THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 116 “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” (Psalm 116:7) In times of crisis or grief or stress or struggle, ‘return to your rest’. Go to that place where your soul is nurtured, encouraged, strengthened. Spend time resting your troubles in His hands, and resting…
Which path will we seek?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Daniel 10-12 “Some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. ” (Daniel 12:10) Who are the kings, who is the prince of Persia, what is the abomination? Personally, though some theories are interesting, I do not get into them. This detailed vision was meant to encourage they exiles, not bewilder them….
Finding courage in Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Daniel 7-9 “Before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Daniel 7:13) These words were inspired and recorded to help the Jews in captivity. Through Daniel, the people are urged to repent, and to hope in God. Life will not be easy, many kingdoms will arise…
God’s glory through me!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 9:1-12 “This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) Jesus says there is a reason for this disability, but its not someone’s sin. Sin is the ultimate cause of suffering in this broken, messed up world. But God isn’t punishing this man with blindness, He’s…
I AM, with you always!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 8:48-59 “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58) For the most part, Jesus only speaks of His human nature. But here we have a bold hint as to His divine origin. Jesus makes a number of bold “I AM” statements. And for the Jews, the “I AM” name was so holy,…
Seeking knowledge to serve!
“There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; That is curiosity. There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; That is vanity. There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; That is love.” Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153)
I want to listen to Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 8:42-47 “The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:47) If you struggle with faith or following Jesus, do not take these words against you. Jesus is not in the business of making struggling disciples doubt themselves. Jesus was trying to shake up and wake…
More and more like Jesus?
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 8:31-41 “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34) If I still sin, what does that say about my relationship to Jesus? Have I been “set free indeed” (v.36) if I still sin? The issue here is between who I am, and what I do. Jesus has made it possible…
Becoming like our idols!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 115 “Those who make idols will be like them… all who trust in them.” (Psalm 115:8) We don’t think about idols much today, but we have them too. An idol is something that we look to as worthy of our devotion. Our idols are things (or people) we love and serve –…
My life is in Your hands!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Daniel 4-6 “For he is the living God and he endures forever.” (Daniel 6:26) Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius each needed to learn the same lesson. There is only one God that stands over all powers and authorities. This is a lesson we all need to learn, and God keeps reminding us too. We…