THE STORY OF JESUS: John 12:44-50 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John 12:47) We all hear the reminders about healthy weight, healthy diet and exercise. When my doctor reminds me of this,…
Author: Norm
To love and to live wisdom!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 119:49-72 “I have considered my ways and turned my steps to your (wisdom).” (Psalm 119:59) As I read this Psalm I replace ‘law’ words (decree, statute) with ‘wisdom’. Behind God’s laws there is a wisdom for life, a better way of living. This kind of wisdom comes to those who think carefully…
The kind of life God wants to plant!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Amos 8-9 “I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted!” (Amos 9:15) In the beginning, God put humans in a good place, never to be uprooted. It was not God that caused us to be uprooted, homeless wanderers in the land. Since then God’s dream has been to…
Leaving a bad taste!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Amos 5:18-7 “You have turned justice into poison.” (Amos 6:12) How does justice become a poison? When the courts become political, and the judges self-serving. The poor and oppressed distrust the courts and the authorities. “(You have turned) the fruit of righteousness into bitterness.” (Amos 6:12) How does righteousness become bitterness? When the righteous…
Your face might freeze that way!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 12:37-43 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts.” (John 12:40) This is a quote from Isaiah 6:10, when Isaiah was sent on a mission. Isaiah must tell Israel that God will ‘harden’ them in their stubbornness. Since they refuse to repent and believe, God let’s them have their own way. Jesus…
The bad prince or the good king?
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 12:27-36 “Now the prince of this world will be driven out.” (John 12:31) Adam and Eve were originally given authority (Genesis 1:26-28). But we made Satan ‘prince’ of the world when we gave in to his lies! As a result, we are slaves to sin and Satan, and cursed with misery and death….
Am I with Jesus?
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 12:20-26 “Where I am, my servant also will be.” (John 12:26) Usually we interpret Jesus to mean that we will go to ‘heaven’ with Him. But Jesus is talking about following Him, being a servant and dying. This is where Jesus is, this is what Jesus does. Are we with Jesus in…
A different kind of king!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 12:12-19 “Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:13) We do not live in a time when kings are appreciated, or wanted. We prefer democracy, after centuries of failed monarchies and tyrannies. But not even democracy is immune to the corruption of human nature. Why do billions (over time) of non-Israelites still…
The pursuit of emptiness!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 119:25-48 “Turn my eyes away from worthless things, preserve my life.” (Psalm 119:37) Many people spend their lives climbing ladders. But at life’s end, they discover they climbed the wrong ladders. We waste so much energy on ‘worthless things’ and ‘vain pursuits’. What really matters… is what I am living for really…
A disaster of our own making!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Amos 3:1-5:17 “When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?” (Amos 3:8). One week ago a tsunami hit the Indonesian city of Palu, killing over 1400 people. Based on what Amos says here, did the Lord cause this? We need to read these words in their context, for their…