Looking in the Laver the priest could see his need. The Laver then, represents the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

At the Brazen Altar there was no allowance for good intentions or recitations of accomplishments. All stood before it as sinners in need of forgiveness. Nor will it be that God will grant entry into Heaven to sincere or gifted or good intentioned people without their sin being dealt with at the cross of Christ.

The Tabernacle was more than a place of worship, serving also as a means to proclaim truths about God and more particular, the coming Messiah.

The King who had formed all that was living and existing, the King who had healed and taught and died to save, the King who would reign in absolute victory, that King broke the bonds of death and proved, once and for all that He was still the King.

Even a prison is a cathedral in the presence of Christ.

For the first century Christians, a cross to be worn as jewelry would be as shocking to them as it would be for us to encounter someone in our day wearing a guillotine necklace, or executioner axe earrings, or encountering a hangman’s noose on a worship table.

We are all cups of one sort or another. Some are more like goblets, others more like souvenir cups from a ballpark while still others more homey – plain, if you will.

Amid the cruelty and senseless brutality a doughnut becomes a sacramental offering of peace.

Wherever there is a sinner bent beneath the crush of sin, there echoes the cry of John the Baptist: “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

The devil offered Jesus the best he could because he knew that nothing less would do. Judas sold his soul for 30 pieces of silver. But often we settle for far less than the kingdoms of this world.

Sad little Nazareth. You tried to keep Him where you found Him and so failed to follow Him where He was going.

Here the rejects, the outsiders, people on the fringe find a place to sit and dine with the Most High God.

Expecting rebuke for the risk she caused others, for touching Him to take something from Him secretly, for shredding all etiquette, manners and customs of the day, she instead heard words of immeasurable kindness and comfort: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over” (Mark 5:30).

The Salvation Army itself cannot imagine its existence apart from love in action.

Our Buddhist friends may be quite excited about the Buddha’s finger. But what could be more thrilling than a resurrected Lord?

Understanding God apart from His love was impossible. But incorporating that truth changes everything.

When I hang the bulbs on the tree I can be a little boy and I seem to sense my mother near, as if, well, as if I could turn suddenly and feel her warmth again.

We of The Salvation Army celebrate Christmas this year with compassion. And next year it will still happen.