Janet Denison

Common Sense tells us to cover our mouths

We all know to cover our mouths when we sneeze to prevent the spread of germs. The Book of James also teaches us to cover our mouths spiritually. Our words can also spread many unhealthy things.

This topic is a tough one. James teaches: “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body” (James 3:2). In other words, all of us will say wrong things because there is no such thing as a perfect person. We all forget to cover our mouths at times spiritually, and our words infect others as a result.

Did you get through the recent political election without saying something you regret? Did you get through yesterday without saying something that would have been more helpful to have left unsaid? James makes it clear that we all sin in this area, and we need to consider the potential our words have to cause harm and learn to live more cautiously as a result.

This sin is common but more hurtful for some

James 3:1 is one of my least favorite verses in Scripture. The verse says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” I’ve taught for a LOT of years, and this verse makes me gulp every time I read it.

We who presume to teach others about God must be cautiously careful with our words. I’m careful not to take the Lord’s name in vain by using it as a cuss word or slander. I really hate when people say the name “Jesus” in frustration or anger. But just because that isn’t my personal issue doesn’t mean I won’t take the Lord’s name in vain by using it lightly, without reverence. I enjoy a good joke or clever satire and don’t mind repeating a few things that I know will entertain those around me. The same mouth that teaches the Bible can spout some words that teach a much different lesson.

If, like me, you are a teacher, a minister, or anyone who wants to share a godly witness with the world, we are called to know that our words matter. It’s good common sense for Christians to be careful with our words.

God created us to speak, then asked us to make him Lord of what we say

I wonder if the first recorded sin in Scripture followed words like these from Eve to Adam: “Hey Adam, you have GOT to try this!” We know Satan’s temptation began with a conversation that led Eve to doubt God’s word as truth. When have our words caused others to doubt the truth of God? That is a sobering thought for all of us. We should never underestimate the power our words can have in the lives of others.

James told his readers, “If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things” (James 3:3–5).

God created us to speak, and James reminds us that when we made Jesus Lord, we also made him King of our conversations. How many times have you walked away from a fun conversation only to hear that still, small voice convict you over something you said? The older I get, the quicker those thoughts come. I rarely make it home before I have to pray, “I’m sorry, Lord. I blew that. Please forgive and redeem my words with your own.”

The church isn’t full of hypocrites

The only reason the church isn’t full of hypocrites, however, is because the church isn’t yet full. A church might run out of seats on Easter Sunday or Christmas Eve. Only then could the church possibly be full of hypocrites.

The reason Christians are labeled hypocrites is because we so often are. It’s okay to acknowledge that we are all sinners because that allows us to help others know that Jesus died for their sins as well. We can tell anyone that the church isn’t full of hypocrites. The church will always make room for one more.

James wrote, “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:7–8).

We will never say everything well. Nor will we always speak the truth of God with love. We will never tame our tongues completely. Truthfully, that just means we can help others to know that everyone needs God as much as we do.

How can you learn to control your words?

The most important part of controlling an addiction is admitting that the addiction is actually controlling you. A typical AA introduction begins, “Hi. My name is _____, and I’m an alcoholic.”

Maybe we should introduce ourselves in a similar way. “Hi. I call myself a Christian, but I’m also still a hypocritical sinner. Thankfully, I’m a sinner saved by grace, and the good news is, God can save you, too.”

As James said, our words can “bless our Lord and Father” and can “curse people who are made in the likeness of God” (From James 3:9). James also said, “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10). Whatever we say that does not bless a person’s life might actually cause them harm.

That’s why James wrote, “Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water” (James 3:11–12). Fresh water was considered a great, life-saving value in the first century. Our words can have that same high value for someone’s eternal life.

We choose to speak, and we can choose to speak carefully and thoughtfully.

Common sense requires us to ask for help when we need it

No one says everything right. No one speaks only words of kindness. But who do you know who comes close to speaking almost perfectly? I know someone who amazes me in this area. (Yes, Marcia, I’m thinking of you!) I’ve often asked God to help me be more like Marcia. I look up to her because she yields her words to the Spirit’s leadership. I think James would have been impressed with her as well!

Our words matter. Common sense Christianity requires us to value our words enough to submit our mouths to God’s leadership. If Jesus wouldn’t have said it, we shouldn’t either!

A pastor named Buddy Owens is credited with saying, “When you fix your thoughts on God, God fixes your thoughts.” Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:36). Let’s fix our minds on “things above,” and then maybe we won’t have as much to fix before that day we stand before God. That’s just good, common-sense Christianity that we can all aim for. That choice will impact a lot of lives, our own included.

It’s common sense to pursue righteousness

The verse that caused Martin Luther to call the Book of James “an epistle of straw” was likely the verse that asks the question, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” (James 2:14). Martin Luther was fighting the ideas that had moved the practices of his church away from the truth of the Bible. His fight would eventually lead to the beginning of the Protestant denominations.

Luther’s biggest fight was against the idea that certain “works” the church assigned people could ensure or even obligate God’s favor. The people had been taught to believe that the pope’s words were as valid as the words of Scripture. Many in Luther’s day couldn’t read, so they acted on flawed human ideas rather than the teaching of Scripture.

We face those same issues today. We all have an individual responsibility to know God’s word and will and make our choices according to what we know God has said.

When James wrote about faith and deeds, he wasn’t talking about “earning” righteousness through our works. James was teaching that a person who truly has faith will reveal their faith by their works.

How does righteousness work?

I often teach that righteousness is found in a life that is “right with God.” The most important thing we can do daily is make choices that honor God and allow him to pour his favor and blessings into our lives.

James described righteousness using this example: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:15–17). In other words, if our faith is only seen through what we say we believe, it’s less likely someone will believe what we say about our faith.

When a person is truly right with God, they will say and do the things that reveal a close relationship with God. People are drawn to God when they see him at work in the lives of his children.

James wrote, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:18–19). James was teaching his people that true believers don’t simply believe there is a God; they believe in, and on, the One true God as their King.

True believers don’t just believe the Bible has good ideas; they believe it is the foundation for all that is truth. True believers don’t just believe Jesus existed; they believe he lived and died to provide their eternal salvation.

