THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 110 “The LORD says to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand…” (Psalm 110:1) Who is David, the king, speaking about… who is his lord? Jesus also asks this: “If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” (Matthew 22:45) One Jewish response is that David wrote this psalm for…
Aiming low, and reaching it!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ezekiel 22-24 “I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity.” (Ezekiel 24:13) In these chapters of wrath and judgment, God is not being petty or mean. Ch.21 describes how corrupt the leaders had become (22:25-29). God constantly tried to help them, to keep them from ruining themselves….
Small steps of compromise!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ezekiel 19-21 “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world.” (Ezekiel 20:32) As Jesus followers, we always face the temptation to be like the world. When we see others enjoying themselves, we are drawn by illusion of happiness. The problem is, the life of self only offers brief…
Doing what Jesus says!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 5:1-15 “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” (John 5:12) A Jesus follower takes their direction from Jesus. Jesus has rescued and restored us, and we are devoted to what He says. Sometimes He may ask us to do things that others question? ‘You want to…
More than just a miracle man!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 4:43-54 “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” (John 4:48) Jesus is challenging “you people” because of their miracle-focused faith. To them, Jesus was a miracle man… it was all about the miracles. I have met christians who seem to focus on the miracles all the time too….
Just get them talking!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 4:39-42 “We no longer believe just because of what you said…” (John 4:42) I recall a book on evangelism with the basic message, ‘just get them talking’. The goal is not to talk with people, but to get people to talk to Jesus themselves. As they pray, the Lord relates to them,…
Feeding the soul
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 4:27-38 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34) Sometimes I am so focused on a task that I forget to eat. Though I am hungry at the end of it, if it goes well I am still deeply satisfied. I…
Do something, Lord!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 3 “Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.” (Psalm 3:7) In 1946, one year after WW2 ended, concentration camp survivor Corrie Ten Boom went to Germany to speak about Jesus. During the war Corrie and her family had set up their home as…
Reversing the curse with Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 109 “While they curse, may you bless.” (Psalm 109:28) David has been cruelly treated, betrayed, hurt… by a friend. I can sympathize with David, I can see myself praying the same way. He pleads for God’s blessing for himself to overrule their cursing. But He also prays for God’s curse to rest…
God wants us to live!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ezekiel 16-18 “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone… Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32) Ezekiel tells two parables – about a woman’s rise and fall, and about a cedar branch. Through these stories, he is inspired to explain to Israel their troubles. Like the woman, God gave them everything to succeed…