Author: divinewisdomforchristians

Blessed by God’s Testing

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

This week, as I prepare for surgery, and write posts ahead, I have decided to focus on the blessings that we have from our gracious God. On Sunday we considered the benefit of having God’s Word on our hearts and our fingers, ready to share with others. Yesterday’s devotion was about the blessing of being remembered by God and being secure in him, through his righteousness. Today we will consider the blessing of perseverance resulting in receiving the crown of life from Christ. Let me be clear that I will not be persevering as a result of surgery, since all I have to do is lay on the table and let the surgeon do the work. I will try to persevere through rehab faithfully, in a way that glorifies God so all can see I depend on him. Otherwise, I’m just going through an elective medical experience, which is no trial, but a blessing of God’s provision of medical care. As we care for elderly relatives, reach out to the needy, teach, preach, or pray, we are not necessarily undergoing trials of faith. 

According to James, a trial is a time of testing by God, when he teaches us to stand up under great difficulties. “…if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.” (1 Peter 3:14) Job and Paul are two biblical figures who were tested by God; they suffered greatly but remained faithful, knowing that the Lord meant good for them, according to Romans 8:28-30. We may lose a spouse or child unexpectedly, experience a sudden debilitating injury, or lose a job or home. These may be trials because we are challenged to trust the Lord’s sovereignty and goodness in our grief and anger. Continuing to trust in God with a growing faith during these times crowns us with life in Christ that is stronger than our problems. 

The gospel assures us that it is not by our own power that we persevere in our trials with faith, but it is because we are Christ’s, having resurrection power to endure. “Such [gospel] faith necessarily perseveres.” (1)  “The foundation for spiritual growth is recognizing that it is God who began a good work in you and will bring it to completion. Genuine spiritual progress is rooted in what God has done, is doing, and will do.” (2) “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) Not only will our faith be proved but it will become even stronger through God’s testing it. 

When I have undergone trials in the past, I found Paul’s response to his tests helpful. He was not stoic; he described his trials of faith accurately and openly. He was not overly emotional; he focused on the advance of the gospel and how God might use him to bring Christ to others. The greatest challenge to our faith is focusing not on ourselves but Christ, as we undergo difficulties. My question for myself is, Will I remember to ask the surgical staff to stop working on me so I can pray for them, in Christ’s name, or will I be so consumed with my nervousness that I forget? I pray that I will. What question do you need to ask yourself today, to be blessed by God’s faithfulness as your faith is tested in a problematic situation?

(1) The Reformation Study Bible, James 1:12, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015. 

(2) ESV Study Bible Notes, Philippians 1:6(digital edition), Crossway, 2008.

Dear friends,

I am posting ahead for the next three days when I will be in the hospital for elective surgery. Read the posts at your convince. 

In Christ’s most capable hands,

Joanne Colvin

Remembered Forever

“The righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.” (Psalm 112:6)

“The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.” (Proverbs 10:7)

Christmas time is a time of memories, or at least that’s what Hallmark and other card makers would have us believe. Nostalgia and sentimentality characterize cards, store advertisements, news articles, and media blitzes. I promise not to camp on this issue too much over the next couple of weeks, but some of us have unpleasant memories associated with Christmas. The death of a loved one, working rather than celebrating, being alone on the holidays, or depression may be memories that we struggle with over the holidays. Of course, the antidote to all sentimentality and unpleasant memories is remembering Christ, who was born to die, be resurrected, and ascend to his rightful place in heaven, having won our victory over sin. We are encouraged to remember this whenever we take the Lord’s supper, by Christ’s command (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). 

