As we approach the end of the year, it is a particularly significant time to pause, reflect, and give thanks to God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. The greatest reason to thank God is for the gift of life He has sustained in us throughout the entire year.
During the course of this year, we have passed through many seasons and trials, yet we are still alive. The sun rises and sets each day, we have not experienced earthquakes, nor waged war, God has preserved us from many calamities, shielded us from illness, and even when we fell sick, He healed us. Can we honestly say this is because of our own righteousness?
It is not because of our religious devotion, our abundance of food, our self-care, our good conduct, our righteousness, our personal holiness, our zeal to seek God, our good deeds, fasting, prayer, church attendance, or charitable giving. None of these things move our Heavenly Father to grant us blessings, life, or daily provision. Not one.
So the question arises: if it is not because of these things that we are finishing the year safely, then why? If it is not because of our holiness, efforts, or works, why do we receive such grace?
The answer is simple: it is because of the righteousness of one person, because of the holiness, diligence, obedience, and prayers of one person—and that person is the Lord Jesus Christ, who was pleasing to the Heavenly Father.
The Heavenly Father was not pleased with the thousands on earth; He found no one righteous. All had sinned and fallen short of His glory.
Psalm 14:2-3:
“The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; no one does good, not even one.”
Do you see? If there is no one righteous on earth, who could possibly receive blessings from God based on their own merit? None. We all deserve eternal judgment. That is why someone had to come from heaven who is righteous, to be able to receive blessings from God—because no one on earth is truly wise or righteous.
And that person is Jesus Christ alone. He alone lived a sinless life from birth to death. He alone was counted righteous by the Father:
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Not “these are my beloved sons,” but this One—and through His righteousness, all blessings flow to us.
Matthew 21:5-9:
“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest!’”
Therefore, only one is truly blessed—Jesus Christ alone, who was not destined to die in sin or perish eternally. Our Lord Jesus redeemed us, who were imperfect, before the Heavenly Father, and granted us access to the blessings He had already received from the Father. Though we did not deserve blessing, life, or the illumination of God’s favor, we now receive them through Christ.
Even as we conclude this year and continue to live, we must not boast in our works, for it is not by our own deeds that we are preserved, but because of the works of Jesus Christ, which pleased the Father. This is not due to our diligence, nor our moral efforts, but by the mercy of Jesus Christ upon us.
We are not the blessed ones—Jesus Christ alone is blessed. We are invited to partake in His blessings. That is why we must know Him, worship Him, and humbly say, “Lord, thank You.”
Thank Him for every moment of the year, from beginning to end. Even if you are sick, give thanks. Even if your desires were not fulfilled this year, be thankful that you are still alive.
Thank Him for keeping you in faith, for preserving you from the attacks of the devil, and for granting you life to seek Him through prayer, fasting, and devotion. Without Him, we would all belong to the fire of hell.
Give thanks in every area of your life, and ask for greater grace in the coming year to draw closer to Him, know Him more deeply, and experience His power. He will grant you greater grace to overcome the world and its temptations, for “the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17). Christ will return, “like a thief in the night” (Revelation 3:3). One day, this world will end, just as one year passes by. Let us pray for God’s grace to remain steadfast until that day.
The Lord bless you abundantly!
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When we read the Bible, we do not find any command instructing us to celebrate the birthday or death of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no religious obligation for all believers to observe such a day. This raises a question: if Scripture does not command it, why should we designate a specific day to celebrate the birth or death of our Savior?
The answer is simple. Consider our everyday life: how often do you attend birthday parties? How often have you celebrated your own birthday, or that of others? Clearly, whether you celebrate your birthday or not, it does not prevent someone from expressing gratitude to God or enjoying life with family and friends.
Similarly, Christianity does not command the celebration of any festival—neither Easter, Pentecost, Jesus’ birthday, baptism, nor any other event. Yet, many people observe certain days as meaningful. Some wish to honor the birth of the King of the world 2,000 years ago; others celebrate the death of Jesus on the cross, who brought them salvation, or their baptism—their “second birth.” Some celebrate days when God answered their prayers.
