Many know that Jesus was born in a manger… but who did He turn out to be?

Contentment is great! Gratitude is even better, for gratitude is not only happy with what it has – as nine of the lepers healed by Jesus were – but actively thankful for what it has. In this way, gratitude blesses others because gratitude is an expression of contentment and fulfillment.

The Israelites were wildly blessed by God while wandering through the wilderness – but, for them, it was never enough. Grumbling misses the blessings God gives. The first step out of the trap of grumbling is contentment.

David refused to even drink water if the water was a product of someone else work and risk. David wanted to work for what he had. Part of stewardship is working for what we have so we can share what we have. Are we more interesting in working or taking?

Joseph was entrusted with a huge estate. But things quickly turned sour when he was falsely accused of mismanaging what he had been given. How can we be faithful with what God has given us, even when being faithful means sacrificing like Joseph?

From the very beginning of history, God entrusted people with the responsibility of taking care of His world. What you have is still part of His world. Are you cultivating what God has given you or wasting or hoarding it?

One of the hardest challenges families face is when they are divided over faith. Jesus’ own family struggled to believe in Him! But when we hold on to our faith, our household becomes divided against Satan. And, as Jesus reminds us, a house divided cannot stand. There is hope for your family members who are outside the faith!

Some of the hardest sayings of Jesus have to do with family. Jesus called twelve men away from their families to be His disciples. Jesus challengingly invites us to remember that, as important as family is, family without Him is idolatry and will only lead to pain.

Every family encounters problems and conflicts. Before Isaac and Rebekah even have children, God promises their sons will fight with each other. Looking at our family through the eyes of faith – through how Jesus sees them – can help us navigate the short-term conflicts with a larger goal in mind.

We will often speak of our “friends and family.” There are some friends who are like family (Proverbs 18:24). Paul talks about how we are part of Christ’s family by faith in Galatians 3. When our own family fails us, we have a larger family that extends through space and time.