THE STORY OF JESUS: Genesis 37:1-40:23 “Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.” (Genesis 37:5) Martin Luther King had a dream, and he was killed for it. Jesus had a dream (the kingdom of God), and He was killed for it. As the story unfolds, we…
Category: daily meditations
Join me, don’t judge me!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 7:1-6 “The speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and … the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3) Everyone has their own issues, which clouds how they see others issues. How can we judge others, when we ourselves are guilty in our own way. Our tendency is to see others sins…
So much better than worry!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:25-34 “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34) For the longest time, I found myself stressing about a host of problems. I thought, being forewarned was being forearmed, so I tried to anticipate every problem. What a stressful way to live. Add to that my concern about what people…
Healthy focus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:19-24 “If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” (Matthew 6:22) What we focus on impacts our whole life, for good or for bad. Healthy eyes refer to healthy focus, keeping our mind on what is good, positive, hopeful. A life focused on money is not healthy,…
Who is your audience?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:16-18 “So that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting…” (Matthew 6:18) Jesus is addressing the underlying motives behind our piety or good deeds. Do we make huge donations, or make ourselves appear pious, for others to see? I know growing up in the church, keeping up appearances…
Take a stand!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 7 “Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.” (Psalm 7:9) Children abducted and abused, women assaulted and raped. Girls kidnapped and put in the sex trade, dealers using drugs to enslave their victims. Those with disabilities taunted and bullied, those with mental illness ignored and…
The greatness of grace!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Genesis 34:1-36:43 “Your name will be Israel… I am God Almighty… A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.” (Genesis 35:10,11) God-struggler (Israel) and God Almighty, what a team. God takes sinful, deceitful strugglers, and does great things through them. What gives me…
Don’t give up!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Genesis 32:1-33:20 “You have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:28) God-struggler, what a great name for God’s people. This is not a negative name, but an encouragement for those who do not give up. Faith in God is like that, it is a struggle to hang on, a…
In my life, Lord!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:9-15 “Your kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) This line captures the intent of the whole prayer, of all prayer. “In heaven” does not refer to a place, but to God’s presence, to God Himself. In God’s presence, His Name is honoured, His will is done, His…
K.I.S.S.
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:5-8 “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans.” (Matthew 6:7) Prayer is not a technique for getting God to do what we ask. It is not the eloquence nor the abundance of words that impresses God. And yet, you wouldn’t get that impression from Christians – or pastors…