Psalm 112:6 and Proverbs 10:7 speak of the memory of the righteous, which is a blessing to those who have it. This memory is eternal and contrasts with the names of the wicked, which rot and decay without a trace. I believe grandparents and great-grandparents think much more about how they want to be remembered than does a single person such as myself, although I do want to be remembered well by my relatives. However, even more important than how people remember us is the fact that Christ will remember us forever and keep us secure in him; “The righteous will never be moved.” He will vindicate our faith. Believers have his  assurance that nothing will ever separate us from Christ’s love, including death, angels, and powers (Romans 8:35-39) 

Having this knowledge gives us confidence so that we can concentrate on remembering God and his glorious works rather than worry about whether or not he will remember us. “He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful…he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.” (Psalms 111:4-6) 

What has God done for you in Christmases past? What, in particular, should you remember about Christ as you celebrate Christmas this year? Perhaps this would be a good time to read through Luke 1:1-2:21 for a particular aspect of Christ’s birth that will help you remember him. As for me, I choose Luke 1:76-79 from Zechariah’s prophecy: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Treasuring God’s Word and Worship

“My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 7:1-3)

Why do we wear rings? If you wear a wedding ring, does it remind you of your spouse or the vows you’ve made to each other? If you wear other rings, like a high school championship ring, what do you think about when you look at it so many years later? I have two rings that I usually wear—one is a love-knot, reminding me of how much God loves me and how I am called to love others. I am unmarried, but the ring on my left hand represents the gospel, reminding me that Christ is my husband, and letting others who recognize it know it, too. In our passage today Solomon advises his son (either his son or Israel) to bind his (God’s) commandments on his fingers, as well as keep them in sight and writing them on his heart. Gill writes, “Let the…doctrines be as ready and familiar as if they were at the fingers’ ends; or let them be always fresh in memory, as a piece of thread is tied about the fingers, to put in mind of anything to be done; or let them be as rings upon the fingers, both memorial and ornamental: or put into practice the things taught and commanded; the fingers being the instruments of action, and especially of doing things nicely and accurately” (1) We are not to only study God’s Word but remember it and put it to practical use in our lives. (See James 1:22-25.) 

Solomon emphasizes a particular aspect of storing up Scripture: “keep my words,” “keep my commandments,” and “keep my teaching.” In every case, his son is to remember and hold dear all the instructions from him, as from God. They are to be in our minds and hearts, influencing our eyes and fingers. They are to be the apple of our eyes, a term that may refer to the pupil, which admits light to the eye and reflects images. We know this phrase as a term of endearment and all that we hold dear has its roots in our hearts. So we are to “Write them upon the table of thine heart; that they may be strong in the memory, deep in the affection, and abiding in the understanding and will.” (2) This teaching is from the Lord himself. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

“We must lay up God’s commandments safely. Not only, Keep them, and you shall live; but, keep them as those that cannot live without them…Let the word of God dwell in us, and so be written where it will be always at hand to be read. Thus we shall be kept from the fatal effects of our own passions, and the snares of Satan. Let God’s word confirm our dread of sin, and resolutions against it.” (3) Lord, as we worship today, help us to treasure and keep the Word we hear. Help us to have it and the gospel ready all week, for our protection and a message of hope for others during this Christmas season.

(1) John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 7:3, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/proverbs-7.html

(2) Ibid.

(3) Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 7:1-3 https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-concise/proverbs/7.html

Resisting Temptation 

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them…The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.” (11:3, 5-6)

There is so much going on in the world today that we must screen out everything but that which is important to us. “A new study shows everyone is bombarded by the equivalent of 174 newspapers of data a day… Every day the average person produces six newspapers worth of information compared with just two and a half pages 24 years ago – nearly a 200-fold increase.” (1) Unfortunately, the habit of screening out what we do not want to see, or that which is uninteresting to us spills over into our Bible study. We tent to skip over passages like the one above, perhaps believing that it has nothing to teach us, since we are not crooked, wicked, or treacherous, having the righteousness of Christ, being redeemed and regenerated by him. 

Believers in Christ are righteous with his holiness, but we are still sinners. Therefore, inside every Christian is some crookedness and betrayal, along with sinfulness, which is the same as wickedness and evil. Those who deny this destroy the gospel, which is only valuable to save us if there is something from which we need to be saved. We have been saved (past tense) by Christ at conversion. We are presently being saved through our sanctification as we grow in holiness. And we will be completely saved (future) when we are perfectly glorified, without sin. Materialism and self-centeredness are treacherous traps these days when the world glories in Christmas sales and special offers. Idolatry and gluttony will entrap us if we aren’t vigilant in guarding against temptation. Integrity and righteousness will characterize our choices and decisions if we remember whose we are and act accordingly. Otherwise, wickedness and treachery will entrap us. “Evil carries within it the seeds of its own destruction…it recoils on itself. You fall into the pit you have dug for others…Remember this until you are not intimidated, discouraged, or tempted by the wrongdoing you see around you.” (2)

How will these truths influence your choices and decisions today? Christ’s righteousness lives in us, but will we exhibit it in the form of resistance to the world’s powerful push to live as indulgent consumers? Let’s pray that we will, to the glory of God.

