But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. – Matthew 1:20 Today, we start with a different heir to David’s throne. When the angel appeared, he called Joseph the son of David. Although Joseph had no throne, he was the rightful king of Israel. He was a dirt-poor tradesman who should have worn a crown. Herod, an Idumean usurper, held the title “King of the Jews.” Yet the angel made special mention of Joseph’s title. Why?…

King David had a lot of sons. A LOT of sons if you consider that, in Hebrew, all his male descendants were simply his “sons.” But referring to someone as “son of David” had special significance. He was the heir to David’s throne. King David wanted to build a temple for Yahweh, but the prophet Nathan had some bad news. God wouldn’t allow David to build it. However, his son Solomon would. In that passage, things take an unexpected turn. “Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you. When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and…

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her – Ephesians 5:25 I loved this verse so much we incorporated it in our marriage vows. I always tell people that saying I’d submit was no sacrifice when Lew was vowing to love me as Christ loved the church. Ephesians 5 gives great insight into healthy marriage relationships patterned after our relationship with God. Wives are to be subject to their own husbands as we all are to the Lord. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church–to the point of giving himself up for her. Husbands are to love…

And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he *said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who…

Jesus isn’t just the Savior, He’s my Savior. Christ died for my sins. He was buried for my sins. He was raised on the third day so I could spend eternity with him. This week’s name is Savior, and I can’t let it pass without telling you who Jesus is to me. I grew up in a church-going household, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a moment of not wanting to believe. I’ve had doubts, though. Who hasn’t? What I didn’t know was how to know God. I knew what I was taught and what I absorbed–the first being lots of rules and the second being that the people around me didn’t really know Him, either. They did…