NOW He's gone too far!

 

Jesus's ministry demonstrated radical rule-breaking, specifically to help those abused by the systems and rulers of the day. When Jesus actually broke death, by raising a young girl and his own friend, Lazarus, Jesus had good too far. The religious leaders could not explain the miracles, but decided that Jesus must not be allowed to continue to bring this kind of healing (John 11). What kinds of healing do you oppose?

What's in your line?

 

Matthew's (Matt 1)  genealogy of Christ not only reminds that His earthly life was rooted in a community. As the adopted son of Joseph, Jesus could trace his lineage back to nobility like David and Abraham. However, many of the names seem to be unknown or of little consequence to the larger stories of their people. When you feel that your story is unimportant, can you reflect on these names to find your meaning in God's plan?

A great place to grow

 Isaiah 9, one of the great Advent verses, speaks to our joy at leaving the darkness of sin and ignorance. As we consider the great Light that came into our world (John 1), we might do well to remember the areas of growth we experience while waiting. How has God prepared you for the Light by allowing you to experience a time of darkness? 

Leaving your cave

 God called Elijah out of his cave of despair so that he could receive a final mission (1 Kings 19). God seems to have consoled Elijah by reminding him that God is still all-powerful and that He still had work for Elijah. Are you able to find consolation in God's mission for your life?

Are you ashamed?

 David was called a "man after God's heart (1 Sam 13:14) but was later guilty of adultery and murder. He loved God deeply, but still fell to the most vile sins of his day. David's redemption came a steep price, but during those times of shame, he humbled himself and wrote stirring Psalms begging God for forgiveness. How do you respond when your sins are exposed? Are you able to humble yourself and beg God for help?

Dealing with change

 

The Bible often describes crisis moments that required God's people to choose bold, new ways of living or even worshipping. Ruth and Orpah (Ruth 1) face this kind of decision when their husbands die and their mother-in-law decides to leave the country. While facing change is trying and frightening, God's people have always relied on Him to help them navigate the changes and still remain faithful to His word.

Welcome to the Church...Maybe?

 

The Church is comprised of any who confess their absolute helplessness as a sinner and trust Christ to save them by His sacrificial death (Romv10:12-13). Paul reminds us that once this step has been taken, any and everyone is then considered part of the 'body of Christ' and should be welcomed and respected as family (Gal 3:23-29). 

For the Joy...

 Christ's vicarious death not only paid for our sins, but also gave us insight into what He valued. The phrase "for the joy that was set before him" (Heb 12:2) reminds us of the intensity of God's love for us. Although we have nothing to offer God, He still loves us and thought we were worth redeeming. Can you rely on God's great love when you feel insignificant, unimportant, or even worthless?

Preparing for the persecution

 In Luke 19, Jesus tells a strange story to prepare the disciples for the coming persecution the church would soon endure. The story reminds us of the importance of faith and of God's ability to provide for His people even when God seems far away. While most modern Christians do not suffer persecution like the early church, we all have felt seasons where God was distant and we needed faith to believe He cared.

Why Palms?

John 12:12 describes a jubilant crowd waving palm branches and throwing them in front of Jesus as he entered the city of Jerusalem. In modern terms, we might think of these palm branches as a way of saying "Jesus for King" or "revolution now!" Jesus did not manifest a political or military revolution. Those goals were too small for the Son of God, instead he paid for all of the sins of all humanity.

Can you trust him now?

As Christians, we believe that Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice for us in the past and will deliver us from the final judgement in the future. However, we tend to trust him less to care for us in our present circumstances (Romans 5).  Can look past your current situation, to the future and to the past to find faith to trust your savior in the present? 

The Church, impartial providers of love and kindness?

The Church should be a place that welcomes all kinds of people from all walks of life. The book of James describes this in detail, James 2:1-6. How do you respond to those who worship with you? Do you show impartial love that treats everyone as a spiritual sibling?

A promise for Memorial Day

The Christian's great hope of seeing our loved ones again rests not in our belief that we are or will be good enough to earn this reward. We should be continually humbled by our God who is good enough, strong enough, and concerned enough to grant us His promise (1 Corinthians 15) of reunification with our departed. 

What kind of Father is God?

In response to the self-righteous attitudes of the religious leaders, Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son.  The story depicts God the Father as willing to lay aside His dignity and reputation to show love to a very undeserving person. How would it change you to think of God as this kind of Father?

Who Owns our Stuff?

Jesus warns his followers not be like the man who spent his life accumulating possessions (Luke 12:16-21), only to discover his life was going to be cut short and he would not be able to enjoy those possessions. Are you spending time enjoying the things God has provided, or you busy gathering more?

Use the Right Tool

As Christians, we often feel helpless when faced with the injustices and fears around us. While we are morally obligated to take action, we often feel the inadequacy of our work. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10 that we are facing spiritual problems that require spiritual tools to solve. Perhaps we should consider spending great effort asking God to intervene. 

Prophet not perfected Is6

The prophet Isaiah had been speaking God's word for years when he had a vision that reminded him of just how different God is from even the holiest of men. In his vision Isaiah saw the very Throne of God, and realized just how insignificant he was compared to God. Isaiah's humble reaction to the sight of God is rewarded when an angle "cleanses" Isaiah's mouth with a burning coal. How has God provided significance to your life? Have you humbly realized how great God is?

Switching from what's working

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul asks why those who trusted God for

salvation were now attempting to please God with their works. Although

God has work for us, it is not our obedience to that work that pleases him,

it is our trusting Him and our relying on him to work through us.

Acts 1

"...while they beheld, he was taken up;"

The group that witnessed Christ's ascension was left looking up into the sky. They were informed that they were looking in the wrong place for Christ. Like this group of witnesses, we also tend to look for Christ in the wrong places.