SCRIPTURE: John 4:39-42 “We no longer believe just because of what you said…” (John 4:42) I recall a book on evangelism with the basic message, ‘just get them talking’. The goal is not to talk with people, but to get people to talk to Jesus themselves. You might be able to interest their minds, but you can’t…
Feeding the soul
SCRIPTURE: John 4:27-38 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34) Sometimes I am so focused on a task that I forget to eat. Though I am hungry at the end of it, if it goes well I am still deeply satisfied. I hear Jesus expressing…
Reverse the curse!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 109 “While they curse, may you bless.” (Psalm 109:28) This psalm is one long extended curse. He has been cruelly treated, betrayed, hurt… by a friend. I can sympathize with David, I can see myself praying the same way. He pleads for God’s blessing for himself to overrule their cursing. But He also prays for…
What do I need to turn from?
SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 13-18 “Repent! Turn away from all your offences; then sin will not be your downfall. (Ezekiel 18:30) These chapters sound harsh, negative, judgmental. They also show us how bad the people had become, why God was frustrated. God’s deep, deep desire is for them to repent, to change – He will forgive them! Rid yourselves…
All nations call to worship
SCRIPTURE: John 4:16-26 “For salvation is from the Jews.” (John 4:22) If God is for all races, cultures and religions, why does God pick the Jews. Salvation is FROM the Jews, not FOR the Jews. God starts Abraham’s family, but His goal was always to bless the world (Genesis 12:2-3) “Yet a time is coming and has now…
Soul thirst
SCRIPTURE: John 4:1-15 “For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.” (John 4:9) Racial, cultural and religious divisions abound in our world today. The Enemy of our souls has succeeded in turning us against each other. We were made for life WITH God and life WITH each other. Separated from God, separated each other, our souls are dying….
Refusing life?
SCRIPTURE: John 3:22-36 “Whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36) If Someone with a deadly disease rejects the cure, they will not see life. This is not mean or judgmental, this is not unloving of the doctor. Our disease is sin, our moral crimes and failures, which have…
A love that stands out
SCRIPTURE: John 3:16-21 Even if you deny all the supernatural stuff about Jesus (being God incarnate, miracles, resurrection), His moral teaching and practice of Jesus should be enough to convince us He is ‘out of this world’. But doesn’t the Dalai Lama teach and practice the same? In some ways his moral teaching and practice do…
Battle prayer!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 108 “Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.” (Psalm 108:12-13) In bible times, war and violence were normal, people groups were always fighting. There were no police or courts or constitutions or United Nations. In that context, God was raising up a nation founded on justice and morality and mercy and…
A vision of gory and glory
SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 6-12 “Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” (Ezekiel 10:6) It’s hard to hear words of slaughter, but if we knew the extent of their deprivation, we would understand better. God is not causing the slaughter,…