Today as I read Matthew 2:13-18, I felt the Lord prompting me to pray. To pray for refugees (like Jesus and His family), for abusers (like Herod) and for victims of violence (like the parents of the slaughtered children). The following prayers are adapted from prayers I found on the internet. Please join in prayer as…
dreams lead to Jesus!
I am reflecting on Matthew 2, where God uses dreams to speak to people. And it reminded me of something that I once heard years ago (in the early 90s), which is apparently still true today. Jesus is appearing to Muslims in dreams, and leading them to reach out to them. Not Christians, not the church,…
Jesus Christ… for all religions!
“Consider the possibility that Jesus Christ is in an unparalleled position to offer spiritual help for all people, regardless of their religious background. Think of it. A rabbi to the Jews, a prophet to the Muslims, an avatar to the Hindus, an enlightened one to Buddhists, the Son of God to Christians, a wise teacher to…
tears are not enough
October 4, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:13-18 OBSERVATIONS 1. By connecting Jesus with God’s love for Israel while in Egypt (Hosea 11:1) Matthew is stressing that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is on behalf of, in place of, God’s whole family. Jesus is walking the path that Israel walked, and His eventual victory will be for all.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
God’s witness among non-christians!
October 3, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:1-12 OBSERVATIONS 1. I am curious how the star pointed to a Jewish messiah? It seems to me that God used pagan astrology, guided their thinking and interpretation of the stars, and led them to this conclusion. God works through nin-christian religions to draw people to Jesus.
God (is) with us!
October 2, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1:18-25 OBSERVATIONS 1. In both Matthew and Luke’s versions of Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary come across as humble and honourable. They did not have an easy task – to give birth to and parent God’s Messiah – and yet they submit to God and His purpose.
welcome to the family!
October 1, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1:1-17 OBSERVATIONS 1. There were four women included (Tamar v.3, Rahab v.5, Ruth v.5, Bathsheba v.6) have less than stellar reputations, yet they are included in Jesus’ family tree. Tamar was impregnated by her father-in-law when she posed as a prostitute; Rahab and Ruth were foreigners, Bathsheba had an affair with…
new bible reading schedule
I have begun a new bible reading schedule (see left column). There are readings for each day of the week: a Psalm for Day 1 (Sunday), a Gospel reading for Days 2-5 (Monday-Thursday), and a larger chunk of Old Testament and New Testament readings for Days 6-7 (Friday-Saturday). If you can’t do it all, at…
meditate!
September 30, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 1 OBSERVATIONS 1. This psalm suggests that the truly happy person, the person who not only survives but thrives in life, is the one who pays attention to and lives according to the “law” (revealed will) of the Lord. This person will live a fruitful, abundant lives (like a tree by…