Few things seem more out of place than the appalling account of Herod’s slaughter of the innocents (Matthew 2:16). Why would a loving God permit a tyrant’s massacre of children to stain the beauty and poignancy of the Christmas story?

Matthew recounts in stark simplicity: “[Herod] sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16). The subsequent “explanation” does little to satisfy our longing for justice: “Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah” (Matthew 2:17). The wail of ancient, anguished poetry echoes eerily in our souls: “Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead” (Matthew 2:18).

That lament evokes a larger question. Humanity is violated by such acts, and something in us yearns to say: Hey, God, You’re God, for heaven’s sake! Why did You let this happen? It wasn’t fair to permit an evil despot to snatch the baby boys from Bethlehem’s mothers while Your Son escaped to Egypt.

But God’s Son didn’t escape. He came to die. Decades after His birth, this Innocent—“the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)—was Himself slaughtered. The apostle Paul declares that God “did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all” (Romans 8:32).

There’s no satisfying explanation for atrocities. We will, however, find satisfaction and fulfillment in this: “God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:17).

Meanwhile, we find solace in the fact that Jesus loves children infinitely more than the enemy hates them. The innocents await justice. We can trust the Just One to see to it.   By Tim Gustafson

Under “religious views” on her Facebook profile, my wife lists the simple phrase “Jesus-follower.” She uses that explanatory term to avoid political and cultural connotations associated with the word Christian. In some cultures, people are “born Christian.” But that is a misunderstanding of what it means to follow Jesus. Ironically, a friend of mine in the United Kingdom asked me not to use “Jesus-follower” to describe Christians. It seems that in his culture, the problem is reversed.

My friend told me, “The tag ‘Follower of Jesus’ has been used to muddy the waters between those who have a committed relationship to Christ and those in other faith systems.” He noted that some regard Jesus as a great man but still less than what He claimed to be. Something less than the unique, virgin-born Messiah. Something less than the sinless Lamb of God who was crucified for our sins. Something less than the resurrected Jesus.

So what is a Christian? Paul gave us a solid definition in Romans 8. A Christian is one who has been set free from slavery to sin and its sentence of death. “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus,” Paul wrote. “The power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death” (Romans 8:1-2). Real Christianity should also have accompanying evidence. “You are controlled by the [Holy] Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you,” he added. “And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all” (Romans 8:9).

“All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God,” Paul concluded (Romans 8:14). “His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children” (v.16). That’s not something political or cultural. It’s relational! By Tim Gustafson - Our Daily Journal 

Imagine sashaying through life with no fear. One woman knows what it feels like to be fear-free. Researchers exposed her to snakes and spiders, led her through a haunted house, and showed her scary flicks. No fear. Real death threats and being robbed at gunpoint left her (happily) whistling in the dark. Why? The woman has a genetic condition affecting the portion of her brain connected with fear reaction. She literally can’t be frightened.

David, much like us from time to time, was once super-scared. He’d been sprinting from King Saul—who wanted to kill him—and ended up traipsing into the lair of the king of Gath (the hometown of Goliath—whom David had earlier killed!) (1 Samuel 17:48-50). Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire! David was so petrified (1 Samuel 21:12) of the king of Gath that he decided to act like a madman (1 Samuel 21:13). His performance (including the effective frothing at the mouth shtick) must have been Oscar-winning-worthy, for the king believed he was truly loony and allowed him to take flight instead of face a fight (1 Samuel 21:15).

Around this time of great fear and feigning being crazy, David penned Psalm 34. We find that he dealt with his fear by praying to God (Psalm 34:4). He trusted in God’s protection (Psalm 34:6-7). He rested in His goodness and care (Psalm 34:8). And, David reported, “[God] freed me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). Except one . . .

You see, David was not fearless, for he feared God (Psalm 34:7,9,11). In other words, his reverent fear of God eclipsed his fear of man. What a great example for us to follow when we start to fear the stuff of this world. Let’s choose to seek God in prayer and reverently fear Him alone! By Tom Felten - Our Daily Journal

A few years ago, I wrote about three street kids—Saddam, Moses, and Charles. At the time, I had helped lead them to a Christian home for children who had no other place to live. I thought the boys would be elated to leave their life of extreme suffering behind. But after only one month in his new environment, Saddam called to tell me that Charles, age 11, had run away.

To help me understand why Charles preferred the streets, Saddam explained that 2 years earlier the orphaned boy had been coerced into a child prostitution ring where he could make 500 Ugandan shillings (about 25 cents US) each time he let someone sexually abuse him. Refusing to give up on Charles, I solicited help from the local police and from an organization that helps rescue children from commercial sexual exploitation. Sadly, our efforts were in vain as Charles chose to continue down his familiar, treacherous path.

