Not many of us would be comfortable enough to hold our prayer habits up for public inspection, unless we plan to give a lesson on how to be haphazard, neglectful and disappointed when we pray. Clearly Jesus’ own disciples also felt this way, and their first ‘prayer’ was the humble request, ‘Lord, teach us to pray…’.
Jesus reassures us that we can learn to pray well. He outlines the beautiful balance and order of a thoughtful conversation with God.
Read More prayer, maturity, wholeheartednessIn battle, it is wise to choose effective weapons and excellent protection. As we present the gospel we need to fight for truth, but arm ourselves with compassion.
Jesus lived in such a way that his observers fell into several categories: those who believed, those who rejected, and those who had more questions. After providing a spiritual solution to a man’s physical problem, Jesus graciously engaged his opponents in discussion.
Read More compassion, truth, love, logicWe are made with a love for light. Sunlight streaming through a window on a winter’s day breaks the pattern of storms and early twilight, and promises that our homes and hearts will survive the darkness. It would be a tragedy to shut out this rare wonder by pulling the curtains closed.
Spiritually, every generation has those who respond to the light, and those who prefer not to stir from their dim rooms.
Read More blindness, darkness, light, self-examinationOh, how quickly we let worries define us and take charge of our lives! Even as I write, savvy online advertisers raise the alarm about the state of my wrinkles, relationships and waistline. I am encouraged to fixate on food and be consumed with my career.
Worry gravitates towards the trivial, distorting our priorities. Rather than examining the state of our souls before God, we concern ourselves with how we look to other people.
Read More worry, self-centredness, God’s authorityConsumed with clutching my own personal ticket to paradise, I wonder how often I let the saving words of God slip through my fingers. I am all too often like the man who presents his legal battle with a family member, requesting a verdict in his favour. Here Jesus exhorts his followers to abandon a life of worry.
The parable Jesus gives in response addresses the underlying reason for many of our complaints in life.
Read More stress, greed, simplicityIn our anxious moments, we clothe ourselves with worry and spread a feast of fear before us. Our thoughts circle and chase us just as we run to secure them. When we are most desperate to feel in control of our lives we are most prone to set a trap for ourselves.
In times of wandering God urged the Israelites to record, remember and recite the works of his hand to strengthen their faith.
Read More worry, anxiety, God’s careIf this life is the final offer, then my quest should be to experience it all and not hold back. I should take from others anything I find useful, and taste all that tempts my palate. If this world is a house where there is no master, no one can stop me from laying claim to the position.
Sadly not a single one of us has the grace required of a true master. When we take on the role we are more likely to mistreat others, be reckless with the land and slide into gluttony of all sorts.
Read More service, faithfulness, responsibility, future timeIt is impossible to rest upon the fine edge of a sword and remain intact. The very purpose of a sword is to separate.
The claim that Christ came as the Son of God, was sentenced to death and rose to life by the power of God’s hand creates a point of division on which we must fall to one side or the other. We either acknowledge this or reject it.
Read More loyalty, pruning, challenge, choiceIt isn’t often that I tell myself or others, ‘I am confident that I am walking in the centre of God’s will for my life.’ Usually I am struggling to navigate the dead ends, the crossroads and the painfully long stretches of road with no street markers whatsoever. Most of my prayers could be summarized as, ‘Lord, could you be a little clearer?’
Read More listening, security, guidanceOur God is a God of miracles. When he puts spiritual truth on display, often he reverses physical truth. As he intended, when we are faced with the unexplainable we have to concede that we are not in full control of our world.
The Jews of Jesus’ day had compartmentalized the events they saw unfolding.
Read More salvation, witness