December 29, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:18-22 OBSERVATIONS 1. Why does Jesus avoid the crowds? Seeing how they often responded – faith, doubt, anger, excitement – and how some wanted to “make Him king by force” (John 6:15), I suspect that Jesus avoided the crowds to keep Himself on task, fulfilling His God assignment. He knew how Satan…
Category: daily meditations
heal my mother-in-law too!
November 28, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:14-17 OBSERVATIONS 1. Peter is married. His mother-in-law is sick with the fever, and with a word, Jesus heals her. My mother-in-law is sick with cancer, with a word Jesus could heal her. Why some and not others? If we ask today, will Jesus heal. If He does not heal, is…
unexpected guests at God’s table
November 27, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:5-13 OBSERVATIONS 1. This Roman soldier had a fascinating understanding of spiritual authority and power, seeing it as similar to his own political authority and power as a soldier backed by Caesar. He saw Jesus as backed by divinity, therefore capable of just saying the word.
able… but willing?
November 26, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:1-4 OBSERVATIONS 1. It is not clear that leprosy as we know it today (Hansen’s disease) is the same thing as leprosy in the bible. Whatever it was, it was a terrible disease to be afflicted with causing the person to be rejected and by society and family. They were ‘unclean’…
pray boldly!
November 25, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 9 OBSERVATIONS 1. David starts by affirming his faith in God. God is in charge, God cares for the needy and the oppressed. God stands for justice, and will punish those who oppose and deny it! As we see from the rest of the psalm (vv.13-14), he is not experiencing this…
Genesis 45-50
November 23-24, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Genesis 45-50 OBSERVATIONS What do you notice in this passage? APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
living the Jesus life
November 22, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:24-29 OBSERVATIONS 1. Jesus stresses putting His words into practice. If He means perfect obedience, I’m in trouble. But my sense is that He is talking about intention, not perfection. He wants us to agree that His way is the best way, and to try our best to live this way….
fruitful or fakes?
November 21, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:15-23 OBSERVATIONS 1. Who are these false prophets, these wolves in sheep’s clothing? Religious con artists? Cult leaders? Sheep-stealing churches? Televangelists? One person I know was warned away from me/us because they thought we were a cult. Someone thought I was a wolf in sheeps clothing. Jesus says you can tell…
drifting or deciding!
November 20, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:13-14 OBSERVATIONS 1. Jesus says that most people choose the easy path while only few choose the narrow path. This suggests that people are responsible for their choices and final destiny. Hell (destruction) is not first of all God’s revenge for our rejecting Him, but the natural destination at the end…
ask, receive and give
November 19, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:7-12 OBSERVATIONS 1. Everyone who asks receives? But ask for what? In light of Matthew 6:25-34, is the ask/seek/knock in reference to God’s kingdom and righteousness, and not food, drink or clothing (what pagans run after)? I have always understood this to refer to asking for what really matters, and not just…