This ancient “tale of two mothers” concerns far more than theological semantics—it is the difference between a God who sends and a God who comes.
This story points us from our unlikely heroes to the even more unlikely, and joyous, good news that Jesus’ birth for us was just as unlikely and unexpected.
Was Jesus ambitious or unambitious? We have to say that the answer is…yes.

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God’s creatures on four legs are some of the greatest storytellers of the Scriptures.
Jacob is given the gospel afresh right when he needed it and it is because of this gospel that his faith is stirred up anew.
Jesus has instituted his living-breathing disciples, his shepherds in his church, to declare the full forgiveness of sins.
The mere fact of “having faith” or saying that “you believe” is not as important as in what or in whom your faith rests.
To obtain this righteousness, you have to admit you don’t have it and could never produce it on your own because you are unrighteous.
He will never leave you nor forsake you. Your faith is not fragile glass.
This is an excerpt from Chapter 6 of Clothed with Christ written by Brian W. Thomas (1517 Publishing, 2024). Now available!
There is a bit of Narcissus in all of us. We are all lost within ourselves.
What a small thing in the big picture to give his head for the Head of the Church who would give his life for John and all sinners.
It is the story of a God who is not distant, not indifferent, not doing anything in half-measures, but who is here, now.
As both law and gospel are proclaimed, judgment and deliverance are miraculously pronounced over the hearer.
What the gospel does is take people who were enemies of God and transform them into lovers of God