trying to find His way
Every year at Thanksgiving we remind ourselves of how blessed we are.We point to the good things in our lives as a sign of our blessing.We are rich by comparison, and living in comfort.We are well fed, and often enjoy moments of pleasure and laughter.For the most part we are well-spoken of, or at least…
What I find most comforting in this passage is the people He calls to be apostles.Though we don’t know them all, we know something about some of them.Simon, the hard-headed disciple Jesus called ‘Rocky’ (Peter).James and John, the sons of thunder (who wanted to burn a village alive).Matthew the Jew who betrayed his people to…
God is love, and the whole creation was designed as a gift of love.It was “very good” in the beginning, something to be shared and enjoyed by all.Work and rest were built into the rhythm of life.The last day was not just a one day break, but the new reality.Adam and Eve, and all humanity,…
The religious leaders ask Jesus about fasting and prayer.These religious practices were considered signs of devotion and holiness.Even the followers of other religions performed these practices.The intensity of prayer and fasting proved that they were religious.But Jesus and His disciples did not perform these traditional practices.They were not being religious enough. Jesus challenges them to…
If I am not a sinner, then Jesus did not come for me.Jesus came for people who needed help, who needed mercy.Those who do not need help and mercy, do not need Jesus. Jesus is not saying that He came for tax collectors, not religious leaders.He is not distinguishing between the sinners and the holy…
These men believed that Jesus could heal their friend.Jesus saw their faith, how they pushed through despite the roadblocks.They did not let the crowds, or the roof, keep them from Jesus.There is no mention of the paralyzed man’s faith, just his friends. The lesson for me in this is that I can trust Jesus for…
This phrase is interesting when we think of Who Jesus is.The clear confession of the first Jesus followers was that Jesus was Lord.The word for Lord is kurios, which means ‘supreme in authority’.It was the the Jewish title for YHWH, the Most High God.It was also used by slaves for their masters.And by women for…
I want to sit with these words for a time.Christians would not accuse Jesus of wasting His time.But was this the best use of His time?Could He not pray and work at the same time?How would a church respond to their pastor doing this?How would a husband or wife respond to their spouse doing this?Why…
In the Moses Law there was an complicated process to be declared clean.This process is described in the Moses Law, in Leviticus 14:1-32. “The first day, the man would need to show himself to the priest outside the Israelite camp, make a brush from cedarwood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, kill one clean bird and drain the…
There is a quote from David, Israel’s greatest king, that seems to fit here.“You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:17)Peter realizes he is in the presence of a God-anointed man.Only God could help someone to do what this man just did.In this moment, Peter senses God present through this man,…