The sons of Korah likely wrote their songs while King David was their shepherd and spiritual leader (1 Chron. 6:32, 33). Hundreds of years earlier, their ancestor Korah was part of a rebellion against the God-given authority of Moses. Instead of being blessed by God in their calling, Korah—with hundreds of others—were destroyed in God’s judgment on their jealousy (Num. 16:28-35). Time spent in jealousy will shorten your usefulness by God and may shorten your life altogether (Prov. 14:30; James 3:14, 15). Knowing their family history, the sons of Korah encourage humanity to humbly accept the wisdom of God from Godly men. Men of God speaking the words of God are God’s gift to mankind. Life is too short to not act on the wisdom of God (Ps. 90:12; James 4:13-15; 1 Pet. 1:24, 25)!

Laziness is not the of lack desire or motivation or passion. On the contrary, laziness is a very strong motivation to serve ourselves born out of an intense desire and passion for comfort. Laziness is not the lack of a drive to do something, but is a strong drive to serve oneself. At its heart, laziness is a form of idolatry where we crave comfort because we worship ourselves instead of God. Self worship gives birth to an appetite for easiness which produces laziness. The lazy man loves and serves himself; the disciplined man loves and serves Christ.

Laziness is not the of lack desire or motivation or passion. On the contrary, laziness is a very strong motivation to serve ourselves born out of an intense desire and passion for comfort. Laziness is not the lack of a drive to do something, but is a strong drive to serve oneself. At its heart, laziness is a form of idolatry where we crave comfort because we worship ourselves instead of God. Self worship gives birth to an appetite for easiness which produces laziness. The lazy man loves and serves himself; the disciplined man loves and serves Christ.

Around 5 BC, Caesar Augustus decreed the whole Roman world was to be accounted for, including Israel. As Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, they were required to register at Joseph’s ancestral town of Bethlehem, nearly 100 miles south. Mary being nine months pregnant, it was a long, grueling trip to walk or ride. Doing the will of God won’t often be in our timing or for our convenience. As all of Joseph’s relatives would be going to Bethlehem for the same reason, family who lived there would be planning to accommodate them. Given the hospitality culture of the ancient near east, it’s highly unlikely they would have had to resort to staying in an unsafe, public inn (Gr. pandocheion, ‘all-receiving, public lodging’; Luke 10:34) when relatives were local. Travelling slowly, they probably arrived after all the extended family from out of town had already settled in the house. Being that the house was full, and/or their pregnancy was viewed as ‘illegitimate’, they were given the lower part of the house to stay in rather than the more appropriate upper room (Gr. kataluma ‘guest chamber, dining room’; Luke 22:11). Even pre-birth, God doesn’t demand the best scenario amidst the worst situation!

Around 5 BC, Caesar Augustus decreed the whole Roman world was to be accounted for, including Israel. As Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, they were required to register at Joseph’s ancestral town of Bethlehem, nearly 100 miles south. Mary being nine months pregnant, it was a long, grueling trip to walk or ride. Doing the will of God won’t often be in our timing or for our convenience. As all of Joseph’s relatives would be going to Bethlehem for the same reason, family who lived there would be planning to accommodate them. Given the hospitality culture of the ancient near east, it’s highly unlikely they would have had to resort to staying in an unsafe, public inn (Gr. pandocheion, ‘all-receiving, public lodging’; Luke 10:34) when relatives were local. Travelling slowly, they probably arrived after all the extended family from out of town had already settled in the house. Being that the house was full, and/or their pregnancy was viewed as ‘illegitimate’, they were given the lower part of the house to stay in rather than the more appropriate upper room (Gr. kataluma ‘guest chamber, dining room’; Luke 22:11). Even pre-birth, God doesn’t demand the best scenario amidst the worst situation!

After Jesus’ birth in a cave/lower room in a house, Joseph and Mary probably stayed at a relative’s house in Bethlehem before going back to Nazareth. When Jesus was around a year old, men called magi (Gr. magoi, ‘magician’) who specialized in studying wisdom literature, astronomy, and the magic arts, travelled from Persia, east of Israel (modern Iran/Iraq). Many Jews were taken there when Babylon conquered Judah and deported some of them in 605 BC, including Daniel, who was considered a ‘wise-man’ (Dan. 5:11). Believers should face short-term difficulty with perseverance knowing their obedience will serve a long-term good (Rom. 8:28). Through the Jews, the magi had access to Balaam’s prophecy that a ‘star’ would come out of Jacob and the time of the arrival of the Messiah (Num. 24:17; Dan. 9:24, 25). About 4 BC, they noticed an astronomical anomaly and providentially recognized it related to the birth of the Messiah of Israel. As priests and kingmakers, there was probably a large entourage who came from Babylon (~ 800 miles). God not only called poor, illiterate shepherds, but also the educated elite to show that all kinds of wise men still seek Him (Luke 2)!

