SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:33-39 To fast is to deny yourself of something (usually food or drink) for religious purposes. There is nothing wrong with fasting, but it is not a religious duty. ‘Why don’t you fast?’ – expecting religious observance is ‘old religion’, an immature way of relating to God. When the reality of God is experienced…
Agent of grace! (2)
SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:27-32 Yesterday we saw how Jesus has restored us as agents of grace, to represent God’s forgiveness on earth. In today’s reading we see this in action: God’s grace to sinners. Christians often prefer to be agents of God’s judgment, like the Pharisees. Being gracious to sinners does not mean God will not judge…
Agent of grace! (1)
SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:21-26 “I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Luke 5:24) Jesus is the Son of Adam (man), God’s authorized ruler on earth (Genesis 1:26-28). As God’s agent/representative, in His image, He has authority to speak and act for God. Here Jesus shows the religious leaders what…
Life is better with God!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 73 Why is it so hard to live for God, to live a good life, why do good people suffer? I once heard someone’s testimony: ‘my life was relatively easy, until I met Jesus, and life became hard.’ There is a sense where this is true, because to follow God is to live against…
The good old days?
SCRIPTURE: Job 28-31 “How I long for the good old days! That’s when God watched over me. The light of his lamp shone on me. I walked through darkness by his light. Those were the best days of my life. That’s when God’s friendship blessed my house.” (Job 29:1-4) When were the ‘good old days’ for you?…
Helping others experience Jesus
SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:17-20 What strikes me about this story (so far) is v.20. Jesus responds to the faith of the man’s friends. I don’t think that Jesus forgives the man BECAUSE his friends had faith. But it was because of their faith that this man got to experience God’s forgiveness. He was loved and forgiven before…
If He is willing?
SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:12-16 I have been with people who prayed this prayer, and apparently God was not willing to heal them. It’s interesting to notice that Jesus’ purpose is NOT to heal all people, all the time. Instead of spreading the word, He limits the spread of the message (‘don’t tell anyone”). And when the crowds…
Kingdom catching with Jesus!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:1-11 Jesus’ mission is to announce the good news of the commencement of God’s kingdom (Genesis 1:26-28). Finally, God’s world is under a worthy leader (Jesus, the Adam we were supposed to be). Jesus invites us to join Him, to invite God’s wayward children to share in the full life of God’s kingdom. With God,…
Recharging for the mission!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:42-44 Jesus was sent to announce God’s good news, that God’s kingdom (Genesis 1:26-28) had finally commenced. Ultimately His message was for the whole world, but His specific audience was the nation of Israel. When people wanted to keep Jesus (and His good news) to themselves, Jesus moved on. There is an important lesson for…
The kind of leadership our world needs
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 72 What does our world need… good leadership. God appointed Adam and Eve to rule creation, but look at the mess we made of it. Solomon is reflecting here on good leadership: a good leader is just and merciful. When we live and lead in a just and merciful way, the whole creation and…