Have You seen Jesus?

Have you ever thought about why were shepherds chosen to be the first to hear the good news? 

In the context of first-century Judea, choosing shepherds as the first "press release" recipients for the birth of Christ was a counter-cultural move.

Here is why that choice carries so much weight:

The Lowly Status of Shepherds

In that era, shepherds weren’t the romanticized figures we see on Christmas cards. They were often viewed as social outcasts.

* Ritually Unclean: Because of their constant contact with animals and nature, they were often unable to maintain the strict purification rituals required by religious law.

* Legal Standing: In some historical accounts, shepherds were considered so untrustworthy that their testimony wasn't even allowed in a court of law.

By announcing the birth to them first, the message was clear: this "Good News" wasn't just for the elite or the "perfect"—it was for everyone, starting from the bottom up. The Gospel for the overlooked!

And that includes you and me. The worst of the worst!

One point for which they praised God was the agreement between what they had heard and what they had seen. Observe the last sentence—“As it was told unto them.” Have you not found the gospel to be in ourselves just what the Bible said it would be? Jesus said he would give us rest—have you not enjoyed the sweetest peace in him? He said we should have joy, and comfort, and life through believing in him—have we not received all these? Are not his ways, ways of pleasantness, and his paths, paths of peace? 

We too have heard the gospel — the promise of peace, joy, and rest in Jesus. But have we seen it? Have we tasted the sweetness of His presence, the comfort of His grace, the beauty of His truth? If so, let our praise rise like theirs — not from borrowed words, but from lived experience.

Let Thursday be a day of remembering:

• What you’ve heard about Jesus.

• What you’ve seen in your walk with Him.

• And how perfectly the two align.

If you’ve found Him faithful, if His peace has stilled your storms, if His joy has lifted your heart — then glorify and praise Him. Let your harp be tuned not just by hearing, but by the touch of living faith.

God's Grace for the Middle

Grace for the Middle Moments.

The middle of the week often brings a different kind of fatigue—not just physical, but mental and emotional. You may wonder if you can finish strong, or if your efforts matter. But hear this: God’s grace meets you right in the middle.

God's Grace isn’t just for salvation but also for sustenance. God’s strength is made perfect in your weakness. When you feel like you’re failing, grace says, “I’ve got you.” When you feel overwhelmed, Grace whispers, “You’re not alone.” When you do, remember the Eagle. 

You may wake up feeling tired or discouraged, but God offers more than motivation. He offers renewal. Like the eagle that soars again after shedding its old feathers, God promises to refresh your strength and restore your joy.

"Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's". Psalm 103:5 (KJV)

Pause this day and ask for fresh grace. You don’t need to finish in your own strength for you have access to supernatural help.

Your age, past mistakes, or present weariness don’t disqualify you from this promise. God’s Spirit breathes life into dry bones and new energy into worn-out hearts. You don’t have to face this day with yesterday’s strength. Come before Him and receive your renewal. He doesn’t just patch you up but He makes you new.

The Cost

“Following Jesus is not easy.”

Those words are not a warning — they are an invitation. An invitation into a life that is costly, yes, but also deeply anchored in the strength and presence of God.

When we choose to follow Jesus, we step into a path that runs against the grain of the world. There will be human opposition — misunderstanding, criticism, even rejection. 

But beneath the visible resistance lies something deeper: spiritual warfare. Scripture never hides this reality. Job’s life stands as a vivid reminder that unseen battles can shake even the strongest foundations.

The enemy’s aim is simple: to discourage, to distract, to destroy. Through financial loss, through sickness, through people; he can use anything to stop us. 

And if we walk unprepared, we walk vulnerable.

But God has not left us exposed.

Paul’s words in Ephesians 6 remind us that the armour of God is not optional gear — it is daily necessity. Not a metaphorical accessory, but a spiritual survival kit.

The belt of truth to steady our steps.

The breastplate of righteousness to guard our hearts.

The gospel of peace to anchor our footing.

The shield of faith to extinguish every flaming arrow.

The helmet of salvation to protect our minds.

The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to fight back with divine authority.

Following Jesus will cost us something — comfort, approval, ease.

But not following Him will cost us far more.

The good news is this:

We do not stand alone.

We do not fight unarmed.

We do not walk without covering.

Every morning, before the world presses in, before the enemy whispers, before the weight of the day settles — we clothe ourselves in God’s armour. Not in fear, but in confidence. Not in striving, but in surrender.

Because the One who calls us to follow is the same One who equips us to stand.

The Legend of The Fourth Wise Man Or Dont Wait for Christmas

Did you know there was a 4th Wise man who didn't make it? 

Long ago in the late 1800s a man named Eric Van Dyke wrote a short story about a "fourth" wise man (accepting the tradition that the Magi numbered three), a priest of the Magi named Artaban, one of the Medes from Persia.

Like the other Magi, he sees signs in the heavens proclaiming that a King has been born among the Jews. Like them, he sets out to see the newborn ruler, carrying treasures to give as gifts to the child - a sapphire, a ruby, and a "pearl of great price".

However, he stops along the way to help a dying man, which makes him late to meet with the caravan of the other three wise men. Because he missed the caravan, and he can't cross the desert with only a horse, he is forced to sell one of his treasures in order to buy the camels and supplies necessary for the trip. He then commences his journey but arrives in Bethlehem too late to see the child, whose parents have fled to Egypt. He saves the life of another child at the price of another one of his treasures.

He then travels to Egypt and to many other countries, searching for Jesus for many years and performing acts of charity along the way. After 33 years, Artaban is still a pilgrim, and a seeker after light. Artaban arrives in Jerusalem just in time for the crucifixion of Jesus. He spends his last treasure, the pearl, to ransom a young woman from being sold into slavery. He is then struck in the head by a falling roof tile and is about to die, having failed in his quest to find Jesus, but having done much good through charitable works. A voice tells him "Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)[4] He dies in a calm radiance of wonder and joy. His treasures were accepted, and the Other Wise Man found his King.

This is a story, but isn't the fourth wise man like us? We want to worship Jesus in spirit and in truth but miss the bus so many times. However, as the wise man did, we can still use our time to be of service to our Lord, using the gifts we have, to lay at His feet, in His service.