THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 12:49-53 “Bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”(Luke 12:51) Jesus came to bring peace, and yet many have suffered and died. The division Jesus speaks of isn’t His goal, but an unfortunate side result. Because Jesus is standing up to sin and Satan, they fight back. To stand up…
Stewards of grace!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 12:42-48 “From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) All of us are stewards of God’s creation grace and will be held accountable. God will judge us for what we did, and punish us for how we failed. Jesus suggests that while all will…
Time for bold experimentation!
A great deal more failure is the result of an excess of caution than of bold experimentation with new ideas. The frontiers of the kingdom of God were never advanced by men and women of caution. — J. Oswald Sanders
When the Master is pleased!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 12:35-41 “He will dress himself to serve… and will come and wait on them.” (Luke 12:37) Can you imagine this scene: Jesus serving you for your faithful service? Jesus wearing an apron, and holding a serving tray, with whatever I ask for? Jesus wants us to know how much God values our…
Yearning leads to working!
If you want to build a ship, don’t summon people to buy wood, prepare tools, distribute jobs, and organize the work, rather teach people the yearning for the wide, boundless ocean. —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
What’s in your wallet?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 12:32-34 “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out.” (Luke 12:33) ‘What’s in your wallet’ was voted the best business tagline in 2011. Capitol One, an American financial institution, want to fill your wallet with money. Actually, their money, with interest, in order to fill their own wallets. Jesus also wants…
Reflecting His glory!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 87 “Glorious things are said of you, city of God.” (Psalm 87:3) Jerusalem was the center of Israel, where God lived in the temple. ‘God is with us’ became their identity, and He was. The city itself gained a reputation, though not always ‘glorious’. When the people turned away God, the city…
How God restores His garden paradise!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Isaiah 10-12 “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; a Branch will bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1) Our world is a mess: violence, war, oppression, abuse, injustice, misery. In this mess God plants a tree – Israel – in the hope of reclaiming His garden. But that tree is as messed…
A light that pierces the darkness!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Isaiah 7-9 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2) Isaiah is speaking to people of his day, words of challenge and hope. The land of Judah is under attack, and the people are desperate. God assures this humbled nation that He will bring new life. This new life…
A dream worth pursuing!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 12:22-31 “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12:31) In Matthew’s account, Jesus says to seek God’s kingdom AND righteousness. These both go together, and can be summarized as God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom is the world as God intended it to be. God’s righteousness…