Righteousness works when true believers live their faith in Christ and proclaim him as their Lord.

Righteousness has always been witnessed through obedience.

James then uses Abraham to further his point: “You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone” (James 2:20–24).

Abraham wasn’t found righteous because he knew God’s word; he was found righteous when he obeyed God’s word. All of us who have grown up in church, attended Sunday School and Bible study, and even read Christian blogs and articles like this can sometimes feel confident in the amount of Bible we have learned. According to James and Abraham, the righteous need to find confidence in the amount of God’s word that they have obeyed.

Who and what do you see as righteous?

It is humbling to realize that when Jesus began his earthly ministry, he didn’t choose the leaders of that day to be his disciples. He did, however, except for Judas, choose those who were righteous. They were fishermen who led their business with godly standards. Those men gave up a great deal to walk with Jesus. Some, like Matthew, a tax collector, were actually viewed as unrighteous by their peers. Matthew walked away from a lucrative job to know Jesus and learn from him.

Sometimes, we don’t see righteousness the same way God sees it. James said, “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26–26). God, in his great grace, rewards righteousness even in the lives of people whose choices were unrighteous. And all of us have made sinful choices at some point. Rahab is an excellent example of why God told us not to judge the righteousness of others.

What is righteousness that works?

Paul taught Timothy to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:11-12a). Common sense tells us that none of us will luck into righteousness. Paul quoted several lessons from the Old Testament when he said, “As it is written, there is no one righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10).

To “fight the good fight” literally means to “agonize the great agony.” We can pursue many things in this life, but Paul taught us that the good pursuit, the great “agony” of our lives, should result from running hard after righteousness.

What “works” are you busy with today that will bring God honor and glory and reveal your faith? Which works will simply use up your time rather than invest it in heaven’s treasure?

Our works don’t earn our salvation, but they sure do reveal we have been born again as a child of the King. It only makes good sense to pursue righteousness as our highest goal. If we run our best race, we will also fight the good fight. The trophy for completing that race is eternal.

Common-sense faith teaches us to avoid favoritism

The book of James offers us a lot of common sense that is surprisingly uncommon in our Christian circles. James wrote to his church members and said, “Show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1). Apparently, there were issues among some of the early Christians because some people were given seats of honor and other privileges while others were being told to “stand over there” or “sit at the feet” of others (James 2:2–3). James called them out because they were playing favorites, saying, “Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:4). James would “call out” today’s Christians for making the same mistakes.

This passage always makes me wonder how Christians in earlier generations could have possibly thought it was okay to tell other people to sit in the back of the bus or even prohibit them from entering a school, a restaurant, or especially a church. James’ words in this verse are abundantly clear, but the church was just as guilty as the rest of the world about their treatment of others. The church, God’s children, have always been guilty of those same sins. I often think of the verse from Jesus’ parable, “So the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16). Who will be favored in heaven?

Heaven is going to be surprising in many ways. I like to imagine heaven as a place where God tells everyone there, “You are my favorite.”

Until heaven, we need a common-sense approach to having “favorites”

Partiality is part of our human nature. We have lots of friends, but a few best friends. We have people we like or respect and others we deeply love and admire. Our actions tend to reflect our feelings, which is why James’ words are difficult to apply authentically to our lives.

James seems to encourage the impossible when he writes, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:8–10).

I must admit, I read his words and think, “Can you please define what you mean by neighbor?” or “Is it okay to assume if you didn’t use the plural, “neighbors,” we have some wiggle room here? Truthfully, sometimes, I picture Jesus rolling his eyes at some of my thoughts. Actually, I can picture some of my readers doing the same!

Is it even possible to keep from having favorites? I know I haven’t mastered James’ teaching yet. But, if I’m teaching others what James meant, I always point out his words above. The point James was making is the same point Paul was making in the book of Romans, chapter 3. We shouldn’t play favorites because we aren’t able to judge anyone better than another. We shouldn’t honor people for things that God wouldn’t honor. We also can’t judge a person to be more valuable than another. Why?

We aren’t allowed to judge because we aren’t perfect. We all have a different set of values, usually borne from our own preferences and priorities. But there is no possible way we can judge if a person is good, better, or best because we judge everyone while having our own set of sins. Paul told the church that “all have sinned and fall short,” and Jesus taught the parable about not pointing out the splinter in a person’s eye while having a “log” in our own eye. We aren’t allowed to judge because we aren’t perfectly able to judge. Only God has that right because only God is right all of the time.

How do we have favorites but not show favoritism?

The answer to that question will keep us from a whole lot of sin and a whole lot of heartache in this life. One of the best things each of us can do is consider the moments when we were treated to a “choice seat” and also remember the moments when no one even noticed we were there. We have all experienced both sides of that coin. Remembering how we felt in those moments will help us not to cause those feelings in others. We aren’t helping someone if our actions cause them to feel more worthy than they genuinely are. In the same vein, we don’t hurt people if our actions allow them to know they are as worthy as the next. We are all just a bunch of sinners, tripping our way toward heaven. The point is trying not to fall when we trip.

Everyone who enters the church ought to find a welcome spot somewhere, actually everywhere, in the building. James told those first-century Christians, “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:12–13). The word James uses for “mercy” is the Greek word eleos, meaning loving-kindness. That’s equivalent to the Hebrew word hesed, which means the unconditional, steadfast mercy God extends to us.

We are called to freely offer the unlimited grace and favor poured into our lives through our saving faith in Christ.

How can we choose to show favoritism when our perfect God has chosen our sorry, sinful selves to be his children? How can we offer limited mercy when we have received unlimited hesed from our perfect, loving heavenly Father?

But how can we have favorites without showing favoritism? We cannot offer hesed, unconditional, steadfast love, from our fallen human natures. We can only offer what we have received from God.

The next time you want to show favoritism. . .

