Category: Scripture

What Christmas Is All About

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

—Luke 2:8-14, ESV

The LORD is the Strength of His People

Blessed be the LORD!
        For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
        in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
        and with my song I give thanks to him.

The LORD is the strength of his people;
        he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
        Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

—Psalm 28:6-9, ESV

Peace With God Through Faith

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

—Romans 5:1-5, ESV

The King of Glory

Lift up your heads, O gates!
        And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
        that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
        The LORD, strong and mighty,
        the LORD, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
        And lift them up, O ancient doors,
        that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
        The LORD of hosts,
        he is the King of glory! Selah

—Psalm 24:7-10, ESV

The Golden Chain

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

—Romans 8:28-30, ESV

The Promise of Isaiah 55

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

—Isaiah 55:10-11, ESV

The Word of God Stands Forever

A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

—Isaiah 40:6-8, ESV

The Steadfast Love of the LORD

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.

—Psalm 33:18-22, ESV