THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:27-28 “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” (Luke 11:27) Did Mary get a special blessing because she was Jesus’ mother? Did Adam get a special blessing because he was God’s first child? Does anyone get a special blessing because of their position with God? “Blessed rather are…
Am I ready for battle?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:24-26 “When an impure spirit says ‘I will return to the house I left.’” (Luke 11:24) When a person breaks free from a negative spirit, they are still at risk. The Enemy does not just walk away, but comes back stronger. See how Satan waits for “an opportune time” (Luke 4:13) to beat…
Get behind me Satan!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:14-23 “When someone stronger attacks and overpowers him…” (Luke 11:22) Behind all the mess and misery in this world is that lying jerk Satan. He uses his whispers of doubt, distraction, deception and discouragment. His goal is to turn us away from God, and from living God’s Way. He slips into our…
Praying for the Spirit!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:5-13 “How much more will your Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13) God wants everyone to have the ‘very good’ life we were made for. God also respects our freedom, He does not force feed us pressure us. That He wants us to ask Him shows…
My soul yearns
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 84 “My soul yearns, even faints… for the living God.” (Psalm 84:2) We were made to live with, like and for God (Genesis 1:26-28). Life with God was designed to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). And yet now we live apart from God, and life is not ‘very good’. But deep inside, our soul…
The story of my life!?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ecclesiastes 11-12 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) At some point we have to come to the conclusion. What is the point of everything, where is all of this going? Is there even a point, or is life really meaningless and pointless? Does it come…
A common hope!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ecclesiastes 9-10 “All share a common destiny – the righteous and the wicked…” (Ecclesiastes 9:2) From a human point of view, this is all that we can see. This is what atheistic materialism also says: we live, we die, deal with it Though interestly they still believe in justice, at least for this…
Prayer as a way of life!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:1-4 “One of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1) It seems surprising to me that Jesus hasn’t taught them to pray yet. Or was Jesus teaching them, but the disciples were not hearing it? “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place…” (Luke 11:1) Jesus was…
Working the Lord!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 10:38-42 “Mary has chosen what is better, it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42) Martha isn’t punished for what she chose, but her choice is punishing her. Her problem was not her hard work, but who she was doing it for. Her focus is on herself, her work and…
Go and do likewise!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 10:29-37 “Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” (Luke 10:37) Once again Jesus sets up radical love as the fulfillment of God’s law. Radical, self-denying, God and neighbour-loving, sacrificial love. This story reminds us as Jesus followers what we are here for. We do not earn God’s mercy by being merciful. We…