THE STORY OF JESUS: John 1:43-51 “You will see the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” (John 1:51) In Genesis 28, as Jacob flees his brother, he spends the night in the middle of nowhere. While he sleeps with a rock for a pillow, God appears to him in a dream. He sees…
Author: Norm
My story!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 107 “Give thanks to the Lord… Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…” (Psalm 107:2) We’re urged to share our God stories, how God helped, rescued or restored us. God’s grace isn’t just for ministers or theologians, it is part of everyday life. How has God helped, rescued, saved or…
The seriousness of sin!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ezekiel 4-6 “Parents will eat their children, and children will eat their parents.” (Ezekiel 5:10) I do not see God as making these things happen, but letting them happen. God warns His people constantly not to live in depraved, violent ways. Now Israel is facing another depraved nation, bent on conquest. They will…
We have seen His glory!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ezekiel 1-3 “This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 1:28) What Ezekiel sees is not actually God, but God’s way of showing Himself. How do we describe God, what image or vision could capture His awesomeness. The various symbols in this vision of God have a…
Come, and you will see!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 1:35-42 “‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’” (John 1:39) One thing I notice about Jesus is that He doesn’t make it easy. He doesn’t smother these eager potential disciples. He doesn’t win them over with charm and wisdom. He invites them to keep checking Him out, to keep following. Andrew spent…
Once for all!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 1:29-34 “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) For Jews, the sacrificed lamb was a very important symbol for their faith. It reminded them of God’s grace, how He released them from their sin and guilt. But the repeated sacrifices never succeeded in ending…
I am not the messiah!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 1:19-28 “He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” (John 1:20) John knew who he was, and who he was not. As helpers of Jesus, we need to remember who we are, and who we’re not. I am God’s child, I am Christ’s brother, I am…
Moving into my heart!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 1:6-18 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) Can you think of a ‘bad’ neighborhood near you? A less than desirable area where you’d prefer not to live? Jesus moved into a less than desirable neighborhood. He moved in with us. Humanity has turned God’s paradise into…
His love endures forever!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 106 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 106:1) His love endures forever, that is, He never stops loving us! Even when we mess up, even when we go astray, even when we hurt Him. The psalmist reflects on their story as a nation… its…
‘Restore them too, Lord!’
THE STORY OF JESUS: Lamentations 4-5 “Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return.” (Lamentations 5:21) Personally I have not experienced this kind of horrible suffering. But this kind of suffering is happening all over the world, all the time. We should not just feel bad when we suffer, we should feel bad for all misery….