Philippians 4:12-13
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.
In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Proverbs 3:3
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Hebrews 9:11-12
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Romans 8:38-39
Neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers,
nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Isaiah 5:20
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isn't this what our modern culture does all the time? Calls good evil, and evil good. Celebrates darkness and despises the truth? What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
Psalm 25:6-7
Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Christmas 2022
Micah 5:2
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Ruth 4:11-12.
From famine, loss and the death of Naomi's husband and sons, comes life. Matthew 1:5 tells us of the line from Ruth and Boaz to David and on to Christ - He who would be renowned in Bethlehem. Truly was Ruth to 'build up the house of Israel'.
The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Do not add to the word,
nor take from it,
that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God...
Luke 15:32
But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.
Rembrandt’s Prodigal Son.
Christ is the firstfruit of the risen (1 Corinthians 15:20).
In Leviticus 23:10 God tells Israel that they are to bring the firstfruits of their first Harvest of the promised land to Him. No grain was sown in the desert and the manna stopped with the firstfruits.
Christ rose from the dead on the day of the Festival of Firstfruits. By His death and resurrection, by His substitutionary sacrifice, He took away our reproach.
Titus 3:4-7
Jesus saves us, not because of the righteous things we do, but because of his mercy.
And thank the Lord for this - the best I have to offer are filthy rags compared to Almighty and Holy God.
Leviticus 3:16-17
God claims the best of every sacrifice for Himself. Just as we have no claim to the blood of Jesus' sacrifice.
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
Exodus 7:21-22
How were Pharaoh's Magicians able to perform signs and wonders? Well they could only manage for the first three. On the first, their serpents were eaten by that of Moses. On the second and third they made things worse. More blood, more frogs! And no undoing Moses curses.
Hardly a resounding demonstration of their skills, though it served to allow Pharaoh that false-sense of superiority that his men could conjure just as well as Aaron and Moses. By the fourth occurrence though even they conceded defeat admitting that 'this is the finger of God'.
While the magicians recognised God's authority however, Pharaoh wouldn't. For the next three trials he would face ludicrously small foes of gnats, flies, and a pathogen too small to see at all. An interesting episode for sure.
