God has been speaking for generations through His prophets, but too often His people hear only words. Sometimes, however, God intervenes to show that His Word determines outcomes.
Wealth and possessions are often sources of pride. God breaks that connection sometimes to remind us that we are all ultimately dependent upon His provisions.
This promised child will bring the peace that the world lost long ago. When He has finished His work, nature itself will bear witness to His power. On that day, God’s people will again dwell in the garden that He has always intended for them.
This promised child will restore an ancient family line, but in a powerfully new way. God’s promised Spirit will breathe through this child and to who all follow after Him.
This promised child brings a new revelation of God’s plan to restore His creation. Under His leadership, God’s people will realize the future He always wanted for them and for us.
When the enemy threatens destruction God offers to provide a sign of His deliverance. The sign would come in the form of a child, then and in the time of Jesus. This child’s story is the key to unlocking God’s whole plan for His people.
Vines spread their life to all the fruit attached to them. Jesus compares this miracle of growth to His work which is destined to spread into every corner of the globe, as long as we remained attached to Him.
Life is filled with many uncertainties, and the pathway to life eternal is even more elusive. However, Jesus desires to impart a quiet certainty to anyone who will follow His lead.
What is my life truly worth? It is what the world calls "net worth"? Or is my worth tied to something or someone more substantial? Jesus provides an answer when He proclaims that He is both the Resurrection and the Life.
All shepherds take charge of sheep, but some do it better than others. Jesus describes Himself as a Good Shepherd who always prioritizes the well-being of those entrusted to Him.
Gates separate danger from safety, the wilderness from home. Jesus claims to be a gate for anyone who looking for a safe place to belong.
Without light, we are destined to stumble in the dark. In the dark, bad things happen and people get hurt. Jesus uses this light image to describe His entrance into a world engulfed by spiritual darkness.
In many cultures, bread symbolizes a basic need for nourishment. Without it, people starve. Jesus uses this analogy to describe our fundamental need for Him in our lives.
“Coveting” begins in a discontented heart. We see greener grass in our neighbors’ yard, and we assume they have a better life. This inner emptiness robs us of the joy we might otherwise find in our own yard. A blessed life requires that we realize that we are always blessed, even when we don’t feel like it.
Telling lies in court is still a crime, even in our culture. In God’s court, however, it is more than criminal. It reveals a morally corrupt environment where the rich and powerful take advantage of those who cannot afford justice. A blessed life, however, requires us always to ensure that truth is spoken when people are held accountable.
The war between haves and have nots is historically waged in every culture. Broken cultures find it easier to take from one another rather than share with one another. This addiction to things is an infection that is hard to cure. A blessed life, however, requires the opposite from us, to love one another rather than take from one another.
When sex is taken out of its God-ordained context of love, brokenness occurs in many forms. When God created the human reproductive process, He intended sexual partners to remain committed to one another, so that children produced from their union could be raised in a context of love. A blessed life requires us to honor the important role that love plays in our desire for intimacy.
Murder is the extreme case, when one person assumes the right to take another human life. Jesus teaches us that murder is born out of hate, and neither have a place in His world. A blessed life requires us to avoid the destructive power of hatred.
People have changed in many ways, but families still form a core part of all cultures. God’s story regularly works through families, and He expects people to honor that work. A blessed life requires a respect for the roles of both children and parents.
We humans naturally divide our lives into sacred and secular categories, and sometimes these aspects remain separated. God instituted the Sabbath, however, to ensure that His people continually kept Him first in their hearts and minds. A blessed life requires us to live every day in the sacred presence of our Holy and Loving God.