THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Samuel 14-17 “Wherever you go, if it means life or death, there will your servant be.” (2 Samuel 15:21) Our reading raises the issue of choosing sides, and what happens with that choice. By choosing to follow David, these people were sacrificing everything. Following David meant going into the wilderness. It meant being aliens…
Category: daily meditations
God is devastated!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Samuel 10-13 “Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a devastated woman.” (2 Samuel 13:20) Sin is not just about the bad things we do, but the devastation we cause. Every selfish action has a devastating impact on others, whether we realize it or not. We need to FEEL both the horror of Ammon’s…
Who did Jesus hang with?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:13-17 “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) Tax collectors were one of the kinds of people that the religious people avoided. Also prostitutes, lepers, zealots, Samaritans, Roman soldiers, non-practicing Jews. Who are the kinds of people that Christians avoid today? Muslims, LGBQT, Immigrants, Homeless, Prostitutes, non-church-goers?…
They need to know!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:1-12 “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Mark 2:10) The teachers of the law were partially right, only God can forgive sins… AND… those that God gives the authority to forgive for Him. In Genesis 1, God assigned His authority to Adam and Eve as His appointed rulers….
Got to tell someone!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 1:40-45 “Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news.” (Mark 1:45) This man disobeyed Jesus, who needed Him to stay quiet so He could get around. Jesus’ command not to share is not for us; we are called to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) Can you blame this man for…
First things first!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 1:35-39 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus prayed.” (Mark 1:35) “Let us go… to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also.” (Mark 1:38) As a follower of Jesus, we look to Jesus for guidance in how to live. Here we see Jesus prioritizing His time – His…
Desperate and determined!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 42 “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (Psalm 42:2) The Psalm writer is being challenged for his belief in God. All day long people say to me, “Where is your God?” (v.3) And this is causing him to struggle and doubt. He is desperate for God to reveal Himself….
For me???
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Samuel 5-9 “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, that you have brought me this far?” (2 Samuel 7:18) As a follower of Jesus I can relate to what David says here. Who am I that I get to call God my father (2 Samuel 7:14)? How can God bless me, when like David I have my own…
Weak in the knees before Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Samuel 1-4 “And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak…” (2 Samuel 3:39) As a follower of Jesus, I am drawn to His strength of character and depth of love. I am not drawn to Jesus because of His followers, nor because I am so strong. In fact, those who gather…
Bring them to Jesus (i.e. PRAY!)
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 1:29-34 “The people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.” (Mark 1:32) As a follower of Jesus, I’ve prayed for sickness and demons. People who deny the spiritual reject both healing and the reality of demons. And yet miracles still occur, and demons still impact our world, believe in or not. Long…