My grandfather was a medical missionary to China for twenty-five years. He established a three-hundred-bed hospital where he treated just about every type of illness and injury that could be named. Many of his Chinese patients were cured of diseases and saved from death by his skilled ministrations. But in time, every single one of the people who went through his hospital died! If all my grandfather had accomplished was to meet the physical needs of these people, his efforts would have been hopelessly futile. But my grandfather was wise. He knew that “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,” and so all of his ambulatory patients were required to attend chapel every day in the hospital where they were given a Bible lesson and presented with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who were unable to leave their beds were visited personally by someone who would share Christ with them. Hundreds, and even thousands, of Chinese men and women received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior at the Love-and-Mercy Hospital in Tsingkiangpu. And so many of my grandfather’s patients who eventually died – still live. As you care for others, make sure you give priority to their spiritual needs.
The kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared.
I have loved you with an everlasting love.
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. § The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. § Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh.
As the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
Titus 3:4; Jer. 31:3; 1 John 4:9–10;
Gal. 4:4–5; John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:14
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing … Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. § For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He … did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. § Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him.
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! § Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
2 Cor. 9:15; Ps. 100:1–2, 4; Isa. 9:6; Rom. 8:32;
Mark 12:6; Ps. 107:21; 103:1; Luke 1:46–47
The black, velvety sky was clear and studded with sparkling stars that had looked down on Earth since the beginning of time. Shepherds appeared to be sitting idly by their flocks but in fact were keeping a sharp lookout for anything or anyone who might harm the sheep entrusted to their care. In the distance, the lights from the town could be seen and the noisy commotion could be heard as more people were coming into the town than the town could hold.
On the clear night air, sound traveled easily and somewhere from the direction of the village inn someone slammed a door.
And a baby cried.
The Seed of the woman, Who would open heaven’s gate and welcome any and all who place their faith in Him . . . had been given!
The Hope that was born that night continues to radiate down through the years until it envelops your heart and mine.
If you live according to the flesh you will die;
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds
of the body, you will live.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, … and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed.
Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:19, 21–25; Titus 2:11–14
Then the princes of the Philistines said,
“What are these Hebrews doing here?”
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.
Do not let your good be spoken of as evil. § [Have] your conduct honorable among the Gentiles.
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? … You are the temple of the living God … Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean.”
You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 Sam. 29:3; 1 Peter 4:14–15; Rom. 14:16;
1 Peter 2:12; 2 Cor. 6:14, 16–17; 1 Peter 2:9
On Christmas Eve, 1968, Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders, while orbiting the moon in Apollo 8, were so aware of the Presence of God in space that they publicly read the first ten verses of Genesis to the listening world thousands of miles away. When James B. Irwin, an astronaut with Apollo 15, actually walked on the surface of the moon, he said he looked out into the inky blackness, saw our planet looking like a blue marble suspended in space, and was overwhelmed with the conscious awareness that God was present on the surface of the moon! And God was! And God is! He is not bound by space.
Whom are you praying for who is separated from you? A child off at school? A spouse on a business trip? A family member who lives in another city or state or country? What comforting encouragement to know that God is not only fully present with you but also with those from whom you are separated, hearing and answering your prayers of faith for them.
