Joe Barnett

[D]o not dwell on the past.         —Isaiah 43:18 Despite Israel’s repeated rebellion, God, in loving mercy, said: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. . . . I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions . . . and remembers your sins no more” (Is 43:18, […]

[E]ven the very hairs of your head are all numbered.         —Matthew 10:30 God is interested in the smallest details of your life. You don’t have a clue how many hairs are pushing through your scalp, do you? (The average is about 140,000.) Your Father knows your exact count. Not only does

[A] man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.                     —Luke 12:15 Years ago an American company was experiencing unacceptable turnover of employees in their assembly plant in Panama. Most of the workers had lived there all their lives, in what had always

[G]ive him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.                 —Matthew 1:21 An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, telling him to take Mary home as his wife. “She will give birth to a son,” said the angel, “and you are to

[T]hey . . . presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.             —Matthew 2:11 We want our gifts to be appropriate and appreciated. I knew a man whose spic-and-span housekeeping wife spent a lot of time on her knees hand-waxing their floors. He gave her

Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?        —Matthew 2:2 The wise men made a trip of 1,000 miles, one-way, to see and worship Jesus. Teachers of the law in Jerusalem knew that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, six miles from Jerusalem; so they pointed the visitors

[W]e are God’s fellow workers.            —1 Corinthians 3:9 With all the problems of the planet on display on a computer in your pocket, it seems unlikely that you—one individual—can do much that makes a difference. But the world is comprised of continents, which are comprised of countries, which are comprised

Take my yoke upon you.     —Matthew 11:29 I saw them coming out of Toys “R” Us; a dad and his daughter, lugging a starter Jungle Gym. Dad was lifting most of the load, but let his little angel think she was carrying half the weight. Are you struggling with burdens that feel like

A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning.          —Matthew 2:18 Herod was furious. The wise men had outfoxed him and headed home without giving him the location of baby Jesus. Okay, he’d handle it himself: “he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father.                        —Matthew 10:32 Do you remember your graduation? There was the thrill of hearing your name called, the affirmation of your successful completion of the prescribed course of study, and the recommendation