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Vulnerable and Meek
Lost in the narrative of God’s might and power is the vulnerability that the Eternal God assumed when He came to this earth. Unlike many other creatures an infant child cannot survive on its own. Newborns must be cared for, fed, clothed, and nurtured. The position in which He put Himself is an immediate insight into His nature. Jesus, God in flesh, could not have survived without Joseph and Mary. While it is true that He is the Lion of Judah, it is also true that He began as a vulnerable Lamb. The prophets often wrote of His authority and power. …
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Kindness …
Paul is at the end of an exhaustive list of directives when he comes to this final thought: Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. I was reminded of a hard and detailed man who sought for others to be the same. In time, his family felt the weight of his impossible demands as did all those who called him friend. His church-life suffered as he found flaws and inconsistencies in people. Time did not solve his appetite for perfection; they only alienated him from…
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The Lamb …
Consider with me: Jesus is twelve years old when He is found teaching in the Temple. Joseph and Mary have made their yearly journey to yet another festival as a family. We won’t see Him again for 18 years and that will happen in Cana at a wedding. Tradition is a powerful thing and it appears that Jesus kept those traditions of Passover, Pentecost, and Sukkoth (Booths). We don’t know how many Passovers the Lord kept through the course of His life. It could be that He was there every year until the day in which He Himself became The Lamb. Can…
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the Lord of peace…
John records four chapters of the Lord’s words to His disciples before His betrayal. Unknown to them at the time, these are the words of preparation which commence His suffering. The disciples are not aware of what is about to take place. They are oblivious to the coming crucifixion as they are but a few days away from being guilty by association with this Jesus of Nazareth. It’s here that the Lord speaks into their lives. Jesus said, John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not…
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Thankfulness …
Luke records ten lepers who came to Jesus with their physical need. Out of options and waiting to die, the lepers had given up all hope except to plead their case to Jesus. It’s unknown who the ten lepers were, as there are no attributing names, but we do know that the one who came back to Jesus was called a stranger, i.e., a foreigner (NIV). He was a Samaritan; an outcast; somewhere in between Jew and Gentile. I’ve looked into the healing of the lepers: I’ve preached the Difference between being Healed and being Whole. It is found here…
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“keeps no record of wrongs”
Psalm 130:3-4 “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness…” John writes that God is love. This is not just an attribute borne from the self-will of a deity, but John said that Love is the essence of His nature. God is the definition of love; not just a response. Paul defined this matter in writing to the church at Corinth. In that narrative we find the quintessential definition of God toward us. Paul said (1 Cor. 13:5)that love “keeps no record of wrongs.” A record is evidence of…
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The work is in the field…
Some time ago a prayer group started among several churches. The concern centered around lost souls. When the pastors made the appeal for the meeting they were surprised at the positive response. Attendance was almost triple their original estimates. The program changed due to the increased number and a steering committee formed. Prayer meetings continued until the lead pastor decided it was time to put their prayers into action. They even called it “Action.” He called for people to go out and bring the lost to their respective churches. They all agreed to this directive as arrangements were made to meet…
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Purpose …
Purpose is defined as the reason for something done or created. It is the meaning for all things. Jesus said the Holy Ghost would give us power to be witnesses. Acts 1:8. In John 3 He described that without this born again experience a person could not enter Heaven. That’s Purpose. The Bible also declares that Jesus came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Purpose. The Book of Esther holds a fascinating story. Esther is a beautiful young girl chosen to marry the king of Persia. Her natural appearance grants her access…
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Total Commitment
At the end of a long conversation my friend replied that he was not ready to make a commitment toward Christ. He said, “I want just enough of Jesus to get by.” I was too young to understand the depth of the moment, but I realized it some years later. My friend liked church. He enjoyed the music and sermons. This minimal relationship with God helped him with his guilt and gave him enough satisfaction, but he, like so many others were living in the margins of Pentecost. Eventually he quit altogether. Our conversations had brought him to the brink…
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Humbled and Whole
The Gospels of Mark and Luke both record the account of a man with a withered hand entering into the Synagogue. Twelve years ago I preached about this very subject in which this man was healed as he displayed his affliction. In more recent times, however, I have heard some erroneous conclusions about the scripture. Some report that the man was concealing his hand when he entered the Synagogue. However, the scripture gives no indication that he came in hiding. In fact, both gospels tell us that those around him knew his condition and watched closely to see if Jesus…