Our human natures will always want to play favorites, but our Spirit-led souls can do better! Pray for hesed. Pray until you know you don’t have the merciful love you need to give until God provides it. Pray until you are genuinely asking God to create in you his clean thoughts and his character. Pray until you look at your least favorite person and realize your own set of flaws probably places you in that unfavorite category with someone else. Pray until you open your heart to receive the love and mercy God has called you to give. Only then will you be able to show favoritism like God does. Imagine a moment on earth, like every moment in heaven, when God tells your least favorite person that he or she is his favorite. Imagine when you choose to offer hesed to another, and God finds favor with you as a result!

Don’t just hear James’ teaching about favoritism; change your own actions as a result

This blog post should come with a warning label. I’m always amazed at how God makes certain I have learned a lesson by providing an opportunity to live the lesson myself. Actually, that is what James teaches next! Chances are, we will each have the chance to offer God’s mercy to someone this week who we might have been inclined to walk past before James went to preaching at us. What do you want to do when that happens?

If you pray and then offer God’s love and grace as a result, you will really enjoy next week’s blog post. If you don’t, then next Wednesday, you might want to wear steel-toed shoes before reading. James will bruise toes when he tells us to “be doers of the word, not hearers only.”

Thousands of Christians read this blog post each week. What if we all commit to sharing hesed instead of showing favoritism to our neighbors? We can give people a glimpse of heaven while still on earth. I pray that James has provided common-sense faith that will motivate all of us to live with uncommon faith. May we all find favor with God and favor with man. That’s the example Jesus set for each of us. Then, Jesus died, rose, and sent his Spirit so that each of us could live as his example to others.

One day in heaven, we will tell Jesus, “You’re my favorite!” Let’s prove that by the way we live now.

Common-sense Christians live what they believe

I asked the Google AI how often the groundhog got it right. Google’s response: “Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is right about 39% of the time when predicting the length of winter. This is based on his predictions since his first recorded prediction in 1887.”

Common sense tells us that the odds of getting it right would be greatly improved if the mayor of Punxsutawney simply tossed a coin!

I’ve enjoyed the news reports that say things like, “It’s just common sense” for Americans to think this or that or choose to do this or that. Americans enjoy hearing about the groundhog’s shadow. Still, I think most of us know not to actually believe the reports and make any choices based on a groundhog’s shadow. Who wants to plant a bunch of flowers only to see them ruined later by a heavy frost?

Common-sense Christians understand that Scripture has provided timeless teaching and wisdom for every generation of God’s people. Yet, why have so many people refused to follow God’s teaching throughout history?

I think Billy Graham answered that question when he told Christians, “We are the Bibles the world is reading; We are the creeds the world is needing; We are the sermons the world is heeding.”

In other words, if Christians don’t live what they believe, people won’t believe what is necessary to live eternally in heaven. As we continue to look at the book of James, let’s notice that James and Billy Graham taught the same lesson.

Hearers need to be doers

I was teaching my Bible study last week using 1 Corinthians 2. In many ways, Paul, James, and every Spirit-led preacher before and after, have all taught this very important truth to their congregations: It is always going to be a spiritual challenge for God’s children to live their faith.

We are often content to know God’s word. We often measure a person’s spirituality based on the amount of Scripture they know. We are often more impressed with a preacher’s delivery than we are with the actual results of their message. We often rank faithfulness by attendance rather than obedience. We are human beings and tend to function with human judgment, even in spiritual matters. Paul taught the Corinthians to value the Holy Spirit’s leadership in their lives. Simply said, we must submit our common-sense judgment to the uncommon wisdom of God’s Spirit. Paul asked those in Corinth, “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” Then Paul reminded them of a crucial fact: “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

It is overwhelming to consider that every Christian has been given God’s Holy Spirit, and we are, therefore, able to think, judge, and discern with the mind of Christ. So, what hinders us from utterly changing the world because we have the ability to think like Jesus?

James answered that question, saying, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:22–25).

Common sense tells us that if we look in a mirror and see a problem, we ought to fix that problem before we head out. I liken it to someone who is at an important dinner table and excuses themselves from the table for just a few minutes. Before leaving the bathroom, a quick glance in the mirror reveals that their front tooth is covered with a piece of Brussels sprout they just enjoyed. Common sense tells them they ought to fix that before returning to the table.

All of us have heard an important truth in a sermon or Bible lesson, realized that the Holy Spirit was talking to us, and knew we needed to obey the Spirit’s leading. But an hour or two later, we just walked away from the church the same way we walked in. We heard God speak, looked in a mirror, and left the church with a big ol’ piece of Brussels sprout on our front tooth.

No wonder people can’t hear our words of witness! Our lives are distracting their thoughts. It isn’t what we know about God that will impress people with our faith; our lives preach our faith.

Pure religion is preached with a pure mouth

It isn’t just the Brussels sprout stuck to our front tooth that matters. It’s also the fact that people can’t see past it to hear our words. If our lives are a distraction to our message, common sense tells us to fix the problem.

James said, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world (James 1:26–27).

In full confession, I really hate those verses from James. I never read them, teach them, or write about them that I’m not required to throw myself, yet again, under that really big bus. Teaching is one of my spiritual gifts. Teaching is the thing I do that most allows God to use my life for his Kingdom purpose. The same mouth that teaches God’s word is the same mouth that sometimes teaches something less.

My greatest spiritual failures usually come from words that fly out of my mouth. The only verse I like less than the verses above is James 3:1, which says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

The good news is this: I own a “spiritual mirror” through the Holy Spirit. I can teach with some Brussels sprout on my front tooth or clean it off ahead of time. When I live and speak through the power and wisdom of God’s Holy Spirit, he can change, encourage, and direct people’s lives. The same mouth that can distract people from my religion is the same mouth that God has been able to purify and then use to teach his word. I try to live with a spiritual mirror because I “presume to teach.” But I also know that I can teach people how to know God when I teach using “the mind of Christ” rather than my own thoughts. I consider that my highest calling, and being used by his Holy Spirit is definitely my great joy.

How can you purify your religion today?

I would ask a blunt question that requires you to look in your spiritual mirror. What in your mirror requires some clean up before you head out into the day and preach your religion to the world? None of us will ever be perfect this side of heaven. All of us can hear James remind us to keep ourselves, “unstained from the world.”

