THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 2:1-12 “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2) I am curious how pagan astrology pointed them to a Jewish messiah? Apparently God works through non-christian religions to draw people to Jesus. Is this story really about the Magi seeking Jesus, or God seeking the…
Author: Norm
The real Christmas miracle!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 1:18-25 “Mary was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18) The big miracle here is NOT that Mary became pregnant through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God created all things out of nothing, this is no big deal for God. The real big deal is WHO that child…
Welcome to the family!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 1:1-17 “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1) Matthew’s genealogy differs from Luke’s (Luke 3:23-28). It has been suggested that Matthew uses Mary’s line, while Luke uses Joseph’s line. Matthew traces Jesus line to David to highlight His Messianic kingship. Luke traces…
The blessed life!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 1:1-6 “Blessed is the one… who meditates on his law day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2) Why would meditating on God’s law make a person blessed? It is not the act itself that is the blessing, but the result of it. This person isn’t just reading their bible endlessly, they’re following it’s guidance….
Overcome evil with good!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 12:17-21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) Paul began this section reminding us of God’s mercy. Jesus is the living embodiment of God’s mercy. He did not overcome our evil with anger, judgment, or harshness… but with good. We make the mistake of responding to…
My part in the harmony
THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 12:9-16 “Live in harmony with one another.” (Romans 12:16) As a band director, I can appreciate good harmony. As an elementary school band director, I get bad harmony. When the instruments are in tune, and play what the music says… beautiful. All that Paul says here fits in this line, “live in harmony…
Through the Bible with Jesus!
For almost 10 years I have been offering my daily reflections on a bible reading on this blog. I have had many visitors through this time, and a few regulars. Recently I shifted away from a “through the year” schedule to focus on a chapter each week in conjunction with my Sunday messages at Crossroads Church….
A living example of Paul’s words!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 12:9-16 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) I remember a poor lady whose home we painted on a Serve project. She was SO grateful, and though she had little, fed us every day. Her son was in prison, her teenage granddaughter lived with her. Her house…
A good kind of extremist!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 12:9-16 “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9) Paul strings together a necklace of gems in this passage. I will only comment on a few of the statements, but all of them are good. Our world is so inundated with ‘evil’ that we almost become immune to it….
The church You graced us to be!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 12:3-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” (Romans 12:6) In the human body, every part of the body has a task, something to offer. This is true in the church body too, but it does not always seem this way. I know people in the…