(1) Alleyne, Richard, “Welcome to the Information Age,” The Telegraph,  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/8316534/Welcome-to-the-information-age-174-newspapers-a-day.html

(2) Keller, Timothy with Kathy Keller, “The Songs of Jesus,” Ps. 7:12-17, January 11:, Viking, New York, 2015

A Sure Reward for Faithfulness

“The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.” (Proverbs 11:18-19)

When I served in Africa, I was impressed with many African Christian adults who thanked God for another day of life every time we prayed together. Unfortunately I started taking it for granted, unless things were particularly difficult. The  prayer, in fact, expresses deep trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness when life is particularly difficult. Now I find myself thinking about and thanking God for another day of life, particularly this day that will never again occur in the history of the world. Some days I need a challenge to lethargy and complacency until my first meeting or appointment. Left on my own I tend to get too comfortable and take God for granted.

Perhaps that is why I was attracted to the verses in Proverbs 11 when looking through those I had not yet explored this year. The contrast between life and death in verse 19 parallels the distinction between deceptive earnings through iniquity and a sure reward from righteousness. John Gill points us to Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Moses’s proclamation of God’s covenant conditions are enumerated for Israel. (1) “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.” (Vs. 15-18) 

“The call to choose recurs throughout the Bible. It involves, not a mere momentary impulse, but commitment for a lifetime (v. 16). The issues at stake could not be more serious: life and death or blessings and curses.” (2) Another commentary states that the principle here is lasting, valuable rewards versus temporal, deceptive wages. (3) And, when I study the verbiage of verse 18, I am struck by the difference between earning wages outside of God’s will and receiving a reward from God. Combining these ideas leads me to think of what life here on earth means to us; whether we are living for ourselves or God. Christians make choices every day about who we will focus on and how—not that we ignore our needs to be healthy and manage our lives and the lives of those in our care. But hopefully that is not all we do; the spiritual content of our days is vitally important; how we express our convictions may determine how “alive” we are in our faith. 

How will you approach today: Friday, December 7, 2018? What will you pursue and offer to others today that has “lasting value” and reflects your faith in God’s sovereign, good rule? Lord, on a day with doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, and preparation for surgery, show me how I can faithfully encourage those who will attend to me, knowing that there will be a sure reward.

(1) John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 11:19, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/proverbs-11.html

(2) Zondervan Bible Commentary, F. F. Bruce General Editor, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, One-Volume Illustrated Digital Edition

(3) The Reformation Study Bible, Proverbs 11:18, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015. 

Prayers for the Nations

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.’…When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” (Jonah 1:1-2; 3:10)

Nineveh was a great city filled with wickedness and godlessness. “The Assyrian empire was unusually violent. It slaughtered and enslaved countless people and oppressed the poor. It was renowned for its injustice, imperialism, and oppression of other countries…the text shows that the impulse toward exploitation and abuse was also eating away at the fabric of Nineveh’s society. It wasn’t merely that the Assyrians as a nation were oppressing other nations, but individuals were violent toward one another, poisoning social relationships.” (1) 

God sent Isaiah, Jonah, Nahum, and Zephaniah to Nineveh to call its citizens to repentance (Isaiah 37:37; Jonah 1-4; Nahum 3; Zephaniah 2:13). God would not allow the people to continue in their rebellious ways, but he was gracious to give them many warnings. The response of Nineveh’s king led the way for the city to be preserved, at least temporarily (Jonah 3:6-9). “While [Scripture] says they “believed God” (Jonah 3:5), there is no indication that the Ninevites came into a covenant relationship with the God of Israel…There is no mention of the residents of Nineveh forsaking their gods and idols…This is why almost all commentators agree that Jonah did not successfully convert the Ninevites. What, then, was really happening?… the biblical text does not tell us that God sent Jonah with the purpose of converting the populace into a saving, covenant relationship with him. He was warning them about their evil, violent behavior and the inevitable consequences if they did not relent and change. Though the people of Nineveh do not forsake their idols and sacrifice to him, God in his mercy relents from his threat to destroy the city. For the time being, he expresses favor in response to the city’s intention and effort at social reform.” (2) 