A mere child, Charles epitomizes 1 Timothy 6:10, which says, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”

Though it was evil men who lured the vulnerable Charles into the trade, it was Charles who let the equivalent of 25 cents tempt him to wander from faith and safety. He chose to return to a place that will ultimately bring him sorrow upon sorrow.

Getting a child out of a life-threatening situation is sometimes the simplest part. It’s helping him to heal and press on in his new life that is often the biggest challenge.

Today, pray for children around the world who are struggling to overcome a difficult past. May they be like seeds that fall on fertile soil—growing in God (Luke 8:8,15).  By Roxanne Robbins - Our Daily Journal 

Try this: Take your friend to a beach or a park, blindfold him, and tell him to walk in a straight line. Nobody can do it, at least not for long. One scientist explains why: “Humans, apparently, slip into circles when we can’t see an external focal point—like a mountaintop, a sun, a moon. Without a corrective, our insides take over and there’s something inside us that won’t stay straight.”

What is true physically turns out to be true spiritually as well. Scripture speaks often about the importance of straight paths—those trails that are beaten down from constant use until they form deep grooves in our heart.

Straight paths are shorter than those that meander across the terrain, so “a sensible person stays on the right path” (Proverbs 15:21). They also tend to be safer than traipsing through the bushes, as only fools “turn from the right way to walk down dark paths” (Proverbs 2:13). And they make for easier journeys, for when you walk “in straight paths . . . you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble” (Proverbs 4:11-12).

The straight path is the place to be. But as any blindfolded person can tell you, it’s impossible to find on our own. “There is a path before each person that seems right,” wrote Solomon, “but it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12). We need “an external focal point.” Not some mountain or star to guide us. No, we need God. “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You” (Psalm 25:4-5).

Let’s look up and ask God to open our eyes to His straight path today. By Mike Wittmer - Our Daily Journal

According to a 2010 Pew Forum on Religion report, 53 percent of Christians in the US did not know that Martin Luther was the person who inspired the Protestant Reformation. So they wouldn’t know that on October 31, 1517, in the little German town of Wittenberg, Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the church door—inviting scholars to debate the use of indulgences; a practice Luther believed gave believers a false assurance of their salvation. Luther spelled out what true salvation is in his first four Theses: “1. When Jesus said ‘repent’ He meant that believers should live a whole life repenting. 2. Only God can give salvation—not a priest. 3. Inwards penitence must be accompanied with a suitable change in lifestyle. 4. Sin will always remain until we enter heaven.”

The people of Judah had a false sense of security. They believed their temple guaranteed their safety (Jeremiah 7:4). Rejecting God’s laws, they lived deceitfully (Jeremiah 7:8-11). The prophet Jeremiah warned them of their foolishness and falsehood, stating “It’s a lie!” (Jeremiah 7:8). He also made it clear that the temple of the Lord cannot save (Jeremiah 7:4,8)—only the Lord of the temple saves (Jeremiah 7:5).

The people needed to “quit [their] evil ways” (Jeremiah 7:3), reform, and repent (Jeremiah 7:5-10). They couldn’t “steal, murder, commit adultery, lie . . . and then come . . . and stand before [God] in [His] temple and chant, ‘We are safe!’—only to go right back to all those evils again”! (Jeremiah 7:9-10). Their “inwards penitence [needed to] be accompanied with a suitable change in lifestyle” (Luther’s Thesis #3). Only then would God be merciful (Jeremiah 7:5). Only then would they be safe and secure (Jeremiah 7:7).

As believers, we must be able to “prove by the way [we] live that [we] have repented of [our] sins and turned to God” (Matthew 3:8). By K.T. Sims - Our  Daily Journal

My boys love to wrestle me. They create names like Captain Thunder and Tiger Ninja. Adrenaline peaking, they attack me with yells, a flurry of boy-energy and with hopes that this time—this time—they will take me down. I toss them for a while, even feigning desperation so as not to crush their dream prematurely. However, I eventually lock them in a stranglehold until they cry for mercy.

Jacob, returning home after years of hiding out from his brother Esau, had always been able to scheme his way in or out of any situation. Jacob’s name meant “supplanter,” and he had earned a reputation for his deceptive ways. He swindled Esau out of his birthright and tricked his blind father Isaac into giving him the firstborn blessing (Genesis 25, 27). He even manipulated to gain control of his father-in-law’s cattle and wealth (Genesis 31:1). Whatever Jacob wanted, he got.

But then Jacob finally ran into a situation he couldn’t escape. His servants brought the startling news that Esau was rushing their way with 400 warriors. And “Jacob was terrified at the news” (Genesis 32:7). After years of scheming, Jacob’s skill and manipulation would do him no good. Wanting to be alone, he walked into the night. And “a man” (later we discover he was a manifestation of God—perhaps even Jesus Himself) leaped out of the darkness, tackling Jacob (Genesis 32:24).

