Into a dark world, God brings a promise of light. Warfare will cease and joy will come. And the cause of this change…? The birth of a child who will sit on David’s throne and rule eternally.

n a world of suffering and sadness, God gives his servant confidence that the Lord himself will come and stand upon the earth—and that his servants will see the Lord in resurrected bodies. Here is stunning gospel hope for a broken and dying world.

In a world of suffering and sadness, God gives his servant confidence that the Lord himself will come and stand upon the earth—and that his servants will see the Lord in resurrected bodies. Here is stunning gospel hope for a broken and dying world.

While rulers of the kingdoms of the world rage against the Lord and his rule, God places his King on the throne of his kingdom. The Lord promises blessing for all who take refuge in him. Jesus is God’s true and universal King, and we must fear him, honour him, and seek refuge in him.

While rulers of the kingdoms of the world rage against the Lord and his rule, God places his King on the throne of his kingdom. The Lord promises blessing for all who take refuge in him. Jesus is God’s true and universal King, and we must fear him, honour him, and seek refuge in him.

Instead of starting our Christmas season with a study of one of the gospels, we thought we'd look back to the promises of God in the Old Testament. God promised David a Son who would sit on an eternal throne, and this Son of David would also be God’s own Son, Jesus.

Instead of starting our Christmas season with a study of one of the gospels, we thought we'd look back to the promises of God in the Old Testament. God promised David a Son who would sit on an eternal throne, and this Son of David would also be God’s own Son, Jesus.

Peter is writing to believers who are living in the midst of a storm and coping with the uncomfortable sensation of being unsteadied by the winds swirling about them. Opposition, scorn, persecution for the faith—true suffering as believers—these are realities confronting them and threatening to intensify against them. As he concludes his letter, Peter now gives to these believers and to us some concrete and practical advice concerning the way in which we should hold our ground and keep our footing in such unsteady and unsteadying times.

Peter is writing to believers who are living in the midst of a storm and coping with the uncomfortable sensation of being unsteadied by the winds swirling about them. Opposition, scorn, persecution for the faith—true suffering as believers—these are realities confronting them and threatening to intensify against them. As he concludes his letter, Peter now gives to these believers and to us some concrete and practical advice concerning the way in which we should hold our ground and keep our footing in such unsteady and unsteadying times.

Peter tackles the reality of suffering head-on in this vitally important passage, and he teaches us what to do to be ready for suffering—and then to endure suffering as a believer. Those going through suffering need to hear and receive his message—and those living in times of relative ease need to hear it too, that we may be prepared for that which will surely come.