THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 12:13-17 “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17) According to the Pharisees, Caesar owns nothing, so we owe him nothing. According to the Herodians, Caesar is in charge for now, so we owe him allegiance. Here they want to get Jesus in trouble with the…
Author: Norm
When He cuts like a knife!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 12:1-12 “They knew he had spoken the parable against them.” (Mark 12:12) When God speaks, it cuts into our hearts (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12). He is graciously exposing and challenging and healing us, even if it hurts. Jesus is the Voice of God; what He says cuts deep, like a surgeons scalpel. The point…
“I surrender some!?”
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 11:27-33 “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Mark 11:33) The religious leaders are playing ‘hard to get’ with Jesus. They are clever and shrewd, but so is Jesus. He knows their hearts, He can play their games… and win. Do we play games with Jesus,…
The kind of prayer God supports!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 11:20-26 “What you ask in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24) Prayer is not a technique to get something from God; it is a personal relationship. When we bond with someone in love, we work together and support each other. If one person moves, the…
Let Him shelter you!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 57 “I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 57:1) You can read the story behind this Psalm in 1 Samuel 24. David is afraid, he is in danger, he is under pressure, he is under attack… His response is to pray, to reach out to God for hope and help….
To smarten me up!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Chronicles 11-13 “You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you.” (2 Chronicles 12:5) If we walk away from God, we will miss out on life with God (He will still love us). As with the prodigal son, the Father lets us take the inheritance and run. He does this to teach us what…
Serving the Servant King!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Chronicles 8-10 “So the king did not listen to the people.” (2 Chronicles 10:15) What happens when the leadership loses touch with the people? There is a subtle deceptiveness that affects leaders, it can skew their perspective. For governments, church leaders, employers/managers, position can go to your head. Responsibility gives way to privilege, and…
Created for good works!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 11:12-19 “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” (Mark 11:14) Jesus is not being ornery just because He is hungry. Mark ties this story with what happens in the temple to show what Jesus is doing. A barren fig tree was a powerful symbol for the Jews, a sign of…
On the road again!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 11:1-11 “Many people spread their cloaks on the road… ” (Mark 11:8) This was an act of devotion, an offering of ‘self’ in service to the king. What have you spread “on the road” for Jesus? This is more than faith, more than saying ‘I believe!’ Many say ‘I believe in Jesus’,…
A blind man who sees Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 10:46-52 “‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’” (Mark 10:52) Notice how this blind man sees something in Jesus that ignites his hope. ‘Son of David’ was another way of saying God’s promised messiah. While doubting minds debated and disputed, his desperate heart had no doubt. When no one else would…