Many people, even non-Christians, appreciate Jesus the teacher, Jesus the healer, Jesus the provider, even Jesus the Saviour. But Jesus the end-time prophet is another matter altogether. Jesus who heals, feeds, teaches beautiful Kingdom of God principles and who redeems by his death on the cross is attractive to many. But when he speaks about what is going to happen generally in the world, and specifically to his followers, it can be shocking.
Read More prophecy, prophet, persecution
The Lord has set out to call a people to himself. From the beginning, God has been seeking relationship with a people that would want relationship with him. Ultimately this invitation comes to us, to embrace this relationship, this privilege of becoming the people of God.
Through Moses, the Lord gives instructions for how his people will be distinguished from the nations.
Read More prophet, fulfilment, relationshipIf metaphorically the Book of Isaiah was a geographic landscape, it would be filled with peaks and valleys. In a single bound the prophet takes us from the valley of desolate gloom and severe judgment to the peak of God’s blessing and his loving embrace.
Today’s reading calls us to the mountain peak of God’s will – his vision for our future – for the future of the world.
Read More peace, Future, prophet, Mount ZionSometimes when I start to think my life is tough, I say to myself, “At least you aren’t an Old Testament prophet.” Yes, I’m joking…mostly. After all, many times prophets had to deliver bad news, such as Samuel telling Saul that the Lord is rejecting him as king. And then there are prophets like Elijah who spent much of the lives fleeing from those who were out to murder them.
Read More judgment, prophet, other people’s lives