is not deeper still. At Christmastime, we do not celebrate the birth of some aloof God who stands afar off. No, we celebrate the birth of Immanuel—God with us. How far is God willing to go? Whatever pit you’re in, God is willing to enter that pit and meet you there. That’s what he did 2000 years ago.

"Jesus was the best man who ever lived. None of us has any right to experience less affliction than he did. If we experience less, it is mercy. We don’t deserve the peaceful lives we have. They are merciful gifts. For Jesus it was affliction from the beginning. His birth was scandalous (conceived before marriage). It was in an animal-feeding trough. It was threatened and hated by the political powers (Herod). He barely escaped death as a child and had to become a refugee in Egypt. And so it went until he was accused of sedition against Caesar and crucified… . So the 'great joy' announced by the angels is a very embattled joy. It is a joy to be fought for and a joy always under attack. Always threatened by tribulation." John Piper

Lord Jesus, grant me eyes of faith to see you as you are, King in a cradle and Lord of the universe. Amen.

The coming of Christ means the end of all human boasting. It’s the end of vanity and outrageous ambition. His coming means an end to insatiable greed and uncontrolled lust for power. The mighty are brought down by a baby in a manger.

"Here is love, vast as the ocean Loving kindness as the flood When the Prince of Life, our Ransom Shed for us His precious blood Who His love will not remember? Who can cease to sing His praise? He can never be forgotten Throughout Heaven's eternal days" The song "Here is Love" came out of Welsh revival of 1904. Written by William Rees. Translated from Welsh by William Williams.

"So the question is, 'Who will go? Who will proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ where the church is not yet planted and flourishing?" Should I go? I ask myself this at least once a year. And I mean it seriously. I am willing to go. I think every follower of Jesus is bound by the cords of love and obedience to say, 'I am willing to follow you wherever you lead me.' Every believer in Jesus should say, 'Here am I, send me, if that is your will.'" John Piper

Perhaps you’ve heard it said this way: “Don’t pray for God to bless what you are doing. Find out what God is blessing and go be a part of it.” That strikes me as wise advice. God blesses those who get excited about his plan to bless the world through Jesus.

"I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I might serve the Lord but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how the inner life might be nourished." George Müller of Bristol (1805-1898) from his autobiography

Praying to God is not like going to the principal’s office. When you are in trouble, you need a friend, not a judge. Thank God, we have a friend in high places. He will not turn us away when we need him most.

Wise words for preachers: "Jesus didn't say, 'Feed my giraffes.' He said, 'Feed my sheep.' Put the hay on the lower shelf where God's sheep can get to it." J. Vernon McGee

"To dismiss the Bible is to dismiss Jesus Christ. Don’t make that mistake." Billy Graham

"Holy Jesus, every day Keep us in the narrow way; And, when earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls at last Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Thy Glory hide." From "As With Gladness, Men of Old" by William C. Dix, 1860

Father, make me like Jesus, who spoke for the ages and never wasted a word. Amen.

"King of all days, Oh so highly exalted Glorious in heaven above. Humbly you came to the earth you created. All for love's sake became poor." From "Here I Am to Worship" by Tim Hughes

Whatever you have to do this week, God will equip you to do it. No matter how hard the road ahead, God has already started mending your nets and arming you for battle. You don’t even have to ask him; he just does it because that’s the kind of God he is. He never, never, never, never calls you to any hard task without giving you what you need to get the job done.

We all say we want justice until we get in trouble. Then we want mercy. That's why we need Jesus in the first place.

Active faith releases God's power. God told the children of Israel that the walls of Jericho would fall down. But they still had to march. The miracle came after they obeyed, not before.

"From sinking sand He lifted me, with tender hand He lifted me, from shades of night to plains of light, O praise His name, He lifted me!" Charles H. Gabriel, 1905

Occasionally God saves very terrible sinners, Who have lived evil lives, And done terrible things, Who definitely don't deserve saving, Because they are just like us, And we are just like them. If we think anything else, we don't have a clue about our sin or how much we need the grace of God ourselves.

"And now let the weak say, 'I am strong.' Let the poor say, 'I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us.' Give thanks." Don Moen

We go through life saying, “What have you done for me lately, Lord?” And the Lord replies, “If only you knew.”

"Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning; Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!" Edward Baker, 1894, from the Thanksgiving hymn, "We Gather Together."

"Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you." John Owen

"All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all!" Edward Perronet, 1780

God honors imperfect faith because that's the only kind we can have in an imperfect world.

Lord of All Things, help me to place myself under your care, holding nothing back, making no excuses, but giving you all things in advance, and letting you fill in the details. Amen.

“If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.” Corrie Ten Boom

"God will make a way Where there seems to be no way He works in ways we cannot see He will make a way for me." Don Moen

Miracles come in many varieties. Some are outward and spectacular. Some are inward as God gives strength to his children as they suffer for him. Who’s to say which is greater?

Who will dream big dreams for God? Why not you?

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives. And when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." Nate Saint