SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:22-30 The people liked Jesus as long as He said nice, agreeable things. But when He started challenging their hearts and motives, they got angry. Jesus says that God faces the same thing: God blessed ‘foreigners’ because His own people were closed to Him. One big reason people resist God is because they don’t…
Am I desperate for good news?
SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:14-21 To appreciate this reading, we need to step into the lives of those mentioned. What was life like for the poor, prisoners, the blind, the beaten down? Would this lead to depression, despair, wanting to give up on life and hope? What would good news be like for them? That God is stepping…
My hope as I get older
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 71 Even if I’m almost in the grave, you will bring me back. This Psalm makes me think of what Paul said: Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the hard times we suffered in Asia Minor. We were having a lot of trouble. It was far more than we could stand….
I know that my Redeemer lives!
SCRIPTURE: Job 15-21 Job’s friends are confident that this is how life works. If you live good, then you will have a happy life; sin, and you will suffer. Everyone who suffers must have sinned, while those who experience goodness must be good people. Job does not deny that sin and suffering are related, but he…
Facing temptation
SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:1-13 Jesus was just like Adam and Eve in the garden: sinless, but able to be tempted to sin. Satan tempts Jesus like he did Adam and Eve (only now in a wilderness, not in a garden). Adam and Eve should have responded as Jesus did, by quoting what God said. Each time He…
You are my child, and I love you!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 3:21-38 Luke ties this moment to the original creation: “Jesus… son of Joseph… son of Adam… son of God.” Yes, Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, but He is also the fully human son of Adam, son of God. When God created Adam, God said: “You are my son, and I love…
God, making we want to get help!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 3:10-20 I mentioned earlier that holiness (being perfect) is not a prerequisite for mercy. But having said that, repentance is a prerequisite for mercy. Repentance involves a sense that something is wrong (in us and in the world) and we need help, we need mercy. Like the alcoholic needs to recognize their problem before…
‘We are far too easily pleased ‘
“We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”…
God loves sinners and hates sin!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 3:1-9 “There he preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.” (Luke 3:3) “Produce fruit that shows you have turned away from your sins.” (Luke 3:8) Does mercy precede holiness (see this past Friday), or does getting rid of sin precede God’s mercy? John’s message sounds the…
God be merciful to me, a sinner!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 70 Just because this prayer is in the bible, does not mean it fully expresses God’s heart. God includes it in the bible because if fully expresses David’s heart, it is a real, raw, desperate prayer. It does express God’s heart for the poor and needy, and His anger at injustice and cruelty. But…