The problem arises when people assume December 25 as Jesus’ birthday, though the Bible gives no indication of this, and historically, the date was linked to Roman pagan festivals. However, biblical clues suggest Jesus was not born on December 25.
If we look at the Gospel of Luke, we read that the angel Gabriel appeared to the priest Zechariah while he was serving in the priestly division of Abijah (Luke 1:5–9):
“In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. His wife, Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron. Both were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments blamelessly. But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were well along in years. While Zechariah was serving as priest before God, his division’s turn came to burn incense.”
The division of Abijah was the eighth out of twenty-four. Priestly service rotated weekly, and the Jewish year began in April. This suggests Zechariah’s temple service and Elizabeth’s conception likely occurred around the sixth or seventh month of the Jewish calendar. Six months later, Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26). This calculation implies Jesus’ conception possibly occurred in December or January, pointing to a September or October birth.
While other indicators exist, these calculations suggest December 25 was not the historical date. Does this mean celebrating it is sinful? Not at all. The Bible does not mandate a particular date. Therefore, those who celebrate the day out of love for Jesus and to glorify God commit no sin, whether in April, August, September, October, or December. The key is that the day is observed with devotion and holiness.
Sin occurs when a day intended for honoring God is misused for drunkenness, idolatry, or other immoral activities (1 Corinthians 10:31). That would be a direct offense against God and more serious than other transgressions.
Dear brothers and sisters, during this season: if you choose to celebrate these days for Jesus, do so in holiness. Keep it sacred, reflecting on the past year with gratitude, and begin the new year with wisdom and devotion (Psalm 90:12; Colossians 3:17).
May God bless you!
Matthew 24:24
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
The false prophets of the Old Testament serve as a shadow of the false prophets who would arise in the New Testament era. Many of the tactics they used then are still visible today.
False prophets could mislead new believers and, at times, even unsettle mature believers. An example is Hananiah during the time of King Zedekiah. When God declared that Jerusalem would be destroyed and the people exiled to Babylon, Hananiah boldly told the king, the priests, and the people that God had promised all the confiscated items would be returned in two years. Yet Scripture makes clear that God had not sent him. Humanity often favors messages that sound good, even if they are false.
Similarly, Jeremiah experienced opposition when he proclaimed Jerusalem’s impending destruction. The king and people, not wanting to hear a message they deemed unpleasant, ordered him bound. (Jeremiah 28)
During King Ahab’s reign, there were 400 prophets who always gave favorable prophecies. But when God’s judgment was to fall upon Ahab, a prophet named Micaiah stood faithfully and spoke truth before God. God revealed, “Ahab will die in battle,” yet Ahab chose to listen to the false prophets promising him success—and, as foretold, he perished. (2 Chronicles 18:1–34)
These examples reflect the reality that even today, there are true prophets chosen by God. Likewise, the Old Testament also records groups of false prophets whose primary role was to mislead believers. (1 Kings 13)
1 Kings 13:1–32 (Summary)A man of God was sent from Judah to Bethel. He condemned the altar and proclaimed God’s word: “A descendant of David will be born, and the priests at the altar will be burned.” A miraculous sign accompanied his prophecy—the altar split and ashes scattered.
King Jeroboam invited him to eat, but God had commanded that he neither eat nor drink there and should return by a different route.
An older prophet persuaded him to disobey God’s command, leading him to eat and drink. On the way home, he was killed by a lion.
This account illustrates that even a faithful servant of God, standing firmly in faith, can be misled by false prophets who only speak words that please the listeners.
Jeremiah 14:14
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them or command them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, and deceitful things from their own hearts.’”
We see clearly that we should not believe every voice promising only success and blessings. False prophets often conceal God’s call for justice, repentance, and warning. The pleasures of the world may seem attractive, but God’s truth is immutable. (Matthew 24:24; Hebrews 12:14)
If we hear prophecies promising only temporary happiness or success, we must exercise discernment. God’s Word is unchanging, no matter how appealing worldly promises may appear. We must remain steadfast in our calling and election rather than being swayed by deceptive voices.
