Mary gave birth to Jesus and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. An angel appeared to nearby shepherds with “good tidings of great joy.” The angel told them the Son of God had been born, and they hurried to find their newborn Savior.
SABBATH REST
An invitation to practice for eternity in God's presence. Regular and intentional trust of God's rule on Earth.
BLESSING, BREAKING, GIVING
This is the foundational law of God’s economy, the way of life in God’s household. In God’s household this is the way the world really works; indeed, this is the way the world is supposed to work. This is the way Christians are to live. And this is the way the church bears witness to the gospel—blessing-breaking-giving.
NO RECONCILIATION WITHOUT INTERCESSION
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV)
PRAYING IN JESUS' NAME
Praying in His name is to acknowledge and remember the entire life of Jesus Christ that He is the only way—that our standing before the Father is based on the finished work. Thus, to pray in the name of Jesus is to bring all the truth of Jesus's life and ministry to bear on the issue you are bringing to God in prayer.
WORSHIP AND RECONCILIATION
The Apostle Paul clearly teaches that a believer can be a “new creation” in Christ through reconciliation. God sent Christ into the world to provide reconciliation through His death.
MEDITATING ON THE LAW DAY AND NIGHT
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:2-3 (ESV)
KNOW, SHOW, GROW
As new Christ followers, our relationship is like a tree seedling that has just been planted. We must learn the areas where we can nurture our relationship like a gardener would nurture a new seedling. Sometimes it will be watering and feeding, other times pruning, but it will always require attention if the relationship is to continue to bud and produce fruit. Knowing Christ takes action and, many times, hard work. We must choose today to fully follow Christ and live every day with Him from this point forward.
REPENTANCE - DEALINGS OF GOD IN DAVID'S LIFE
David confessed his sin, received forgiveness from God, and knew God could still use his life.
THE FALSEHOOD OF THE TONGUE
Falsehoods of the tongue can be confessed and repented of. Forgiveness can be received and amends can be made. However, when the lies go unconfessed, unrepented, and unconfronted, they become a falsehood of the heart that “in time depraves all its good dispositions.”