Category: daily meditations

SCRIPTURE: Luke 13:18-21 The kingdom of God is this world as God meant it to be. And that means us being (and living) as God meant us to be. Jesus says that living like God, though appearing weak, is really powerful. How can the act of forgiveness change a life? How can patient, gentle love transform…

The day of my birth reminds me that I am God’s much loved child. And the day of my rebirth is when God reminds me that I have significance and purpose. I am not here for myself, but for God and others. As long as we remain slaves to self-absorbed living, we remain dead. But…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 13:10-17 God gave the gift of ‘sabbath’ (rest) to remind us that we are free. We are not slaves – to God, to time, to work, to our employers. In the beginning, sabbath (rest) was the culmination of God’s creation work. After the resurrection, sabbath (rest) is the foundation of our new life in…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 13:1-9 There’s an expression that goes something like this: ‘manure happens’. People were asking Jesus about some crappy situations – they thought only bad people had bad things happen to them. Jesus says that ‘bad things’ are a reminder to all of us of our need for God. To repent is to come to…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 12:54-59 Do you notice how we become experts at minors things, but remain novices at what counts? I can turn on the TV with my phone, but I can’t seem to stop wasting my time watching it. I can get places faster with my car, but I don’t know where my life is going….

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 88 When I grew up, Heman was the master of the universe. But this Heman is not doing so well: overwhelmed with troubles, like one without strength! This is the desperate cry of someone who is depressed, defeated. It is the only Psalm (that I am aware of) that does not end in hope….

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 13-20 It’s hard to make sense of this reading unless you know the background. The 10 northern tribes of Israel (centred in Damascus) had separated from Judea and Benjamin (centred in Jerusalem). Speaking from Jerusalem, Isaiah predicts the coming doom of their neighbours – Babylon, Philistia, Damascus, Egypt, Ethiopia (Cush) because of their arrogance, immorality…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 12:49-53 Jesus came to turn the world right-side up. He does this by living (and dying) for God, for good, for love, for the kingdom. And after His victory over sin, death and hell, He kindles Holy Spirit fire to restore the world. But not everyone who is upside down wants to be right-side…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 12:41-48 In response to Peter’s question, Jesus points to His disciples. The disciples are the ‘managers’ He has entrusted His kingdom business to. The ones that He called to ‘follow’, He also told them to ‘go’. Their task was to ‘feed them’ the good news in word and deed. But since His ascension, His…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 12:35-41 There is a connection between the previous verses on handling material wealth. Jesus has restored our place in creation as God’s image-bearing rulers. He has recommissioned us to live and love and lead for the well-being of all. He has departed, and entrusted us with the task – and the resources necessary –…