What do you think of when you think of “the Judgment”? More importantly, why does the Bible talk about judgment? Scripture: Ezekiel, chapters 22-24; Revelation, chapter 9 Ezekiel 22:13-16 (CEB): I now strike my hands over your ill-gotten gain and blood that’s been shed in you. Will your strength and courage endure when I deal with you? I am the Lord: I speak, and I act! I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you throughout the lands, and... Read more
God’s faithful love lasts forever. Would-be human leaders try to scare us into following them. Psalm 118 says, “It’s far better to take refuge in the Lord!” Scripture: Psalm 118; Jeremiah chapters 21, 24, 27; 1 John, chapter 2 Psalm 118:5-9 (CEB): In tight circumstances, I cried out to the Lord. The Lord answered me with wide-open spaces. The Lord is for me – I won’t be afraid. What can anyone do to me? The Lord is for me –... Read more
John’s Gospel uses misunderstanding as a teaching tool. So how can we better understand Jesus? By knowing Scripture, and by listening to the Spirit of truth! Scripture: Jeremiah, chapters 45-47; Psalm 104; John, chapter 21 John 21:20-25 (CEB): Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. This was the one who had leaned against Jesus at the meal and asked him, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” When Peter saw this disciple, he said to... Read more
Through his willing submission and death, Jesus says, “I have conquered the world.” He also calls us to “be encouraged.” How do we do that? Scripture: Jeremiah, chapters 16-17; Psalm 96; John, chapter 16 John 16:25-33 (CEB): “I’ve been using figures of speech with you. The time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in such analogies. Instead, I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I’m not... Read more
The world is a troubling place; fear and despair grips people. Jesus gives us a powerful promise: The Spirit will be with you! Scripture: Jeremiah, chapters 10-12; John, chapter 14 John 14:15-17 (CEB) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion, who will be with you forever. This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You... Read more
“Why doesn’t God do something?” Habakkuk asked that question, and another: “Why would God do that?” What can we learn from God’s response? Scripture: Habakkuk, chapters 1-3; John, chapter 8 Habakkuk 1:12 – 2:1 (CEB): Lord, aren’t you ancient, my God, the holy one? Don’t let us die. Lord, you put the Chaldean here for judgment. Rock, you established him as a rebuke. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you are unable to look at disaster. Why... Read more
The people of Judah drifted far from God and into idolatry. How did they get there? The same way we do – one step at a time. Scripture: 2 Kings, chapter 23; 2 Chronicles, chapter 35; John, chapter 7 2 Kings 23:4-9 (CEB): The king then commanded the high priest, Hilkiah, the second-order priests, and the doorkeepers to remove from the Lord’s temple all the religious objects made for Baal, Asherah, and all the heavenly bodies.... Read more
Sin separates us from God; it has done so since our first parents disobeyed in the Garden of Eden. But that doesn’t have to be the end of the story! Scripture: Isaiah, chapters 57-59; Psalm 103; 2 Peter, chapter 3 Isaiah 59:1-4 (CEB): Look! The Lord does not lack the power to save, nor are his ears too dull to hear, but your misdeeds have separated you from your God. Your sins have hidden his face from you so that... Read more
How do we “inherit a blessing”? Peter tells us: follow the example of Jesus, rather than our world’s way. Don’t return evil for evil or insult for insult; seek peace! Scripture: Isaiah, chapters 40-42; 1 Peter, chapter 3 1 Peter 3:8-17 (CEB): Finally, all of you be of one mind, sympathetic, lovers of your fellow believers, compassionate, and modest in your opinion of yourselves. Don’t pay back evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, give blessing in return. You... Read more
So many people call us to question or challenge authority. Jesus points to a different way. How do we submit like Jesus did? Scripture: 2 Kings, chapter 20; Isaiah, chapters 38-39; Psalm 75; 1 Peter, chapter 2 1 Peter 2:13-25 (CEB): For the sake of the Lord submit to every human institution. Do this whether it means submitting to the emperor as supreme ruler, or to governors as those sent by the emperor. They are sent to punish those doing... Read more
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