Life This Side of Heaven

It’s not hard to imagine a smile on the face of the prophet as Isaiah considers the gift that God has given. Just like a small child on Christmas morning he can barely contain his happiness. God has given it to us as well. And best of all? It's a gift we get to use right now.

You need three hands to tie a bow.  You have one hand to hold the box and the other to wind the ribbon around it. But then you need another hand to hold it down when you go to tie knot ... you know that other person, the one you conscript into service by saying, “Put your finger here.” Thankfully, when it comes to our salvation, Jesus didn't our help. He points you to the cross and assures you it'...

Carving out a straight path in the desert is formidable. As Isaiah describes, there are valleys to be raised up and mountains and hills made low. However, as John makes clear, this construction is not a matter of bringing in heavy equipment to move rocks and sand.

There’s a classic scene in the beloved Christmas special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” In her Christmas letter, Charlie Brown's sister Sally writes, “I have been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents that I want.” But even "extra good" is a far cry from Peter's reminder for you and me when he reminds us that Jesus is coming. The apostle uses words like "spotless&qu...

"I’ve got some good news and some bad news? Which would you like to hear first?" Chances are good that someone has presented you with that choice at one time or another. But what if the same news can be heard as both bad news or good? Advent presents us with such an announcement: Jesus is coming! It's a call to repentance and a remarkable announcement of comfort.

Not surprisingly, Christmas these days often comes with a lot of guilt and debt. Interestingly, the best gift of Christmas is actually the One that came got remove both. Here's why the apostles words are such a soothing blessing to hear again at this time of the year. Nothing else we put under the tree this year will ever outshine or outlast this gift. It lasts a lifetime and brings eternal life....

In Genesis, we’re reminded how God formed us from the dust of the earth. However, in Jeremiah’s time, just as in our own, instead of willing to be shaped by God, folks set out to fashion gods of their own making. They decided to take on the role of the potter instead of the clay. Is it any wonder, when we do, that we find our lives collapsing in around us like a failed clay creation on a wheel. Ho...

“Those were the days!” Of course, that leads to the question: Which days? It's a useful question to ponder as we begin this Season of Advent and hear the words of Isaiah the prophet.

Have you seen Jesus today? How about yesterday?  It’s no surprise that as God’s children you and I long to see our Savior’s face. Until that day, when He returns again in glory, we’re going to have to wait. However, Jesus assures you there are times in this life when you and I get a glimpse of our Savior – even though we’re not aware of it.

One of the verses that often raises eyebrows in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is this: "The last enemy to be destroyed is death." Why does that seem strange? It's seems strange because, right now, death seems to have the upper hand in this life. On the day our Savior returns in glory we will see firsthand how thoroughly it has been defeated.

What are you doing here? It's the kind of question you ask when someone is clearly in the wrong place. It's the kind of question you're glad to hear when the one asking it is there to rescue you. Here's the situation that makes you glad to realize that you have loving God, a searching Savior.

It’s the Friday after Thanksgiving!   And chances are good that your fridge is bursting with leftovers from the feast. Of course, the further out you and I get from the celebration there will be fewer and fewer leftovers until every remnant of the feast is gone. That’s how it works. But how does it work when it come to the Feast of the Lord’s Supper?

What do you see? That’s the question that’s posed when you’re looking at an “Ambiguous Image.” An ambiguous image is a picture that can be seen in more than one way. The Parable of the Talents is remarkable as it reveals how the different people in it view the master. By God's grace, knowing the salvation that God has given us in our Savior enables you and me to see the coming of the Son of Man, a...

When it comes to the timing surrounding the Day of the Lord the matter is not "if," but "when." In Matthew, Jesus Himself makes it clear, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” However, Paul reminds of the comforting certainty that is ours in Christ – certainty in the midst of uncertainty.

How much longer will it be before Jesus returns again in glory? On the day our Savior ascended into heaven the angels assured the disciples, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” And while they went back to Jerusalem praising God, you can be sure that Christians ever since have been wondering, “How many more days will pass unt...

What do you say to a Christian friend, or family member, who has lost a loved one? If you’ve ever felt this struggle, you’ll be glad to know that so have generations of well-meaning, faithful folks before you. The Christians at Thessalonica, to whom Paul wrote these words, had a strong faith that touched every part of their lives. But even they struggled with how best to comfort one another during...

In Amos’ day, excitement was also starting to build. Folks could hardly wait for the coming Day of the Lord. They imagined that it would be a bright and shining day of celebration – a party to beat them all. However, the prophet wanted them to know that they were not prepared for what they thought they would be celebrating. It would be day of darkness. Thankfully God has given us a Savior, who has...

Living in the age of social media has revealed our desire to be seen, followed, and even admired, by others. In fact, it’s given rise to a whole new group of people known as influencers. As modern as all this may sound, the concept has been around for quite some time. Here in Matthew, Jesus pointed to the influencers of their day – the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees. He notes, “Everything t...

Here in John’s first letter, the apostle wants us to know who we are – children of God through faith in our Savior. That’s pretty big stuff. Although, don’t be surprised if the world doesn’t recognize you. It didn't recognize Jesus. As you can see in the news, it has its own identity problems. However, even though the world doesn't know us, we can help the world know about Him.

Now we are children of God! What a remarkable phrase! It’s so rich, warm and comforting. But what exactly does it mean?

Here in Philippians, Paul wants you to have a glimpse of something special. At first it may sound as if he is simply saying, “Think happy thoughts,” but it’s much better than that! It gives us a glimpse of “the difference between here and heaven” and the great love of our Savior right now and all that is to come! You can watch the three and a half-minute video mentioned in the devotion at https://...

Today, November 1, is All Saints’ Day. It follows right on the heals of Reformation Day. And it wasn’t by accident that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses, or 95 Points of Debate, onto the door of the castle church the night before, on October 31. It's a day that reminds us that you and I grieve, but with a real and certain hope. It's a remarkable annual celebration of the eternal joy that God has...

Reformation Day is a lot like Greek grammar. There’s more here than meets the eye. That’s because the two of them have something very important in common.  And it makes all the difference in the world!

Do you still cheat on your homework? Hey, wait a minute! On the surface, that sounds like an innocent question. But there’s nothing innocent about it. Matthew records an instance in which Jesus was given loaded question. His remarkable reply is an answer loaded with blessings!

Have you ever experienced an Escape Room? Escape Rooms are a popular form of entertainment. You, and a team of players, are locked in themed room filled with clues. You work together to find clues, solve puzzles and complete tasks in order to escape. Of course, win or lose, everyone gets out. However, Isaiah describes a captivity so formidable that our escape would not have been achieved were it n...