And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.
—Exodus 35:21
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
—Ruth 1:22
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor...
—Isaiah 61:1a
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
—Micah 5:2
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
—Matthew 25:40
Thorns may be small, but their bite is painful. Their presence among the rose blossoms and blackberries reminds us that, in the present fallen state of the world, beauty and delight are enjoyed in the presence of thorns. And we can, like Paul, take comfort in the Lord's grace.
They remind us, in the third verse of "Joy to the World", that the Lord's return will bring healing, not only to the skin sorrowing from the punctures of thorns, but also to the ground that they infested. His presence, which brings joy even in the present, will bring immeasurable joy with His return.
Thorns remind us that little things matter. That applies to good as well as pain.
The Lord gave Oholiab, Ahisamach, and those who worked with them, the skills and abilities needed to construct and furnish the tabernacle. That work also required materials. Those whose hearts were stirred by the need brought so much that Moses finally had to restrain the people from bringing more. But every gift connected the people to the finished product.
Bethlehem was a little town, seemingly insignificant. Its name was connected to the sorrow of Rachel's burial, and to horrifying deeds in the book of Judges. But it also became the home of a poor immigrant woman whose declaration of love and loyalty still rings in our hearts. And she became an ancester to David.
When Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to a sacrifice, Jesse seems to have assumed that David was too small to be significant. But after Samuel commanded David's presence, the Lord identified David as the one who would lead Israel.
And Jesus taught in clear language that treatment of “the least” showed the heart's regard for Him, the one who came as an infant to provide blessings "as far as the curse is found."
Nor Thorns Infest the Ground
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
—Psalm 98:4
And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.
—Exodus 35:21
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
—Ruth 1:22
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor...
—Isaiah 61:1a
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
—Micah 5:2
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
—Matthew 25:40
Thorns may be small, but their bite is painful. Their presence among the rose blossoms and blackberries reminds us that, in the present fallen state of the world, beauty and delight are enjoyed in the presence of thorns. And we can, like Paul, take comfort in the Lord's grace.
They remind us, in the third verse of "Joy to the World", that the Lord's return will bring healing, not only to the skin sorrowing from the punctures of thorns, but also to the ground that they infested. His presence, which brings joy even in the present, will bring immeasurable joy with His return.
Thorns remind us that little things matter. That applies to good as well as pain.
The Lord gave Oholiab, Ahisamach, and those who worked with them, the skills and abilities needed to construct and furnish the tabernacle. That work also required materials. Those whose hearts were stirred by the need brought so much that Moses finally had to restrain the people from bringing more. But every gift connected the people to the finished product.
Bethlehem was a little town, seemingly insignificant. Its name was connected to the sorrow of Rachel's burial, and to horrifying deeds in the book of Judges. But it also became the home of a poor immigrant woman whose declaration of love and loyalty still rings in our hearts. And she became an ancester to David.
When Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to a sacrifice, Jesse seems to have assumed that David was too small to be significant. But after Samuel commanded David's presence, the Lord identified David as the one who would lead Israel.
And Jesus taught in clear language that treatment of “the least” showed the heart's regard for Him, the one who came as an infant to provide blessings "as far as the curse is found."