One Verse at a Time

This episode looks at Psalm 7:1 “A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite. O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me.” We call on God to deliver us from the trials, temptations, and tortures of the evil one because we have taken refuge in God.

This episode looks at Luke 2:20, “In the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Our hearts’ desire is to join with the shepherds in making much of God. We do that by praising him for who he is and what he has done.

This episode looks at Luke 2:19, “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” We can follow the example of Mary’s faith and holiness by treasuring up the truths we see in Scripture and the experiences God brings us through. We can then, by God’s grace, ponder these things deeply and savor them joyfully.

This episode looks at Luke 2:18, “And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.” We want to, like the people the shepherds told the good news to, be blown away by the beauty of Christmas. We need God to grant us that sense of wonder.

This episode looks at Luke 2:17, “And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.” The shepherds hear the good news, see it with their own eyes, and then tell it to all who will hear. We want to live with that same earnest desire to share the good news with others!

This episode looks at Luke 2:16, “And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.” The shepherds immediately obey God’s word, and they find the situation exactly how he said it would be at the manger. We again encounter the humility of the Son of God in the manger as well. May we have the same obedience as the shepherds when we encounter God’s word, and may we also experience the same joy when we see God deliver on his promises.

This episode looks at Luke 2:15, “When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” The shepherds recognized that the angel had brought the word of the Lord to them. Then they dropped everything to go see the Christ child. We want to have the same attitude as the shepherds when God’s word is made known to us.

This episode looks at Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” All glory belongs to God for his wonderful work in the world! Also, we can have peace with him and one another because of his work in sending Jesus to make peace with sinners. The Father is pleased with the Son (Luke 3:22), and so he is also pleased with those of us who are in the Son.

This episode looks at Luke 2:13, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,” The angels primarily do two things in the Scriptures: Praise God and minister to humans on behalf of God. Both of these tasks come together in Luke 2. We thank God for their ministry to us, and we also ask God for help to join in with the angels in praising God.

This episode looks at Luke 2:12, “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” The sign did not match the message according to human wisdom. However, according to God’s wisdom, this humble and gracious sign highlights God’s love and kindness.