And the two fought throughout the night. Near the end, the being “touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket” (Genesis 32:25). All Jacob could do was hang on, a desperate man in need of mercy. And God gave him mercy. Before Jacob returned home to the extraordinary life God had called him to, he first needed to be broken. Then, empty of himself, he could be strong in God. By Winn Collier - Our Daily Journal

William Seeker, a 17th-century clergyman, is quoted as saying, “Another singular action of a sanctified Christian is to prefer the duty he owes God to the danger he fears from man. Christians in all ages have prized their services above their safety. ‘The wicked flee when no man [is pursuing]; but the righteous are bold as a lion.’ ”

After Moses’ death, God prepared Joshua to be as bold as a lion so he could lead the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the promised land of Canaan (Joshua 1:1-9). God knew many risks, difficulties, and oppositions (within and without) lay ahead of His chosen leader and His chosen people. So Joshua would need to act bravely during the difficult days and to do dangerous things out of obedience to God.

In a span of several verses, God used powerful words to build courage into Joshua’s heart: “Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you” (Joshua 1:3); “No one will be able to stand against you” (Joshua 1:5); “I will be with you . . . I will not fail you or abandon you” (Joshua 1:5); “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6); “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

What was Joshua’s response to God’s promise of His abiding presence and blessing? He chose to follow diligently God’s words and to believe that He would strengthen, guard, and protect him (Joshua 1:10-11).

As believers in Jesus, we’re called to do things that can be difficult (talking to our neighbors about Jesus), risky (ministering to the marginalized), and even potentially dangerous (taking the gospel to unreached people groups) out of obedience to God. As God promised Joshua, He has promised to be with us (Hebrews 13:5). Let’s boldly obey His Word and declare His truth. By Marvin Williams - Our Daily Journal

One of the things I appreciate about the Old Testament book of Esther is that God’s name isn’t mentioned in it—not even once. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not losing my belief in God! For me, the book’s omission of God’s name is a great reminder that even though He might appear to be absent, God is still present, quietly working behind the scenes.

The book of Esther reads like a novel. It centers on the dramatic story of a beautiful young Jewish girl who rises from obscurity to become queen of the Persian Empire (Esther 2:1-23). Esther, who concealed her family ancestry, ends up using her royal position to turn the tables on a plot to annihilate her people.

Haman, one of King Xerxes’ top royal officials, had a strong dislike for the Jewish people. He was furious because Mordecai, another royal official who happened to be Jewish, refused to pay him honor (Esther 3:1-6). Appealing to Xerxes’ pride, Haman tricked the king into signing an order that called for the execution of all Jews (Esther 3:8-13). But his plan backfired. Esther’s gutsy intervention (ch.4–5) and the king’s sleeplessness (ch.6), led to Haman having to lead a royal parade to honor Mordecai. A short time later, a humiliated Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had built for the execution of Mordecai (ch.6–7).

These weren’t random events. King Xerxes didn’t just happen to have a bout of insomnia. He didn’t just happen to discover that Mordecai was never rewarded for exposing an assassination plot (Esther 2:21-23, 6:1- 3). Events like these came about because God was working through them.

God doesn’t always work through obvious means like the 10 plagues or the parting of the Red Sea. But whether we see or feel it, He’s always involved and at work in our lives. By Jeff Olson - Our Daily Journal

One truly thrilling moment in sports is the last quarter mile of a horse race, when “down the stretch they come!” Spectators are mildly interested in the initial legs of the race, as the horses jockey for position and conserve their energy for the home stretch. But their roar is deafening when the horses turn the final corner and break into a full gallop for the finish line.

Paul had a race in mind when he asked the Thessalonians to pray that “the Lord’s message will spread rapidly” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). The Greek term for “spread rapidly” is trecho, which means to run at full speed. As spectators rise to their feet and scream “Go! Go! Go!” so Paul commands us to cheer the spread of the gospel in our lives and across the world.

We let the gospel run in our lives when we humbly receive the forgiveness of sin and then patiently forgive those who have sinned against us. The gospel surges through us as we celebrate our Father’s love and then pass it on by serving the least among us. In sum, we unleash the gospel when we gladly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and then live out that reality in daily experience.

We let the gospel run in the world when we follow Paul’s instructions to pray for its progress. We can’t force others to submit to the lordship of Jesus, but we can ask God to open their eyes so that they might “see the glorious light of the Good News” (2 Corinthians 4:4). We can ask our Father to bring His kingdom soon, so that His will is “done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

The only thing sadder than a throttled thoroughbred is a gospel that is kept in check. Let it run. By Mike Wittmer - Our Daily Journal