The power of the gospel is the way in which it changes hearts. Jesus makes us new men and women, he fills us with the Spirit, and the divinely-designed result is a life whose orientation and actions are different than our self-centered, me-absorbed culture. The new man, with Christ at the center, lives a remarkably different life, and Colossians 3:1-17 helps us understand what this new man looks like and does.

The mystery of Christmas is not found primarily in the circumstances of the birth of Jesus, but in the identity of the baby in the manger.

The mystery of Christmas is not found primarily in the circumstances of the birth of Jesus, but in the identity of the baby in the manger.

The mystery of Christmas is not found primarily in the circumstances of the birth of Jesus, but in the identity of the baby in the manger.

The mystery of Christmas is not found primarily in the circumstances of the birth of Jesus, but in the identity of the baby in the manger.

God makes himself known. As a revealing God he has taken us into confidence, explained himself and his plan for redemption to us, and given us the right to know him. God's revelation is a special gift that we celebrate in the season of Advent.

We, like David, need to talk to ourselves. We need to stir our hearts up to a more appropriate emotional response to the truth about the God we know. If you find your heart cold, then do what David did and count your blessings.

“Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season.” In other words, we should “be ready” whether we feel like it or not. If we do only what we feel inclined to do, some of us would never do anything.