Reading Matthew 23 will be a good way to start 2025. I must warn you that Jesus pulls no punches. Most of this chapter involves lashing out at religious leaders—the ‘holier than thou’ crowd who preen themselves as a cut above, straitlaced and proud of it—just the kind we want to see in our rearview mirror.

They preach but don’t practice. They do whatever to be noticed. They make life miserable for others while exempting themselves. They demand to be honored first and foremost. To sit in places to be seen. And wear obvious and rich clothing. They love their titles more than the people who honor them. Always demanding to be lavished upon as great ones, served by all others. You get the picture. Happy New Year to you, too!

Jesus keeps the ball rolling by adding seven woes to their character description. Seven is the number of completeness. It’s as if Jesus issues a full verdict on this nasty bunch of powerful yahoos. Guilty as sin. Seven woes. Sorrows, grief, and misery come upon those who love the attention of the world while rejecting a relationship with the Lord.

Be careful to check your own motive pulse this new year to see if you want to please Jesus or gain brownie points. To make some impression that puffs you up in other’s eyes. Be looked over rather than overlooked. Here’s a warning–when we disconnect from God all hell breaks loose. Woes of all kinds can be unleashed, all of our own making.

So, this year, I want to develop my inside relationship with Jesus more. I want to know Him better. I want to linger longer over my Bible readings, stop speedreading, and ponder what He says. I want to hang out with God, hold onto His Word, and talk things over with Jesus more than I normally do.

In other words, my inside spiritual life should mirror my outside. I should be more transparent, open, and honest, as much as I can with the flawed lenses I have in this sinful life of mine.

I need to do better. One step in front of the other, slowly but surely. Wouldn’t that make for a happier new year? You think? But only as the Lord helps me, as I’m helpless as helpless can be. Just me?

Happy and healthy 2025. Growing in our Lord.

Lord Jesus, help me to get closer to you in this new year. Amen.

Why didn’t we have a star adorning the top of our Christmas tree? Instead, we had a yellow Volkswagon Beetle ornament front and center for all to see. It looked weird and out of place—a miniature of what I was driving in those days.

It’s not some classic car bauble but a star that leads the Wise Men to Bethlehem, where they find Joseph and Mary cradling Jesus, their firstborn child. The Magi will follow the high-in-the-sky star, which bids them seek the Messiah, who will forgive sin and offer salvation like no one ever has or will.

The Star is first mentioned in the Old Testament, in Numbers 24– ‘I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…’ (Num. 24: 17). Ironically, this star vision is from the lips of a pagan curse-maker, Balaam. Through such a dodgy source, the Lord God chooses to speak. That a star is coming. Not the Hollywood type but something you can hitch your wagon to. That, if followed, leads you to the very presence of God in the flesh.

It’s this same star vision that Old Testament Daniel teaches to the Wise Men in his court in Babylon hundreds of years later—that a star will be seen in the sky, leading to more than an astral sighting but to the long-awaited Messiah. So, get ready. Be prepared. When the star appears, it’s time to take off to find the Babe in Bethlehem of Judea, in Israel.

The star points to Jesus and shines upon Him as a guiding light from the Lord God. When you know, love, and follow Him, that light will dwell within you as God’s Christmas present that keeps shining, leading, comforting, and chasing away the darkness forever.

Merry Christmas? Oh yes, Merry Christmas! Shine, Jesus shine.

Jesus, the light of the world, thank you for coming into my life. May I shine for you always. Amen.

Yes, I know we’re less than two weeks away from Christmas day, and that the Wise Men didn’t come bearing gifts until much later, yet I’m going to delve into their visit with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Is that okay? I guess so since I haven’t heard one word of complaint. Good, let’s keep it that way!

Those Magi don’t bring cheapo, white elephant, or regifted Secret Santa presents to the Holy Family. Hardly. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Precious indeed. No gift cards or IOUs either. These are tangible assets that could translate into a king’s ransom. Set them up for life. Moving them onto Easy Street instead of some backwater dead-end cul-de-sac to nowhere.