I would teach all of us, myself included, to pause before heading into our day, choosing not just to hear or read God’s word. What will you do today differently because God’s Spirit, the actual “mind of Christ,” is changing your thoughts into his and changing your actions as a result?

Common sense tells us that Christians live what they believe. Our witness to the world is changed when we live as both hearers and doers of his word. Have a blessed and fruitful day!

Common-sense Christianity: hope, joy, and help

Before I begin this week’s post, let me offer some praise to all of you who caught my “oops” in last week’s post. It flew to your inboxes with a reference to Proverbs 3:16 Christianity, and many of you caught the mistake! I use the idea of 3,5,6 Christianity OFTEN when I am teaching or speaking. I also use John 3:16 OFTEN when I’m sharing the gospel or trying to help someone else know how to share their faith. Needless to say, I combined two of my lessons into one and got it wrong. So, please forgive the “oops” and my thanks to all of you who caught it and, to my assistant, Trace, who quickly fixed my mistake on the website!

The whole process of fixing my “oops” inspired this blog post. We try to get things right at Denison Ministries, but we will never get everything perfect. Common sense and Scripture tell us that but nevertheless, we should make perfect a goal. Why? Because perfection is the promised hope of heaven.

Common-sense Christianity

The idea of “common sense” has been a subject of political news lately, which brought about an idea for this blog post I will try for the next several weeks. I’ve taught the book of James many times because it is, in many ways, a favorite book of mine in the New Testament. Not everyone shares my love for this epistle, however. The famous theologian and Protestant reformer Martin Luther called James “an epistle of straw.” Who am I to disagree with Martin Luther? But I do!

The Book of James is one of the most practical books in the Bible, filled with common-sense ideas about our faith. James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote it to the first-century Jewish Christians. Most of those early recipients had been forced to flee their homes in Jerusalem because of persecution and hardship. James wrote to tell them how to live their Christian faith well in the new cities and different cultures where they had relocated their lives.

Why is it a favorite of mine? Because it provides that same common-sense advice to Christians today. For the next few weeks, let’s look at the book of James and allow God’s word to remind us to live with the same practical, common-sense encouragement that James gave to the people he loved.

How can we accept, even appreciate, the hard times in our lives?

I would never say that James’ advice is easy to follow. In fact, apart from the help of God’s Holy Spirit, it is downright impossible! Thankfully, when Jesus taught us about the Holy Spirit, he described him using the word paráklētos, meaning “helper” or “aid” (John 14:26). I wish James had written, “You have been filled with the power of the Holy Spirit therefore you are able. . . to”:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2–4).

If we sincerely consider the hard times of our lives, the times we ran in prayer to God’s throne for comfort, help, and direction, we can remember all that God taught us during those difficult moments. We probably wouldn’t choose to repeat those hard times, but we are truly grateful for the spiritual growth we experienced as a result. “Steadfastness” is a blessing that will help carry us through our next trial. The chance to be “perfect and complete, lacking nothing” is the promised hope of heaven that will one day become our reality.

Common sense tells us that we should never seek trials in this life, but Scripture teaches us that trials are a very real part of our Christian journey. Jesus promised that “in the world you will have tribulation,” but he also promised that we could “take heart” because he has overcome the world (John 16:33).

How can single-minded faith be wisdom?

The world encourages people to be “open-minded” and criticizes those who appear to be “single-minded,” only open to one idea or definition of truth. Common-sense Christianity requires us to trust the word of God more than we trust the ever-changing opinions in our culture.

Christianity doesn’t make sense to the world because it is “un-common” truth. Jesus taught his disciples, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). Non-Christians do not have the indwelling strength and guidance of God’s Holy Spirit. It’s essential for us to remember that it is our faith that makes our trust possible.

James understood that his first-century readers were surrounded by people who had been taught to worship and trust the many different gods of the Greco-Roman empire. They needed to share their faith with people who knew almost nothing about the one true Creator God. The lost people in our own culture have some of those same issues. James taught the early believers and us to be careful and live with a single-minded faith. God gives the wisdom we need for our daily lives and our witness to others. His advice:

^“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5–8).

It’s amazing to realize that God wants to give wisdom to all who ask for it. But that wisdom isn’t promised to those who want to consider his direction a possibility or option. God’s wisdom is given to those who ask with single-minded faith and trust in God’s perfection. When we seek God’s wisdom in the Bible, we must realize that we are seeking perfect truth that must be accepted and obeyed.

Common-sense Christianity believes in the one perfect and holy God

James began his letter with two truths that are common-sense Christianity.

We can face the trials of life with hope and faith; if we do, we can trust God to redeem every trial for our spiritual good.
We can ask for and trust God to give us his perfect wisdom if we will believe in the Lord with single-minded faith.

James wanted his friends to live among unbelievers as witnesses for Jesus. James knew it would be challenging and difficult. We face that same challenge today. Common-sense Christianity requires un-common faith. Our faith and our lives will not be perfect on this side of heaven but thankfully, we can live with the knowledge that we are being perfected through his word and the Spirit’s work in us.

Whatever trial you might be experiencing today, you can steadfastly choose to be faithful and trust in God. Whatever wisdom you need, you can ask for and then receive it from God as you accept and believe his word is perfect truth.

We are richly blessed when we live as common-sense Christians who hope in the Lord, live with his joy, and trust his help for each day.

A Daily Appointment with God

When we were making appointments to look for a new home in Tyler, Texas, I spent a lot of time on Realtor.com. I’ve always enjoyed stopping by an open house or walking through a new home build. I usually enter the HGTV sweepstakes hoping to win their latest home giveaway. I just enjoy most things “real estate.”

I made appointments to “see” several homes in Tyler over a period of several months. The homes were nice and in good neighborhoods, and I tried to talk myself into buying one. I just never walked through those homes and thought I was “home ” until we walked into the home we ended up buying.

Many years ago, I started praying a prayer that I have continued to use when we needed to make a move. As I walk up to the front door, I ask the Lord to “Tell me when I’m home.” I needed God’s answer for our new home in Tyler so much. There was a lot to think about with this move.

