THE STORY OF JESUS: Genesis 32:1-33:20 “You have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:28) God-struggler, what a great name for God’s people. This is not a negative name, but an encouragement for those who do not give up. Faith in God is like that, it is a struggle to hang on, a…
In my life, Lord!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:9-15 “Your kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) This line captures the intent of the whole prayer, of all prayer. “In heaven” does not refer to a place, but to God’s presence, to God Himself. In God’s presence, His Name is honoured, His will is done, His…
K.I.S.S.
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:5-8 “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans.” (Matthew 6:7) Prayer is not a technique for getting God to do what we ask. It is not the eloquence nor the abundance of words that impresses God. And yet, you wouldn’t get that impression from Christians – or pastors…
For You, God!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:1-4 “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4) Some people do good for good’s sake; some do it to look good. Jesus is not saying every good deed needs to be hidden, unknown. He is challenging the selfish motive that some people have in doing…
Showers of love!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 5:43-48 “That you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:45) I am a child of God – created as God’s child, and restored by Jesus as God’s child. “When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named…
Shut up Satan!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 6 “Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping.” (Psalm 6:8) I love how brutally honest and real the psalms are. God inspired David to express these raw, real emotions. God wants us to see David struggling, doing battle against his tormentors. Notice how David…
God is at work!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Genesis 28:10-31:55 “When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless.” (Matthew 29:31) Is this how God works, can we interpret our own lives this way? If someone is childless today, is that because God is balancing out other advantages? Does God always help…
God’s blessing continues…
THE STORY OF JESUS: Genesis 25:19-28:9 “I blessed him — and indeed he will be blessed!” (Genesis 27:33) The blessing of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) is at the heart of this book. In fact, the story of the bible is how God blesses us despite our unworthiness. The ‘heroes’ of the bible are not better than others, they are…
His grace through me!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 5:38-42 “Do not resist an evil person.” (Matthew 5:39) Jesus is using specific examples to illustrate a general principle. Grace, not revenge, should be our motivating spirit. Go overboard – or the extra mile – to be kind and helpful to all people. Including an evil person, someone out to sue you,…
Keeping your word!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 5:33-37 “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37) Have you ever known someone who is a constant promise-breaker? They promise the world, but usually do not deliver? Such people eventually need to use ‘oaths’ to get people to believe…