THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Kings 12-14:29 “Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him.” (2 Kings 13:4) How bad do things have to get before God stop helping us? Jehoahaz, like all the other kings of Israel, did evil in the eyes of the Lord. And yet, when he gets in trouble and cries out…
Lord save us from ourselves!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Kings 8:16-11 “Jehu destroyed Ahab’s family, according to the word of the Lord.” (2 Kings 8:17) As a Jesus follower, I have a hard time reading these chapters. It all seems to contrary to the Spirit and teaching of Jesus. Actually, I think this is the point; Jesus intentionally exposes the way of sin….
Put your heart into it!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 7:1-8 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Mark 7:6) Jesus is challenging religion as the mere observing of rules and rituals. Rules are made for relationships, not relationships for rules. For a person to establish practices to help build a relationship is fine. But…
Still reaching out to Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 6:53-56 “All who touched (even the edge of his cloak) were healed.” (Mark 6:56) As a Jesus follower, I believe the stories about Jesus’ healing many. But one challenge to my faith is that I do not see healings like this today. Don’t get me wrong, I hear stories about healing, and…
Walking with Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 6:45-52 “After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.” (Mark 6:46) We were made to live in close fellowship with God… like Jesus. We were also made to live in authority over creation, not in fear of it. Living independently of God, creation becomes a threat and we live…
Everything we need… with God!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 6:35-44 “Looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.” (Mark 6:41) As a Jesus follower, I am committed to serving and blessing those in need. But like the disciples, I find myself overwhelmed by all the need in the world. Like the disciples, I want the problem to go…
The best kind of ‘Rich’!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 49 “They will take nothing with them when they die!” (Psalm 49:17) As a Jesus follower, the Lord speaks to me as I read the bible. Today’s reading is about the emptiness of wealth and possessions. I sense the Lord challenging me about what I am focused on. I am financially secure,…
God directs our evil to good purpose!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Kings 5-8:15 “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15) In 2 Kings 5:1 we read that God gave victory to Aram through Naaman. Aram was not a God-serving nation, the king did not follow the God of Israel.; And yet God is in charge of…
Filled with His Spirit!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Kings 1-4 “‘Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,’ Elisha replied.” Elijah and Elisha were some of Israel’s greatest prophets, backed by God’s power. The miracles they performed confirm that they have God’s Spirit and speak for God. If God supports His old covenant messengers, how much more will He…
Despite the smell!
What do you think?