Eventually, Nineveh fell, but the people’s response to Jonah’s warning of their injustice will be remembered for all eternity. Jesus Christ admonished those who rejected him by recalling Nineveh’s repentance. “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” (Matthew 12:39-41) 

We are all blessed when a nation, a state, a city, or a community rejects oppressive, unjust treatment of its residents. When kings, presidents, governors, representatives, and mayors recognize the need for integrity and justice for all citizens, God is glorified by his common grace to reflect his image, in which we are all created. The Christmas season is an excellent time to pray for increased integrity and ethical morality in our communities and nations, for more than nostalgic acts of kindness. And every day is a good time to pray for people to know God’s special grace in Christ and his righteousness for repentance that leads to citizenship in heaven. 

(1) Keller, Timothy, “The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy,” page 80-85, Jonah 3:1-10, Penguin Publishing Group, Kindle Edition.

(2) Ibid.

Death’s Refuge 

“The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.” (Proverbs 14:32)

Sometimes when I am watching a TV show or movie, or reading a book, I switch into what I call “evaluation mode.” Rather than become absorbed in the director’s or author’s storyline or character development, I pull back mentally to decide what I think about it. This time of considered discernment usually happens when I realize that I disagree with something in the script, have become offended, or am simply disinterested. I am grateful that Scripture never brings me to the point of disinterest, but most often either highlights my confusion or reveals my lack of spiritual maturity. The Bible never prompts me to put it down out of disagreement or offense. If anything, the more I disagree, am confused, or offended by the Bible, the more I want to investigate these gray areas. Today I am a confounded Bible student over the phrase “finds refuge in his death.” I hope my exploration of Proverbs 14:32 will yield some wisdom.

I begin with the commentary shared by the Reformation Bible Study (and others) that state that the Old Testament does not speak explicitly of resurrection, but it does speak of God’s vindication of the righteous. (1) I have heard many sermons on Genesis 22:5, when “Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you,’” postulating that Abraham believed God would raise his son after his willing sacrifice. However, I am convinced even more now, because of the commentary on Proverbs 14 that Abraham’s God-given faith, worked with his reasonable mind to know that Isaac was to be the son of God’s family on earth and therefore must survive to fulfill his calling. I find great comfort in the sensibility and logic of Scripture as God’s revelation since he is perfect and cannot contradict himself. 

So then, how is death a refuge for the righteous, according to the Old Testament? It is the place where the world ends, and God continues. In the words of Job, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” (Job 19:25-28) The words of this wise man completely agree with Paul’s declaration in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 “We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” A believer (a righteous person of the Old Testament) is not like an unbeliever who, when he dies, “is driven away in his wickedness…of the world, his heart is so much set on; from all the good things of it, which are his all, his portion; from the place of his abode, which will know him no more; and from all his friends and acquaintance, with whom he has lived a merry and jovial life…” (2)

One way or the others, those who believe in God will be vindicated for our faith, and enjoy God’s presence more after death than before. Death is a refuge; but thanks to Christ’s resurrection and ascension, our story doesn’t end there, just as the Bible doesn’t end with Malachi and the promise of a coming Messiah, but only after Christ’s first incarnation, the resulting victories, and the promise of his return. Lord, help us to be wise as we explore your Word and conform our minds to yours!

(1) The Reformation Study Bible, Proverbs 14:32, Reformation Trust Publishing (LigonierMinistries), Sanford, Fl., 2015. 