When the “no’s” became “yes”

We moved to Tyler when I knew my mom needed a better place to care for her needs. Jim and I had planned to retire to a quiet spot, and searching for a good place for Mom also became searching for a good place for Jim and me to “grow old” peacefully. We gave our needs to God, allowed Mom’s needs to matter too, and then God changed all our ideas into his.

I write about 356 Christianity because Proverbs 3:5–6 is truth we have lived. God doesn’t lead our lives until we “trust” in him with all of our hearts. That means we cannot lean on our own understanding. We have to give him “all of our ways,” and then “he can direct our path.”

Every home I toured on Realtor.com was a possibility. Over the months of searching, I chose about ten homes I thought looked like a good possibility, and we went to see them. Each time we toured those homes, I tried to make them work. But when I asked God, “Am I home?” he didn’t seem to answer.

Then the quiet “no’s” became a “yes.”

A room with a view

I looked at one home online almost every day. This house enthralled me, and I could visualize all its possibilities. But my practical brain wouldn’t consider it. It was too large and extravagant, and it felt irresponsible for me to consider it.

The only reason I set up a tour of that home was because I could not get it out of my head. As we walked up the steps to the front door, I prayed and asked the Lord to speak what I needed to hear, fully expecting him to say “no.” We walked in the front door, and our eyes traveled through the house to the wall of windows in the back. My heart sank. I wanted to live there. That “want” increased with every new room I entered.

Every home I had toured was lovely, and I should have wanted each of them, but I didn’t. I walked into the big, extravagant house and I did want it. After that, I spent another few months not looking any longer. I was sure I just needed someone else to buy that house I wanted, and then I would get over it. Months passed, and I still peeked sometimes at Realtor.com. The house, my house, remained on the market.

God saved our home for us. Months later, I returned to see that home again, and God said, “You’re home.” I found a perfect spot for my mom. We made all kinds of life and ministry adjustments to live in Tyler. I cannot tell you how many details had to fall into place that did.

God made all things possible, and we moved into our new home one really warm day in May. Jim and I are often reminded of Paul’s words to the Ephesians when he spoke of being rooted and grounded in God’s love and strengthened to do ministry. Paul wrote words of praise, saying, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21)

Now, every morning of these winter months, Jim and I sit in that room, looking out our “wall of windows,” and we witness the most glorious sunrises you have ever seen. Almost two years later, I’m still amazed by the realization that God is able to bless far more abundantly than we would ask or think. Every morning, Jim and I give God glory for our blessings.

That said, our “material blessings” have been a great gift, but our spiritual blessings matter even more.

Our 7:00 a.m. appointment with God

Jim and I sit together on our sofa almost every winter morning and watch the sunrise. We feel disappointed when, on occasion, we have to miss it. Every morning, we look out that wall of windows and watch God “show off.” Nothing is as spectacular in this world as all that God has created.

Jim and I can remember the early weeks of our marriage when we didn’t know if we had the money to get the gas he needed to drive to his seminary classes in Fort Worth. For most of our adult lives, I was very, very careful with every dollar we had so that we had enough to live our lives. (Right now, my friends are grinning. I have a bit of a reputation for being too frugal or, as some say, downright cheap!)

I only write that because you can imagine what I felt when I stood at the front door of our house and heard God say, “You’re home.” I did NOT believe him for several months! Thankfully, we serve a patient God who puts up with our stubborn, doubting selves. Sometimes God wants to bless us “far more abundantly” than we would even “ask or think,” and certainly more than we could ever deserve.

I now lead a Bible study in our home and enjoy a wonderful group of women each Tuesday morning as we gather to learn more about our Lord. I enjoy hosting my family and hearing my grandchildren race through the house or run out to the pool. Every day, I watch my husband walk back to his new office, which is located in a small home in our backyard! I often tell people that I think I have spent more time with Jim in the past two years than in the first forty-two years of our marriage combined! God is SO GOOD, and he has given us more than we would have asked for or imagined.

We keep our 7:00 a.m. appointment with God together to worship, talk, and praise God with gratitude for leading and blessing our lives as he has. We know we are blessed, and we are grateful.

This morning’s appointment with God

I said this before and will say it forever: “God speaks” if we pray Samuel’s prayer from 1 Samuel 3:10. That prayer: “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” God speaks to servants who will listen. And chances are, you might be surprised at what God will tell you.

God told me to move to Houston, Texas, when I LOVED my life, friends, and one special man in California. God told me to go to Houston Baptist University even though I wasn’t Baptist, and truthfully, LOVED to dance every chance I got. Then God led me to date and eventually marry a man who would be a Baptist preacher and didn’t ever dance. God has led my life in unusual ways, and every chance I get myself out of the way, I trust him to be my Lord. My life hasn’t been perfect, but it is more than I would ever have “asked or imagined” as a result.

As I watched the spectacular sunrise outside my wall of windows this morning, God told me to ask my readers these questions for today’s blog post:

Are you a Proverbs 3:5–6 Christian?
Do you ask God to speak because you are a servant who will listen?
Do you have an appointment with God each day to praise him for his abundant blessings, pray for your needs, and worship the God who creates and brings about every sunrise and sunset?

If so, then join me in singing, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow! If not, what will you do tomorrow?

The power of fire

I lived in Thousand Oaks, CA, during high school and spent hours and hours at Zuma Beach. Zuma is the beach just north of Malibu. I watched the news coverage of the California fires, recognizing much of what the reporters described as “completely destroyed.” I can’t imagine what Malibu looks like today. Fox News called the fire damage “apocalyptic.”

I watched the flames and considered the number of times the Bible uses the word “fire” to describe an activity of God and even his character. The Bible uses “fire” more than five hundred times, ninety times in direct reference to God himself. Hebrews 12:29 says, “For our God is a consuming fire,” which refers to Deuteronomy 4:24.

The powerful Santa Ana winds drove the fire all the way to the ocean, destroying homes and lives, and I wondered why God chose to describe himself like that.

