Someone gave this to me to consider for our church services!
Category: daily meditations
It starts within me!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 17:20-25 “T kingdom of God is in your midst (literally, within you).” (Luke 17:21) God’s kingdom doesn’t start as a worldly kingdom, nor a future kingdom. It is first of all a heart kingdom, a response of the heart to the king. Genesis 1-2 describes God’s kingdom as He created it to be….
Ungrateful?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 17:11-19 “Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:18) Children raised in a rich family can often become spoiled, ungrateful. The poor can’t take anything for granted, and tend to be more thankful. Often those on the ‘inside’ take their blessings for granted. Jesus experiences this…
Just doing what we were made for!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 17:7-10 “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” (Luke 17:10) Do we see our religious duty as something extra for God? Do we see doing good as something that we should get credit for? In our sinful world, doing good is indeed something beyond normal. But it shouldn’t be;…
A tiny step of faith
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 17:3-6 “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…” (Luke 17:6) Jesus talks about forgiving a loved one that keeps on hurting you. This disciples don’t have the will or strength to do this. In their view, it takes bigger or more faith to forgive like this. But according to…
Lord of the stormy seas!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 93 “The Lord reigns… indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.” (Psalm 93:1) In Jewish thinking, the earth was established on the waters (Genesis 1:2,6-10). The waters were beneath and above the earth (Genesis 7:11-12, Psalm 148:4). When the seas lifted up (v.3), the earth ought to be in peril. But the Lord is…
The Jesus Way!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Isaiah 51-53 “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life.” (Isaiah 53:11) These words in ch.53 are a very clear prophecy of Jesus’ death and resurrection. They are in the context of God’s promise of rescue and restoration. How would the people who heard these words understand them? God’s servant…
God so loved all people!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Isaiah 48-50 “That my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6) Within these chapters we sense the tension between God’s frustration and compassion. God hates the sin in the world, yet He loves the people of the world. God cannot ignore or tolerate sin, nor can He forget His…
Family tensions!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 17:1-3 “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come…” (Luke 17:1) Guaranteed, we will face obstacles, challenges and temptations in life. Playing the victim will not help us, because we always will be. As Jesus followers, we ought to always be on guard against Satan’s schemes. We also have to…
How we live this life matters for the next!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 16:19-31 “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.” (Luke 19:29) This parable is a reminder that we need to read the bible with care. I have heard people refer to this parable as proof of how the afterlife works. The wicked will experience the agony of fire, and…