THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 60 “You have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow.” (Psalm 60:4) What good is a banner against a bow and arrow? A banner is useless… unless that banner represents something else. “Let his banner over me be love!” (Song of Songs 2:4) The love of God gives us an…
Author: Norm
Am I listening?
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Chronicles 33-36 “The Lord sent word through his messengers again and again.” (2 Chronicles 36:15) Can any of the kings here have said, ‘I didn’t know!’? Was God’s judgment against them and the land unexpected? Its not that God didn’t send warnings. And its not that they didn’t see the evidence in the lives…
He will forgive me too!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Chronicles 29-32 “He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.” (2 Chronicles 30:9) I have met some people who were convinced God could not forgive them. Satan loves to reinforce this lie, and many Christians believe it. But what do we see in these stories of the kings of…
Keep looking up!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 13:24-27 “The Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26) Jesus now shifts His focus to the last days when He will return. He quotes Isaiah 13:10 (or Isaiah 34:4), the final judgment, the “day of the Lord”. The day is coming when Jesus will return and make things…
Faith under attack!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 13:14-23 “So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” (Mark 13:23) Jesus speaks like a prophet, using strong language to make a point. Like a prophet, He also blends immediate and ultimate events, for dramatic effect. He refers to the imminent destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD) and…
Spirit-powered witnesses!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 13:9-13 “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.” (Mark 13:10) Apparently Jesus needs us for a job: to let people know the good news. Jesus’ followers (not just ministers) are sent to share the kingdom message. The Lord uses our presence in this dark world to spread the word….
Building what endures!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 13:1-8 “Do you see all these great buildings, every one will be thrown down.” (Mark 13:3) These were the first words I thought of on September 11, 2001. I don’t mean that God was punishing the US, or the people in the towers. But our grand buildings often represent our arrogance, our…
Hope for the oppressed!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 59 “Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules!” (Psalm 59:13) This song reminds me of the slave songs (‘negro spirituals’). They had no hope (humanly speaking) and endured unspeakable horror. Their only hope was to escape from this life… ‘Swing low, sweet chariot, gonna come…
The sin of pride!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Chronicles 25-28 “After Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.” (2 Chronicles 26:16) Have you known of Christian leaders whose success went to their heads? One that I know very well – myself – has struggled with this. But before you look down on me, its probably true for yo as well….
Finally a good king!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Chronicles 21-24 “He promised to maintain a lamp for his descendants forever.” (2 Chronicles 21:7) This book is like a spiritual soap opera, with multiple plot twists and turns. But two lines of thought continue through the plot. God’s people keep messing up, and God hangs in there, despite their betrayal. For God is…