A consuming fire

My high school prom was in Malibu. For my 17th birthday, my boyfriend took me to Moonshadows restaurant, where I ate dinner a few tables away from Ted Knight, a star of the Mary Tyler Moore show. I drove up and down the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) many times over those years, enjoying the restaurants and shops. The fire consumed everything but my memories.

The fires raced through the area and skipped across PCH. Multi-million-dollar homes ignited, burned to the ground, and smoldered. What finally stopped the fire? The enormous power of the Pacific Ocean.

Is that why God called himself a consuming fire? God’s power is evident in fire, wind, and the vast waters that eventually stopped the devastation. The most powerful things in this world testify to the existence of the One who created all there is.

It’s probable to assume that one or more of the fires resulted from human error or intent. God honors the free will of those he created while working to redeem and restore the consequences of misusing that free will. I wonder if God’s plan to redeem includes the redemption of so many who feel like they have lost everything. I watched the news interviews and listened to what those affected were saying. Their grief was understandable, but I was struck by the fact that no one interviewed spoke about God or his saving grace. No one thanked the Lord for sparing their lives. It struck me how different those interviews would have been if the tragedy had occurred here in my hometown. We all grieve things in this life, but Christians can grieve with hope.

Scripture clearly states that everything accumulated or accomplished on earth is temporary except the things we do that have eternal value and reward. We should “set our minds on things above” as often as possible to keep a biblical perspective on the “stuff” of this world.

Paul’s perspective on our earthly priorities

The church in Corinth was a fascinating, diverse group of Christian believers. Some were wealthy, while others were slaves. Some were of Jewish background, while most were Gentile. Paul told the church, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:11–15).

The Bible doesn’t say much about our rewards in heaven, but it does say that how we live on earth will impact our lives eternal. Works that have no eternal value will simply burn up. Christians who professed their faith in Christ will always gain their salvation one day, but some “only as through the fire.” Our souls will survive the fire, but what will happen to our works? It’s good to assess our lives with a biblical perspective. If we lost everything on earth, would we still be able to consider ourselves wealthy beyond measure? What choices have we made and are making now that will result in our eternal reward?

I’m praying that some Christians who can share that biblical hope with the world will be interviewed in California.

Is your faith “fireproof”?

Peter told the first-century Christians, many of whom were suffering “various trials,” that God would redeem the hard times for their good. Peter told them and us that God allows suffering “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

God has always held “genuine faith” as his high standard. Isn’t it true that the strength of our faith is most often revealed during the fiery moments of this life? Sometimes, we fail, but we often discover the reality of the “peace that passes all understanding” when those hard times help us seek God’s presence and fully trust in his perfect character.

Faith becomes fireproof when it can withstand or simply survive the consequences of living in a fallen world. Leaning on God is a strength-building exercise.

The Spirit of Christ arrived with fire

God sent his Holy Spirit to the believers gathered in the upper room at the Pentecost celebration. Acts 2:3 describes the appearance of his arrival, saying, “Divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.” That day’s fire was an individual experience with a personal and powerful Savior. The Holy Spirit gifted those gathered and enabled them to share the gospel with everyone, speaking it in the languages the people needed to hear. That is the powerful fire of the Holy Spirit. More than three thousand people received their salvation that day.

That’s what John the Baptist meant when he preached, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11).

God is a consuming fire, and through the power of his Holy Spirit, we have been gifted to carry God to people who have experienced the worst moments this life can bring. People who think they have lost everything on earth can gain the hope of owning everything eternal.

Does your witness need a little more fire or a little more power? Does your evangelism need to become a higher priority? Those are good questions to consider as we listen to the needs of the people around us. I look at those grieving, lost faces on my television and realize that, except for a move to Texas, I could easily have been one of those people.

Let’s pray for their souls—that God will redeem the hardest times for his great glory. He wants to help them, and we should, too.

The power of hope for a new year

I recently read a Vice.com article that quoted a recent CBS news poll saying, “57% of the people polled consider themselves ‘hopeful’ for 2025. That number was up 10% compared to the same poll from 2024.” The Bible often speaks about the power of hope, and I was excited for us to consider that subject in a blog post.

When we all woke up on New Year’s Day to the news of the terrorist attack in New Orleans, I realized the subject of “hope” was even more important to think about. The terrorist attack was not just an attack on American citizens; it was an attack on the country’s sense of optimism.

Why were people more hopeful about 2025?

A Gallup news article dated December 30, 2024, said Americans expected “political conflict, economic difficulty, global discord, and a growing deficit.” Even with those concerns, “66% of U.S. adults expect gains in the stock market, 54% think there will be increasing or full employment, and 52% predict reasonable price growth.”

It’s too soon to know if America’s optimism will fade in the coming weeks and months. Will terrorism continue to threaten our way of life? Will the resulting fears cost us financially and keep some people from investing? Will we feel safer in 2025, or will our fears increase?

King David lived much of his life waiting for the next attack on himself or his kingdom. He was a warrior king, a brilliant strategist, and a person of high achievement, yet he also lived with constant threats. That’s why his words of hope in Psalm 20 are so powerful. King David wrote, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright” (Psalm 20:7–8).

As children of God, our hope is impacted by world events, but our hope should never be a product of the world. I’m happy to live in the United States, and I’m grateful that we have the strength of our “chariots and horses.” At the same time, we, like King David, will probably always live looking over our shoulders as well. Every world power will always be a threat to someone else.

Many people are placing their hope in a new presidency, but as Christians, we need to put our hope in the King of kings.

Many people are putting hope in jobs, possessions, and financial accounts. Security is found in those things, but Christian hope comes from knowing we won’t always need those things.

Many people are hopeful that our military, FBI, CIA, laws, and leaders will keep us safe in this world. New Year’s Day was a reminder that none of us are completely safe from the things in this world until we are completely safe in heaven.

That’s why the author of Hebrews wrote, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Our greatest hope isn’t in the things we often tend to trust in this world. Those are the things we can “see.” We choose to trust the promises of God’s word because we choose to trust the promise of a greater life after this one. We have been promised life eternal.

