THE DECISIVE TEST
Luke 2:8-20
It was the thing to do, what these shepherds did—go to see for themselves. The personal test is the decisive test. It is the thing: go to Jesus direct and find out for yourself. Of course, they hadn’t far to go. Neither have we. Get into a quiet corner, with the door shut, and the Book open, the knees and will bent, and you’ll find out for yourself the reality of Jesus for your life and your problems.
Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?
THE NEW CENTER OF GRAVITY
Luke 2:1-7
The promise has become a person. Prophecy has taken human form. The old pages are full of someone coming. In these newer leaves he has come, actually come. With all the humanness of a mother’s expectancy become a thrilling experience, of a father’s protecting care, of a babe’s wondrous face and presence, aye, of cramped quarters and a world busily, noisily hurrying by unnoticing, unappreciative, He has come who yet will be the world’s center of spirit gravity.
GOD WILL DO IT
Isaiah 9:2-7
Every promise of God’s is a prophecy of what he means to do, and what he surely will do. Sin may delay but cannot prevent God’s plans working out. In one of the darkest hours of Israel’s story, and the world’s, there shines out boldly, clearly, in striking contrast with the gloom all around, this exquisite promise of what God meant to do for the world. So our dark hour shall know bright gleams of light if we’ll keep our face Godward.
NEEDS REPRINTING
Genesis 50:1-13
The family is the controlling unit of life in the Orient. There the family tie is the strongest of all ties. Here in the Western Hemisphere individual initiative—everyone free to swing out for himself—is the controlling characteristic. Both Orient and Occident go to not-good extremes in this. A wholesome blend of both is the normal thing. We need to strengthen’ wholesomely our family loyalties. The Fifth Commandment needs reprinting with big type in American life.
Luke 1:26-28 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?
BE CAREFUL OF THE SEED
Genesis 46:28-34
Great things happen through simple circumstances. A simple thing this: a family migrating from one country to another, a very common thing. But what a great thing! Here come the “makings” of the nation through which came the world’s Saviour and future King. They’re coming to the land and the difficult experiences that will transform a tribe into the world’s most remarkable nation. And all because Joseph held true. Let’s hold true, regardless, yet lovingly.
Matthew 2:4-6 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?
THE HOME-FOLKS
Genesis 45:16-28
Joseph looked after the home-folks. He did it thoughtfully and graciously. They must share the prosperity that had come to him. It’s one of the fine touches. It reveals his wholesome goodness. Prosperity is one of the acid tests of character. It is so often hard on the old home-ties. It loosens them. It’s bad when success dulls old home loyalty. The heart should be true to God and self and to one’s kin.
