Scripture: Matthew 2:3-6 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” Thought for the Day: We are in the midst of the 12 Days of Christmas.
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Thought for the Day: John the Baptist started his work of preparing the ground work for his relative, Jesus, who would soon follow. One of the great discussion points for scholars and students of the Bible is the language of how “the kingdom
Scripture: Matthew 2:19-20 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” Thought for the Day: The scriptures seem to like the underdog, the improbable hero. And in the case of Matthew’s Gospel,
Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-16 Since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, this is the reason that I don’t stop giving thanks to God for you when I remember you in my prayers. Thought for the Day: Today’s devotional might be PG-13…just wanted you to know in advanced. Carrie Fisher, who died a week ago, was someone with whom I’ve
Scripture: Psalm 98:4-7 Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth! Be happy! Rejoice out loud! Sing your praises! Sing your praises to the LORD with the lyre— with the lyre and the sound of music. With trumpets and a horn blast, shout triumphantly before the LORD, the king! Let the sea and everything in it roar; the world and all its inhabitants too. Thought for the Day:
Scripture: 1st John 3:18-19 Little children, let’s not love with words or speech but with action and truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts in God’s presence. Thought for the Day: There are many things for which I hope – some personal, some communal. Today, as we stand at the cusp of a new year, I find myself
Scripture: Ephesians 4:22-25 You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors,
Scripture: Lamentation 3:20-24 My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Thought for the Day:
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:10-12 The LORD proclaims: When Babylon’s seventy years are up, I will come and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the LORD; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen