John bursts onto the scene at a precise moment of history, in an exact locale: during the reign of Tiberius Caesar, along the banks of the Jordan River. Luke does everything short of giving us a fixed date and geographic coordinates.
Read More forgiveness, repentance
Common sense can be intuitive or it can come from experience and pain. That’s why it’s so important in raising children to help them learn through a combination of both instruction and experience. When I was a young boy, it seemed that I often had to learn lessons the hard way.
Read More friends, advice, honestyJesus faces hunger, thirst, loneliness, torment, and temptation as a sign of the Father’s love, as a result of the Spirit’s leading, as a consequence of his humble obedience to the Father’s will. The wilderness is God’s idea.
Read More truth, devil, temptationVerse 17: ‘From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
From that time on. I suggest everything Jesus does from here on in can be grouped under the category of preaching. This includes, as the passage indicates, calling disciples, proclaiming the Kingdom, casting out demons, healing the sick.
Read More preaching, listeningThe devil has two favourite haunts, two places he likes to pay us a visit: gardens, and deserts.
Gardens are places of beauty and ease. There is abundant food, shade, birdsong. A garden is a taste of paradise. We are in a garden when our lives are pitch-perfect: great job, great marriage, close to God.
Read More testing, devilSometimes Jesus’ recruitment strategies seem counter intuitive. Designed to dwindle the ranks, not swell them. Devised to chase potential donors and followers away, not attract them.
Read More choice, discouragement
Abraham’s part in the divine drama draws to a close (vv 1-11). As he dies the text notes, “God blessed his son Isaac after this.” This is a legacy that every parent desires, that God would watch over our children and assist them to succeed in all the aspects of life that matter.
Read More blessing, priorities
There are times in life when we feel pressed into a corner with no way out. That was the experience of the people of Israel with the Red Sea in front and Pharaoh’s army behind. In those moments there is only one thing to do; scream for help! In Psalm 70 David is pressed by his enemies. His life is hanging by a thread. He needs God’s help, now! David cries to God to rescue him (v 1), to turn the tables on his enemies (vv 2-3), to bless the faithful (v 4) and finally to save him in his needy state (v 5).
Read More desperation, prayer, trials, faithOver the years I’ve heard people give various reasons why they don’t believe the good news about Jesus Christ. These reasons run the gamut from the deeply personal to the loftily philosophical, from heartbreak to arrogance. Some invoke science, claiming faith and “logic” are somehow irreconcilable. Others point to the moral shortcomings of those of us who do believe, claiming the credibility gap is too wide.
Read More amazement, resurrection, joy, awe