SCRIPTURE: John 18:1-11 “Put your sword away!” (John 18:11) When it comes to doing God’s work, ‘put your sword away’. Sadly, Christians have not always heeded this. Using weapons and force to advance the good news of Jesus. If not physical weapons, other forms of pressure or intimidation. This is NOT Jesus way, nor should it be…
To know what God is like
SCRIPTURE: John 17:20-26 “Father, I… will continue to make you known.” (John 17:26) Jesus helps us understand what God is really like. Sadly, so many people have a skewed picture of God. They over-stress His anger or justice or power or loftiness. Though Jesus doesn’t deny these, He stresses God’s mercy and love. The cross remains the…
Sluggish through sloth?
“Pampered bodies grow sluggish through sloth; not work but movement and their own weight exhausts them. Prosperity unbruised cannot endure a single blow, but a man who has been at a constant feud with misfortunes acquires skin calloused by suffering; he yields to no evil and even if he stumbles carries the fight on upon…
Restoring God’s world
SCRIPTURE: John 17:13-19 “They are not of the world any more than I am of the world.” (John 17:14) When God made the world, it was very good (Genesis 1:31). But since Adam and Eve turned from God, the evil one has become the usurping prince. “Not that you take them out of the world but that you…
United (in Christ) we stand!
SCRIPTURE: John 17:6-12 “So that they may be one as we are one.” (John 17:11) Divide and conquer, this is Satan’s strategy for defeating God. He succeeded in turning Adam and Eve on God, on each other, and Cain on Abel. It is our separation from God that makes our world is warn-torn mess it is. Jesus lived…
To love God like this
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 119:145-176 “Yet you are near, Lord, and all your commands are true.” (Psalm 119:151) There is no better place to be than close to God. God is with us always, wherever we are… but are we with Him? Not just in His presence, but with Him in practice too? ‘Are you with me or against…
By my Spirit
SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 1-6 “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.” (Zechariah 4:6) God still has plans for His unholy, unfaithful people. Those whom Satan accuses, God forgives and restores. But it is not because we are so strong or wise or good. God is in the business of helping the lowly, those who do…
Life starts now!
SCRIPTURE: John 17:1-5 “Now this is eternal life…” (John 17:1) Many Christians think eternal life is our future, neverending life in heaven. But the phrase ‘life of the ages’ refers more to the life we were made for. It is similar to Jesus’ expression ‘life to the full’ (John 10:10). It is also how John interprets the words…
Peace in my heart
SCRIPTURE: John 16:25-33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” (John 16:33) When our kids were young, we moved from one province to another. We explained to them as best we could what was going to happen. For a time we would be homeless, but soon we would settle into…
In Jesus’ Name!!!!!!
SCRIPTURE: John 16:16-24 After Jesus rises from the dead, the disciples’ joy overflows. Prior to His death, the disciples were hoping for position and privilege in God’s restored kingdom. After His resurrection, their joy in Jesus exploded. Now they were more interested in Jesus than any perks associated with knowing Him. The disciples are transformed into…