After Jesus’ birth in a cave/lower room in a house, Joseph and Mary probably stayed at a relative’s house in Bethlehem before going back to Nazareth. When Jesus was around a year old, men called magi (Gr. magoi, ‘magician’) who specialized in studying wisdom literature, astronomy, and the magic arts, travelled from Persia, east of Israel (modern Iran/Iraq). Many Jews were taken there when Babylon conquered Judah and deported some of them in 605 BC, including Daniel, who was considered a ‘wise-man’ (Dan. 5:11). Believers should face short-term difficulty with perseverance knowing their obedience will serve a long-term good (Rom. 8:28). Through the Jews, the magi had access to Balaam’s prophecy that a ‘star’ would come out of Jacob and the time of the arrival of the Messiah (Num. 24:17; Dan. 9:24, 25). About 4 BC, they noticed an astronomical anomaly and providentially recognized it related to the birth of the Messiah of Israel. As priests and kingmakers, there was probably a large entourage who came from Babylon (~ 800 miles). God not only called poor, illiterate shepherds, but also the educated elite to show that all kinds of wise men still seek Him (Luke 2)!

At just the right moment in history, God reached into the life of a young woman at Nazareth in northern Israel. Mary was not expecting to live a particularly extraordinary life. She was probably a teenager, poor, not especially attractive, lived in a rural area, and came from a family with no social influence. God never forgets the forgettable and gives purpose to the purposeless (Ps. 138:8)! Like most young women of her time, she looked forward to marrying a man she loved, start a family and please God by being the wife and mother she was called to be. God created femininity with a special concern and high value for family and relationships. Of all the gifts God gives women, humility that brings relational peace, not chaos, should be their highest value (Titus 2:3-5). Just as with Joseph, Mary agreed to sexual abstinence as part of their marital contract. As a believer, she desired to honor God and her future husband by reserving her sexual energy for him. While all cultures have different standards for modesty and beauty, God demands both sexes in all cultures to dress sex-specific and modestly—covering their sexual organs so as to not arouse sexual desire in others (Gen. 3:21; Deut. 22:5; Prov. 11:22; 1 Tim. 2:9, 10; 1 Pet. 3:3, 4). Modest is hottest!

At just the right moment in history, God reached into the life of a young woman at Nazareth in northern Israel. Mary was not expecting to live a particularly extraordinary life. She was probably a teenager, poor, not especially attractive, lived in a rural area, and came from a family with no social influence. God never forgets the forgettable and gives purpose to the purposeless (Ps. 138:8)! Like most young women of her time, she looked forward to marrying a man she loved, start a family and please God by being the wife and mother she was called to be. God created femininity with a special concern and high value for family and relationships. Of all the gifts God gives women, humility that brings relational peace, not chaos, should be their highest value (Titus 2:3-5). Just as with Joseph, Mary agreed to sexual abstinence as part of their marital contract. As a believer, she desired to honor God and her future husband by reserving her sexual energy for him. While all cultures have different standards for modesty and beauty, God demands both sexes in all cultures to dress sex-specific and modestly—covering their sexual organs so as to not arouse sexual desire in others (Gen. 3:21; Deut. 22:5; Prov. 11:22; 1 Tim. 2:9, 10; 1 Pet. 3:3, 4). Modest is hottest!

Jacob was Joseph’s father. While nothing is known of their
relationship, Joseph possibly developed a deep love for his heavenly Father from his love for his earthly father. Often, the love people have for God is reflective of the relationship they have with their own fathers. And Joseph’s love for God may have come from seeing his own father’s love for God. Though faith can’t be ‘passed on’ to others, it can be personified so it can be personalized. As most men took up their father’s trade the fact Jesus was the ‘son of a carpenter’(Gr. tektōn, ‘wood-worker, craftsman’) meant Joseph probably learned it from Jacob (Matt. 13:55). First-century construction washard, hands-on labor, so Joseph honored God by doing what was necessary to care for his family and set an example for Jesus. God superintended the lineage of Jesus to include some men who were exemplary to those around them. Godly men are to be a blessing and not a burden to their family, church, and country. The mark of a man of God isn’t perfection but responsibility (2 Thess. 3:10-12).