Our hope is built on nothing less

Edward Mote composed lyrics to the hymn “Solid Rock” in 1836. He was inspired by the parable of the foolish man who built his house on the sand and the wise man who built his house on the rock. That’s why his chorus says, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

The first stanza of the hymn begins with the words, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” This is a perfect time to ask ourselves, “Do we really mean those words when we sing them to God?” When have you trusted only God and not something less?

Most of us can remember when we prayed for someone to be healed, knowing the doctors did not give that person much hope. I celebrated Christmas with my mom this year after I had been told by several people in the medical field that it was unlikely. Sometimes, doctors get it wrong; sometimes, God answers prayers that make things right again in our earthly lives. No doctor will always be right, but God will always make things right for his children. He will either heal them temporarily on earth or eternally in heaven.

Our hope is built on nothing less.

What can you hope for in 2025?

Your life can abound with hope. Romans 15:13

God has a perfect plan for your life. Jeremiah 29:11

Reading the Bible with faith and trust will give you the hope you need. Romans 15:4

Heaven is a reality that gives us hope. 1 Peter 1:3

God will faithfully walk by your side every moment of 2025. Deuteronomy 31:6

Our hope is unwavering because it is promised by our perfectly powerful God. Hebrews 10:23

Hope can lift you above the hard times. Psalm 42:11

We can hope for God to make all things right if we trust in him. Romans 8:28

We can hope in God’s word because God cannot lie. Titus 1:1–2

The power of hope

Psychology Today published an article in 2023 about the power of hope. The subtitle said, “The secret is focusing on what you can control.” The article had a lot of helpful advice about setting goals, living in the present, hanging around with positive people, and focusing on “self” more often.

The advice of the experts in the world is often contrary to the advice given in God’s word. Our greatest goals should be God’s goals for our lives. We live in the present, but we should never live without the hope of our eternal future with God. We can hang around positive people, but we should prefer to hang around godly people who encourage us spiritually. We should think of the “self” according to the standard Jesus taught. He said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

We can have great hope for 2025 because we “trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Our hope will be strengthened and encouraged as we study God’s word.

I’m glad to spend 2025 with you. We have a LOT to hope for this year.

Is America asking for Jesus this Christmas?

Most of us work hard to give Christmas gifts that others will want. I hope the gifts under my own Christmas tree will give joy and happiness to the people I love. I love the Lord and what the Christmas holiday represents for his children. I’m sad for the people who try to celebrate Christmas without the indwelling joy of Christ. If I could give a gift to America, I would give the gift God chose to give that first Christmas.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Jesus is the most valuable Christmas gift ever given, a gift all of us can freely give. The only catch is that we must receive the gift ourselves before giving it away.

A recent article that Christians should know about

The Wall Street Journal published an important article on December 1 of this year. The article was titled Sales of Bibles Are Booming, Fueled by First-Time Buyers and New Versions.

The article stated that “Bible sales are up 22% in the U.S. through the end of October, compared with the same period last year, according to book tracker Circana BookScan.” I founded and now serve the Foundations brand of the Denison Ministries. This brand is focused on teaching biblical truth and helping others to learn how to study and apply God’s word to their lives. Needless to say, the Wall Street Journal article caught my eye!

The article quoted Jeff Crosby, president of the Christian Publishers Association, who explained the increase in Bible sales, saying, “People are experiencing anxiety themselves, or they’re worried for their children and grandchildren. It’s related to artificial intelligence, election cycles…and all of that feeds a desire for assurance that we’re going to be OK.” The article also stated, “The demand for Bibles is rising despite evidence that the country is growing increasingly secularized.”

Is the country growing increasingly secularized, or are America’s citizens increasingly coming to realize they need God?

What causes people to seek God’s word?

America has been through a season of stress this past year. Regardless of which side you take in our political system, this year’s election campaigns were filled with angst, threats of disaster, and a sense that if your candidate didn’t win, the future looked disastrous. Americans have learned to question and doubt the news reports we see on television.

Are Americans looking for truth in the midst of doubts and stress? The Bible is known as a book of truth. Jesus described himself as “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

Last September, we watched the news footage of the horrible storms that hit places like North Carolina. A U.S. News article said, “The Carolinas braced for a storm that forecasters warned could bring heavy rain — as much as 6 to 8 inches in some spots. But one narrow band got a ‘firehose’ that dumped as much as 20 inches in a so-called 1,000-year flood that shocked many with its intensity.” Psalm 107:28 says, “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”

Some television news reported that people weren’t getting the help they needed, and other stations reported all that would be done to care for people, many of whom had lost everything they owned and someone or something they loved. While the reporters were arguing about the truth, groups like The Samaritan’s Purse jumped in to be the truth and bring immediate, much-needed help. Compassion for people in need led to increased funds that were used, and are still being used, to help America’s citizens physically and spiritually. I don’t think we can overestimate Franklin Graham’s influence on our nation as he spoke God’s truth on our national news programs.

The election sent a clear message to everyone on both sides of the political war, as did the news footage about the terrible storm. Anyone who watched the news wanted something different because the people of our country deserve the help they need. Christians understand the government will never provide for a person’s greatest need. That is the real purpose of this blog post.

Christians know what America needs most this Christmas

Increased Bible sales point to an increased interest in God’s message to the world. When people realize they need truth, they look for truth. It’s our job as Christians to be watchful and ready to help them find the biblical truth that Jesus was born to provide.

The baby in the manger was and is God Incarnate. He was and is Immanuel, God with us. I like the way William Barclay described Jesus. He said, “God was always like Jesus.” I’ve often said that the baby in the manger was God, with skin on him. People often struggle to understand the God of the Old Testament. They simply need to understand that God has always been the Jesus they see in the New Testament.

Our country has bought a lot more Bibles this year, but will they read them? Will the average American understand the rich, eternal teaching of the words they are reading? Will they read the word of God and then live with biblical choices?