How do Mary and Joseph use these gifts? They fund their exile into Egypt when staying in Bethlehem would result in a sure death sentence for their child. They don’t count their newfound fortune as a way to pump up their net worth but rather to use it, whether conscious of it or not, to further God’s purposes through their son Jesus.

Money has a way of grabbing hold of us. I know. I was a financial planner for 20 years with a large investment firm. I’ve seen the results of big bucks in people’s lives. Some held onto their moolah with a loose grip. Doesn’t rule their lives. But others, well, you know.

I’ve heard it said that money should be like a window, looking through it you can see others. But make that window into a mirror by adding a silver backing and suddenly, looking at it, you see only yourself reflected off that lustrous glimmer.

In this season of Black Friday sales, extended Black Friday sales, seasonlong and neverending Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday, and dragged out all week Cyber Monday, just send them your dough along with all your wherewithal for whatever—maybe we should step back, turn off our devices, and devise better ways to worship Jesus so that we can see Him through the window of our souls, looking more upward and outward and less inward and backward.

I pray that my reach may exceed my grasp in remembering Jesus, coming with gifts for the Promised One—doing my part bowing down at His feet, wondering at His beauty, worshiping our Lord and God, and honoring Jesus this Christmas—to gaze lovingly at His face. Gifts that money can’t buy.

Worth a try? I wonder if we’ll notice Him a tad clearer through open windows this Christmas?

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this time of worshipping you. Amen.

Why is believing in Jesus not a ticket to an earthly perfect paradise? All wine and roses. A walk in the park. Free as a bird. Why not? Seems good to me. Well, better ask the Old Testament character Job. He’s got a few answers for us. Don’t assume that you know all about the Book of Job. I’ve read it dozens of times, yet my spiritual eyes of understanding seem to be developing cataracts.

But slowly I’m seeing much clearer what Job has to say. Part of his message is that life this side of heaven is a mishmash. The effect of sin scars the horizon, making our life’s journeys difficult even on good days. The rug gets pulled out from under us way too often. Too many days filled with troubles and trials.

You know what I mean, don’t you? I do. There’s a pastorate that gets squashed and squelched—not all someone else’s fault, either. Or that early childhood disease that still rears ugly memories in strange ways over seven decades later. I know. And there’s more. Of course, there is.

But despite a lot, I know that God can be trusted. I can put my faith in Him. He’ll make sense of what seems senseless. He’ll right what’s wrong. In His time. In His way. Some clarity will come when we’re over the hilltop, so to speak. Get it? I’m starting to. I’m finally out of kindergarten! Yeah! Whoop-de-doo for me! First Grade beckons! Goodbye, Miss Ford! Hello Mrs. Coultas!

St. Paul hits the nail on the head when he writes–‘…do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God…’ (1 Cor. 6: 19-20). Jesus paid the price for our salvation when He died on the cross. We’re His. Owned by the God of love who will never let us out of His sight, especially during those times of trials and troubles.

No matter what life throws at us or what mess we boomerang on ourselves, we have God the Holy Spirit, given to us by the Father and the Son. Within us resides more than vital organs, veins, and blood. Much more. God is within believers. Can you imagine? So, remember who you are and whose you are. Won’t that make the junk we experience seem less so? Toughens us from within? More overcomers and less overcome by whatever or whoever?

Satan may roam around in the rooms of this house of my body, unannounced and unwelcome, stirring up troubles and trials again. Still, soon the deceiver will discover that he’s just a passin’ through and that Jesus dwells within and will usher that nasty brute right out the backdoor. Once and for all.

My Lord is the permanent resident and owner with an eternal title deed signed by Jesus Himself! There’s only lasting room for the Lord in my spiritual house. He’s in for the long haul—for keeps—forever and a day.

Chew on that this week, will you?

Lord Jesus, I love you, and thank you for being my best friend ever. Amen.