June 30, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 30 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION I was sliding down into the pit of death, and he pulled me out. The psalmist has experienced God’s resurrection power before, now he is trusting in Good to do it again: Lord, please save me. Lord, come quickly to help me. Our confidence in God is not just when things…
1 Samuel 16-23
June 28-29, 2013 SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 16-23 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
Epochal!
June 27, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:1-4 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION How would Hollywood portray this scene? Most depictions of angels do not seem frightening, not likely to scare Roman soldiers like this. Not just like a human form, more like a flashing, pulsating, blinding light with subtle human yet non-human qualities… something to scare them to death. Why is there an…
You ask me how I know He lives?
June 26, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27: 62-66 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION These religious leaders had experience with scheming and conniving, so they could anticipate how others might do it. Sad isn’t it, that religious leaders are so good at playing the game, working the system, manoeuvering for personal advantage. Is this any different today? Resurrection from death was/is so extreme that it…
It’s always personal!
June 25, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:57-61 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION I have been with a body after the person stopped breathing. Although it is natural in one sense (it happens to us all), it feels wrong, it is not how the body should be… something essential is missing. Not only is the natural process of breathing stopped, but the person is…
Kneeling now… Or later!
June 24, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:54-56 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION There is something remarkable about Jesus, in life and in death. Why were so many people impacted by this nobody from Nazareth? Why did He agitate those in power, and inspire those in poverty? How did He generate a world-changing movement, considering He died such an ignoble death? Even the Roman…
Honest with God
June 23, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 39 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION The psalmist is getting old, and is overwhelmed by the prospect of death. He is afraid to die, in part because he is filled with honest shame and regret. Is God punishing him, is his suffering the wages for his sin? Life is short; it doesn’t seem that way when we’re…
1 Samuel 8-15
June 21-22, 2013 SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 8-15 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
He has NOT deserted me!
June 20, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:45-53 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’ (Psalm 22:1) In this passage we see Jesus receiving the curse of sin (Genesis 2:17), even though He does not deserve it. As the fullness of God in human form, emptied of His divine powers, He genuinely experiences this rejection from God. These are…
‘In the same way’ as Jesus
June 19, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:38-44 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION Matthew sees the religious leaders as no better than the robbers; he intentionally frames their actions between references to the robbers (27:38,44). ‘In the same way…’ they mock and taunt Jesus. They shame and belittle His faith in God, little realizing that they are revealing the bankruptcy of their own faith….