(2) John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 14:32, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/proverbs-14.html

God Sent Us Salvation

“The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked.” (Proverbs 13:5-6)

It’s only the fourth day of December, but we have already been hearing Christmas carols and hymns for weeks. You would think that we would be tired of them. I have had the pleasure of attending two short concerts lately, of mostly instrumental Christmas music. Rather than grow tired of the songs, I have thoroughly enjoyed listening, as the brilliant, biblical words run through my mind, (at least those I remember). 

Here are just a few of my favorite phrases:

“Down in a lowly manger, Our humble Christ was born, And God send us salvation, That blessed Christmas morn: Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, Tell It On The Mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.” (1)

“This day is born a Savior, Of pure Virgin bright, To free all those who trust in Him. From Satan’s power and might. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.” (2)

“O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born!” (3)

How can we grow tired of hearing the good news—Jesus Christ was born for our holiness? Every time we read about righteousness in the Bible, we should be reminded of the gospel, without which God’s righteousness would completely escape us. But we are delivered through the gospel because Jesus Christ suffered the consequences of our self-righteousness by his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. When Proverbs speaks of “righteousness,” Solomon most probably means “An honest desire to do right, [that] preserves a man from fatal mistakes, better than a thousand fine-drawn distinctions.” (4) We who are consecrated to God, sanctified for his glory, read Scripture differently than those without personal faith in Christ’s atoning work. When we see words like righteousness, holiness, integrity, honesty, and blamelessness we should always remember Christ and the gospel, without which we would be wicked, disgraced, shameful, full of falsehood and sin, no matter how subtle or hidden from ourselves and the world.

This Christmas season I intend to apply the gospel as I celebrate Christ’s incarnation, to enjoy so many reminders of his righteousness. By God’s grace, I will be able to avoid a lot of commercialization this year, since having major, elective surgery will keep me out of the stores and restaurants. But would I be able to hold my focus if I were not so restricted? What will your focus be as the season progresses and how will you keep it?

(1) “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” Lyrics copied from: http://ldsguy.tripod.com/Christmas.carols.html#Angels%20From%20The%20Realm%20Of%20Glory

(2) “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” Ibid.

(3) “Oh Holy Night,” Ibid.

(4) Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 13:6, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-concise/proverbs/13.html

Pursuing Righteousness

“Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” (Proverbs 21:21)

Christmas season is in full swing now, which means that folks are shopping more, either in stores or online. Maybe you are looking for a specific item for a family member. Perhaps you will go to a likely store or website to see what is being offered, that you may not have thought of on your own. As for me, I am a hunter-shopper, usually looking for that which I think will not just please folks, but enrich their lives, even in a small way. Satisfaction is finding just the right thing, but there is still a lot of guesswork involved, to know how the recipient will use my gift. However, when God says that we will find the righteousness we seek, there is no uncertainty or presumption, only absolute certainty.

The reason we can be so sure about finding righteousness is that it comes from the Lord and not from us. Jesus Christ promises us: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6) Pursuing righteousness has its purest form in our confession and repentance, seeking the forgiveness and mercy of Christ for our sinful desires and self-justification. There are some prayers we Christians pray that God always answers with, “Yes.” “Lord, help me to be more holy, to glorify you more, to have more self-discipline, to intercede in prayer more for others, bear more fruit of the Spirit and to share the gospel. Help me to know what I believe, to believe the truth of your Word, to love more objectively and freely, to be a peacemaker, to see and confess my sin, dying to myself and living for you.” We do not pray these things based on our ideas and desires, but because Christ is working in us, and his righteousness calls us to continue to seek it. 

We don’t look for something when we don’t want it; we only look for that which we desire. We develop habits and routines for life, such as having breakfast at a particular time or calling distant family members on holidays. There are areas in which we improve as we age, such as at handling finances effectively. Likewise, we should be improving our pursuit of righteousness in Christ as we mature, not just resting in old habits, having experienced the effects of it in our lives and for the good of others. Our eternal life with God is an ever-increasing joy and wonder when we remember that we have been set free from the entrapments of this world. Our passage speaks of finding life and honor, along with righteousness and we are reminded of Jesus’s promises again, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Here is my favorite Advent question: “What will you give to Jesus Christ since it’s his birthday and not yours?” What will you pursue (and pray) this Christmas season, for God’s glory as you seek his righteousness?