This section of history vividly demonstrates how God saves his people: He graciously calls his people out of sin, into his blessing, into faith, and into worship.
For people who aren’t mindful of God, loving him and trusting him, but who are instead living for fleshly intimacy, for false idols, for furious individualism, and for futile indulgences – people who practice such things will be cut off from the kingdom.
You can give, because you have a God who gives.
Contentment should make us godly, wholesome people. Paul suggests as much 1 Timothy 6:6 – “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Godliness and contentment go together.
Put before your eyes the sorts of things that will promote thoughts that are substantial, and satisfying, and glorious.
The God who provides us with this peace – He himself, is eternal in his existence, limitless in his power, and infinite in his goodness.
The Bible needs to guide us into right doctrine, into right practice – and yes, into right thinking. We are called to have the same mindset – the mindset of Christ.
Paul’s life isn’t an exotic specimen of what it means to be a missionary or a Super-Guru of Spirituality. Paul’s life shows us what it looks like to be a Christian.
Matthew’s record, here, about the birth of Christ makes it plain that this man, Jesus, is a most extraordinary person. God himself has made him king.
As the chosen one, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin – there is no one else who’s qualified to save you from your sins, and to bring you close to God.