The story of Jesus’ dedication in the temple further reveals Him to be the expected Messiah—the chosen One promised to bring salvation to all who repent and believe. Here we discover that Simeon and Anna were patiently waiting for God’s Messiah to enter the world, and through their words, we learn that Jesus is worthy of worship and that He would usher in salvation and redemption for both the Israelites and the Gentiles.  We can also see a correlation between Simeon’s words and those of the Old...

Matthew and Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ birth showcase God’s faithfulness in sending us His Son. Long before Mary and Joseph embarked on their journey to Bethlehem, God had already promised to redeem His creation through the long-awaited Savior. Now, God was ready to make good on His promise of salvation—in an unexpected setting, at a seemingly inopportune time, and through the most unlikely of people.  The earthly arrival of God in human form caught many by surprise. From Jesus’ virgin birth to His first...

As we turn the page in the Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we remember that the Bible tells one grand story, and at the center of that story is Jesus. From Genesis to Malachi, the Old Testament weaves a story of God’s love and compassion for His people and of their inability to be faithful...

The book of Malachi reveals how people who have experienced God’s miraculous works can quickly turn away from following Him. God had delivered His people from captivity and helped them restore Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. And yet, shortly after their promise to obey the Lord’s commands, they were living in a way that was displeasing to Him. Complacency...

The second half of the book of Nehemiah shows a remarkable rededication of the Israelites to God and His law. As Ezra read from the book of the Law, the people were confronted with their sin and overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness toward them despite their unfaithfulness. Nehemiah 9 tells us that the people stood and listened to the book...

In His providence, God raised up Ezra to be a leader who realized the people of God needed to do more than just rebuild the buildings and walls in Jerusalem. If all the buildings and infrastructure of Jerusalem were completely rebuilt, but the people did not know God and His good commands, then all their rebuilding would be in...