God’s word is powerful truth, but that truth is more likely gained through study, not simply reading. That’s why I wanted to start the Foundations brand at Denison Ministries. Before I ever owned the promise of my salvation in Christ, I owned a few Bibles. God’s word is written to help people know God. God’s creation speaks to his reality every moment of every day. Paul said God’s “invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made” (Romans 1:20). Paul goes on to say that’s why people are “without excuse” for not knowing there is a God.

If you read this blog post, you probably know that God exists, and you probably want to know God as well as you possibly can. Sanctification requires a willing heart and careful study of God’s word. Even Paul said, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).

My “end of year” request

Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Wednesdays this year. This blog post is the last lengthy post I will write this year. I believe America is seeking to know the God whom the apostle Paul wanted to know and the Lord Jesus whom God gave to a world he so loved more than two thousand years ago. I pray all of us will look for the chance to give the gift that matters most this Christmas and continue to give that gift throughout the new year to come.

It’s difficult to know what we should expect in 2025, but every Christian should look at the increase in Bible sales and recognize the felt need in our country today. We can all share the gospel message with the people God brings across our path. Will you “count everything as loss” compared to the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” as Lord?

I promise to commit our work at the Foundations ministry for that very purpose. I’ll send some wishes in the next two weeks, but this week, I wanted to answer my own question and say, “Yes, America is asking for Jesus this Christmas.” We at the Foundations brand want to help people know that the baby in the manger was the God of the universe and still is today.

We would be truly grateful if you helped us continue to help others know Jesus and study biblical truth. Thank you for caring, giving, and helping us provide God’s word of truth to the people of this world.

Two weeks before Bethlehem

Christmas is two weeks away. The Christmas season is about a week shorter this year because of a late Thanksgiving. Unlike the Thursday for Thanksgiving, Christmas is always celebrated on December 25, regardless of the day. I’ve never heard anyone say, “Maybe we should move Christmas back a week this year.” I’ve never heard anyone say, “We should celebrate Christmas on a Saturday or in the spring this year.”

The Christmas season has become a retail calendar with Black Friday sales that last a month. Christmas is about warm clothes, warm fires, snowflakes, candy canes, Christmas lights, and an ever-increasing number of inflatables. None of that sounds like something we should celebrate in the spring. Texans can’t even imagine snowflakes in the spring and with our winds the inflatables would be at least five houses down the road. I think the December 25 date is unchangeable in our culture, at least for now.

What were Mary and Joseph doing two weeks before Bethlehem?

Much of our time is measured by our clocks and calendars. Mary and Joseph had a deadline, too, that first Christmas. The Roman government had set a time for the census, and it didn’t matter that Mary was expecting her baby any day. The trip to Bethlehem was about 90 miles, and Mary and Joseph had to plan for all the possibilities.

Nothing is ever said in Scripture about Mary’s family. I know times were different in the first century, but some things are common to every generation. If Mary’s mom were still alive, she would have been concerned about her young daughter making that trip. She would have wanted to make sure she had packed everything she might need for the trip, the baby’s birth, and the extra time and supplies it would take her to travel those ninety miles.

If all the planning was Joseph’s responsibility, I imagine he was getting a ton of advice from the women of Nazareth about carefully planning for all possibilities. The two weeks before Christmas were tough for Mary and Joseph. It kind of puts all of our Christmas preparations in perspective, doesn’t it?

Is it time to make some adjustments to your Christmas plans?

Do the weather reports indicate that Christmas travel might mean spending the holiday in an airport or hotel this year? Is there someone you can’t or shouldn’t leave behind? Has your life become a little too busy and stressed because it is only fourteen days until Christmas?

Are the kids too focused on gifts and not focused enough on school? Are we too focused on the calendar instead of Christ? It happens every year until we decide to change the way we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

When Satan can’t have your soul, he settles for your time. When he can’t make you bad, he tries to make you busy. When your eternity belongs to God, Satan will settle for influencing your time on earth.

I wrote about Mary and Martha last week. Have you become worried and anxious about many things? If so, choose to delete a few things so you can sit quietly at the manger and spend time with the best part of Christmas.

Two weeks became two years or more

Joseph and Mary would have packed plenty of supplies and carried all their money. They would have done their best to stay with others in a group, but there’s a good chance Mary’s pregnancy slowed them down. It isn’t surprising that they arrived in Bethlehem and found there was “no room in the inn.”

Joseph and Mary’s plans were made with care but not with certainty. That young and newly married couple had no way of knowing that they would not return to their home in Nazareth for more than two years. They would not have packed or planned for the months they remained in Bethlehem or their future escape to Egypt.

Jeremiah 29:11 is a well-known, often-quoted verse. God told the prophet, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Joseph and Mary were faithful, righteous children of God. They would have been aware of the uncertainties but also known to trust God’s promises.

The rest of God’s message for Mary and Joseph

Mary and Joseph had both experienced the miraculous, and their faith and trust in God would have been strengthened as a result. Two weeks before Bethlehem, their knowledge of God’s promise to Jeremiah would have comforted their thoughts.

God had promised Jeremiah that his plans were for his children’s good, not their harm. The rest of God’s message to Jeremiah was just as important as the words found in verse 11. God also said, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:13–14).

I wonder if Joseph and Mary talked about those words as they fled in the night toward Egypt, praying for their safety and the safety of their infant son. I wonder if Mary and Joseph were able to get word to their families and friends back in Nazareth.

Times were so different in the first century, yet the things that matter most apply to every generation.

It’s two weeks until “Bethlehem”

What plans have you made that need to be adjusted to choose God’s plan for your Christmas? His plan is to prosper you, not to harm you. His plan is best for your hope and your future. He has promised to hear you when you pray. He has promised to come to you and provide what you need. He has promised to anticipate the needs you don’t even know to pray for today.

Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Those gifts from the magi were essentially the provision they needed to travel and live in a foreign country until it was safe to come home.

God knows what you need today for the Christmas you will celebrate in two weeks. Are you having the “Mary Christmas” we talked about last week, or is the Martha within trying to take over?

I hope you will plan to sit at the feet of Jesus and trust the God who always provides for his kids. His plan for your Christmas is best. Do you need to be still and invite him to come and provide it?

Call on him in prayer, then trust that the baby in the manger has listened.