SCRIPTURE: John 4:1-15 “For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.” (John 4:9) Racial, cultural and religious divisions abound in our world today. The Enemy of our souls has succeeded in turning us against each other. We were made for life WITH God and life WITH each other. Separated from God, separated each other, our souls are dying….
Author: Norm
Refusing life?
SCRIPTURE: John 3:22-36 “Whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36) If Someone with a deadly disease rejects the cure, they will not see life. This is not mean or judgmental, this is not unloving of the doctor. Our disease is sin, our moral crimes and failures, which have…
A love that stands out
SCRIPTURE: John 3:16-21 Even if you deny all the supernatural stuff about Jesus (being God incarnate, miracles, resurrection), His moral teaching and practice of Jesus should be enough to convince us He is ‘out of this world’. But doesn’t the Dalai Lama teach and practice the same? In some ways his moral teaching and practice do…
Battle prayer!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 108 “Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.” (Psalm 108:12-13) In bible times, war and violence were normal, people groups were always fighting. There were no police or courts or constitutions or United Nations. In that context, God was raising up a nation founded on justice and morality and mercy and…
A vision of gory and glory
SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 6-12 “Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” (Ezekiel 10:6) It’s hard to hear words of slaughter, but if we knew the extent of their deprivation, we would understand better. God is not causing the slaughter,…
Spirit infusion
SCRIPTURE: John 3:1-15 “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5) Jesus is talking to a teacher from Israel who would have been familiar with the prophet Ezekiel. “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all…
Joining Jesus in His zeal!
SCRIPTURE: John 2:13-25 “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:16) Have you ever felt righteous anger, that is anger for the suffering for others, or anger over injustice? I’ve felt it when watching movies about the holocaust, or news reports about child sex slaves. Can you imagine how much…
Seeing signs in my life!
SCRIPTURE: John 2:1-12 “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11) If someone said they had superpowers, would you believe them? You would want proof, maybe a demonstration of said superpower? For centuries people were hoping a…
Greater than Jacob!
SCRIPTURE: John 1:43-51 “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and 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…
My story
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 107 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…” (Psalm 107:2) This is a great reading for the Thanksgiving weekend (in Canada). We are encouraged to tell our God stories, how God helped or rescued or saved or restored us. God’s…