THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 6:17-23 “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20) What usually comes to mind when someone says, ‘I’m blessed’? We use these words to describe all our positive blessings. When life – our children, or finances, or health, or situation – is good. Jesus does…
What keeps me awake praying?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 6:12-16 “Jesus spent the night praying to God.” (Luke 6:12) When is the last time you spent a long time praying for something. Was it a big decision or major crisis that led you to pray like this? Jesus is on a mission from God, and He is picking His successors. This…
When faith in God is attacked!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 74 “They burned every place where God was worshiped…” (Psalm 74:8) I’ve watched debates where the Atheist walk all over the Christian. It can be very difficult to hang on to faith when the attacks come. In Psalm 74 it went further; God attackers were killing believers. The nation of Israel was devastated,…
Only God knows all things!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Job 35-37 “One who has perfect knowledge is with you.” (Job 36:4) Who is this Elihu, that he claims to have perfect knowledge? As I read through what he said, I wondered whether it was God speaking. Was God using Elihu – this unknown stranger – to challenge him? Much of what he…
Greater than we know!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Job 32-34 “For God is greater than any mortal.” (Job 33:12) In all these speeches, this idea is what comes out again and again. No matter how hard we try, we cannot reduce God to a system of thought. God is greater than any of us, and greater than any of our minds….
Love more demanding than law!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 6:1-11 “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil?” (Luke 6:9) Often the focus of a law is on what you cannot do. There are laws against being bad, but what about laws for being good? The religious leaders of Jesus’ day only saw what God’s laws…
Are you enjoying the better wine?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 5:33-39 “No one after drinking old wine wants the new for ‘The old is better.’” (Luke 5:38) The issue in this section is the matter of fasting. To fast is a religious act, an act of devotion or piety. ‘Religion’ is how people act out their relationship to God. Ever since the…
The shock of grace
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 5:27-32 “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) The problem in this passage is that tax collectors were bad people. They were Jews who collected taxes from their own people for the Romans. So long as they paid Rome, they could collect as much as…
Authority on earth for God?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 5:21-26 “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Luke 5:24) God authorized Adam and Eve to represent Him on earth (Genesis 1:26-28). This is God’s kingdom: God-like humans ruling for God on earth. But they forfeited that authority, surrendered it to Satan. As a result, this world has become…