May God bless you and grant you wisdom to stand firm in these last days.
Marriage, according to the Bible, is a sacred and lifelong covenant established by God. The Bible provides clear guidelines on the purpose of marriage, as well as the conditions under which divorce is permitted. Below is a clear and organized explanation of what the Bible says about marriage and divorce.
In Matthew 19:3-8, Jesus gives the foundational view of marriage:
God designed marriage to be a union between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4-5).
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Matthew 19:5).
God intended marriage to be a lifelong bond: “What God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:6).
Marriage was created by God to be a union of love, companionship, and faithfulness. It is meant to be an unbreakable bond that reflects God’s love for His people.
While marriage is intended to be lifelong, the Bible acknowledges that divorce may be necessary under certain circumstances. The primary reasons for divorce outlined in the Bible are:
A) Adultery (Sexual Immorality)
In Matthew 19:9, Jesus allows divorce in the case of adultery:
“I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Adultery is a form of betrayal that breaks the covenant of marriage, and the innocent spouse is permitted to divorce and remarry.
However, forgiveness is encouraged. Just as Christ forgives us for spiritual unfaithfulness, we are encouraged to forgive our spouses and seek reconciliation if possible. Regarding forgiveness, Jesus tells us to forgive “seven times seventy” (Matthew 18:22), which emphasizes that there is no room for divorce unless absolutely necessary. It is far, far, far from God’s ideal, and divorce should be the last option after every effort of reconciliation has been exhausted.
B) Abandonment by an Unbelieving Spouse
In cases where one spouse is a believer and the other is not, the Bible allows for divorce if the unbelieving spouse chooses to leave. This situation is explained in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16:
If a believing spouse is married to an unbeliever who is willing to live with them, they should stay together.
If the unbelieving spouse chooses to leave, the believer is no longer bound in the marriage, and they are free to remarry.
However, if the unbelieving spouse is willing to stay, the believing spouse is expected to remain faithful.
Remarriage after Divorce: If divorce occurs due to sexual immorality, the innocent spouse is allowed to remarry. However, in cases where divorce happens for any other reason (e.g., disagreements, hardship, etc.), remarriage is not allowed.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 states: “A wife must not separate from her husband… and a husband must not divorce his wife.” If separation occurs, reconciliation is encouraged.
In the case of a believer being abandoned by an unbelieving spouse, they are free to remarry, but it must be “in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:39).
The Bible emphasizes that marriage should be honored and respected by everyone. In Hebrews 13:4, we read:
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
God takes marriage seriously, and His desire is for couples to remain faithful and committed to each other. Malachi 2:16 expresses God’s disapproval of divorce: “For I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel.”
Divorce, according to the Bible, brings spiritual consequences:
It hinders the blessings God wants to bestow on the family.
Children of divorced parents may experience emotional and spiritual consequences, feeling like they have lost the security and stability of both parents.
A broken marriage can also set the individual back spiritually, hindering growth and blessings in their relationship with God.
Therefore, it is essential to work toward healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation, as divorce should be a last resort.
Marriage should be characterized by:
Love and Faithfulness: Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the Church (Ephesians 5:25). Wives are to respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:33).
Forgiveness: Just as Christ forgives our sins, we are called to forgive our spouses. Matthew 18:21-22 tells us to forgive “seventy-seven times,” showing that forgiveness should be abundant and ongoing.
Commitment to Reconciliation: Jesus calls couples to reconcile, and if separation occurs, they should not remarry unless there has been adultery.
Marriage is a gift from God and should be cherished. It is meant to reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church. Divorce, though allowed in certain cases, is not God’s ideal, and it is only permitted in the case of sexual immorality or abandonment by an unbelieving spouse.
Married couples are encouraged to work through difficulties, seek forgiveness, and remain committed to one another. God’s grace and blessings are available to those who honor their marriage vows and maintain a relationship of love, respect, and faithfulness.
May God bless your marriage and guide you in every step.
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