Jesus’ prayer is a communal prayer. “Our Father… give us our daily bread… forgive us our trespasses… lead us not into temptation… deliver us…”. It seems that God wants to do something in us and through us. ‘Our daily bread’ reminds us that God has given us enough for others. This is obvious, but it is not always obvious how what we have
Read MoreIsaiah is an Old Testament prophet who lived 750 years before Jesus. Prophets don’t just announce, “Hey, ya’ll, I’m a prophet.” They had to be called by God; so that it was by God’s authority Isaiah is an Old Testament prophet
Read MoreThe Lord’s Prayer begins, ‘Our Father who is in Heaven…’. The first part is so familial and intimate. Jesus told us to address God as Father. The Creator calls you His child! Paul puts it this way, “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Rom 8:15). Jesus doesn’t say The Lord’s Prayer
Read MoreWhat does love look like? We often associate love with an attendant feeling. ‘I love my wife.’ ‘I love custard pie.’ ‘I love tennis.’ ‘I love my brothers.’ ‘I love God.’ As you read these, did you sense a different feeling with each one? We tend to think of love in the abstract and it’s affective impact on
Read MoreWe love the idea of being a peacemaker. After all, don’t we want peace in our lives and relationships? The catch is that it requires us to step into the conflict while controlling ourselves. Conflict puts us into fight or flight demoralizing, mode. Neither one is controlled. If you go to fight, you might react by criticizing, putting down,
Read MoreWhen we have Holy Communion, we often forget that it was a Passover meal. However, it seems that it was important to Jesus. He said, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you…” (Luke 22:15). There is a great deal of symbolism throughout that Passover meal that connects with Jesus’ sacrifice and covenant with us.
Read MorePurity of Heart is a tall order! King David writes in one of his songs about that. “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.” (Psalm 24:3-4) His point is that it isn’t enough to appear good on the outside. We need to have an inward purity, a purity of heart. That Psalm
Read MoreRighteousness is a uniquely Christian word whose definition sometimes eludes us. Here are several ways it is used in Scripture.
First, righteousness refers to the ‘mighty acts of God’ with regards to God’s saving work. The best example is the constant reference in the Bible of the righteousness of God exhibited in His deliverance of the Righteousness
Read MoreThe beatitudes found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) have been one of the most meditated upon scripture passages in the New Testament. Each beatitude is short, uses simple language, yet is packed with profound meaning as to what it means to live a life in God.
Read MoreThis is the season of Epiphany when we celebrate the Magi coming to worship Jesus. According to scholars and tradition, the Magi traveled between one and two months. They travelled over mountains, crossed raging waters, and hot deserts. They were like the man in Jesus’ parables who found a pearl of great price and gladly sold
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