The Mustard Seed parable and you

 

Christ once described His kingdom as a "mustard seed" that becomes a mighty tree (Luke 13:18-19). The seed seems small and insignificant, and even "dies" by being buried and giving up it's initial nature. The invisible work of God alters the self-contained individual piece into a mighty tree that provides for others and produces more of itself through new seeds. In what way is God calling you to change?  

Considering Hell

 

Jesus told a story of a man who finds himself suffering in Hell (Lk 16). The suffering described all stems from the man excluding God from his life. While considering the horrors of Hell, we should also consider that God loved us so much that He allowed His Son to suffer the pain of Hell of for us. Jesus took the Hell we deserve, Rom 3:25. The darkest punishment you can conceiver has been applied to Jesus for you.

Have you plead your case?

 

Jesus once told a story about a corrupt judge, who refused to provide justice for a widow who had suffered wrong-doing. Although the judge was not motivated by good intentions, he still did what was right, just so that he wouldn't have to hear the widow complain. Jesus then asked, if even a corrupt judge will answer the pleas of the oppressed, how much more will God? (Lk 18) What are pleading with God over?

Who's your publican?

Jesus told of a highly respected, conservative and orthodox religious leader who prayed in a way that demonstrated his utter disdain for those in worship with him. One of the other worshipers, a social pariah, simply admitted his sin and begged for mercy. Jesus stunned his audience by saying that the social pariah was forgiven by God, but the leader left still in his sin. Can you think of anyone you feel superior to when you are in worship with others? How does this align with Jesus's story? Luke 18:9-14

Do you love God or His gifts?

God loves to give to good things to His children (Luke 11), but we often find ourselves desiring those gifts more than the God who gave them. David sought God more than God's provisions (Ps 27).  Do you find yourself angry when you are not receiving the gifts you have come to expect? Could you be loving the gifts more than the giver?

Fear in the calm

In troubled times, it's easy to forget the absolute power of God. One reminder can be found in Mark 4.  After Jesus calmed the storm, the people became frightened of him, because he was even more powerful than the storm they just survived. Have you come afraid of reaching out to God, because of His power? Can you think of a time you were in awe of God's power?

God can protect you, but will He?

The famous story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan 3:16-28) provides modern Christians with a sound way of anticipating God's deliverance, while accepting His hard decisions. The faithful trio believed that God could save them, but were willing to accept God's plan, even if He decided not to. What trying circumstances do you want to be delivered from, and have you asked God to do this?

David prays alone

Psalm 51 is David's prayer for forgiveness, after committing a cowardly act of murder and betrayal. David doesn't bring all of the sacrifice his wealth would afford, but rather, he declared that God wanted a contrite and broken heart. What acts of sin are you afraid of confessing to God? Could you find the joy that David ultimately discovers, by admitting your wrong-doing and trusting God to still love you?

God's judgement is OK, as long as it's not on me...

While it's easy to understand, accept, and even embrace the mercy of God, we often stumble at His judgement - until we are affronted by sin that is so out alignment with our values that we cry out to God ask Him why has He not yet judged the perpetrators. Passages such as Revelation 6, remind us that God will send punishment, such as the four horsemen, but even in this, there is His mercy.

Pslam 42

 Even Jesus felt the loneliness of God's distance, as demonstrated by his words on the cross (Matt 27:46).  When we feel like God has abandoned us, Psalm 42 gives us words to express our pain. How have you felt abandoned by God, and have you been able to pray something as honest as Psalm 42 in those times? While we don't know why God is sometimes distant, we do know that we can trust He will return.

Memorial Day 2020

This year we recognize the sacrifice our front-line medical and other essential workers have made. By stepping into situations that could compromise their health, or result in death, these heroes join the ranks of police, fire-fighters, military, and all the others who willing put themselves in harm's way for us. John 15:13. How can you best honor our living heroes, before they paid the ultimate price? 

God knows your name

We consider it a great honor when someone we think highly of knows us by name. In Exodus 3, God calls Moses with a miraculous sign (a bush on fire but not burnt) - but maybe more significant than the miracle of the burning bush, was that God knew Moses by name. The gospel is that God knows you by name, He knows everything about you and He loves you.

To See God

If you want to see what God is like, what His love looks like, Jesus says "look at me" (John 12:44-50).  This bold statement demonstrated not only that Jesus was God incarnate, but also that the very God who created us all has the same personality as Christ. God cares for the poor, the social outcast, and any who acknowledge their own weakness, just like Jesus Christ.

A prison of your own making

One of the key principles of Christianity is that we should forgive others, because God has forgiven our great debt of sin (Matt 18:21-35). Those who practice the art of forgiving soon learn that this is actually much more fulfilling and liberating than indulging in thoughts of revenge. Who have you forgiven lately?

Can you hear God whisper?

The famous story of Elijah hearing God in a "still small voice," reminds us that God can use the little things that can be easily overlooked to comfort and prepare us for greater things. (1 Kings 19:11-13) What quiet wonders have you overlooked this week?

The ultimate immigrant

The story of Christ includes his time as a child in Egypt (Matt 2). During this time, Jesus lived as an immigrant, but Jesus was actually an immigrant his entire life. Being the Son of God, Jesus was not of earth, but lived there for 33 years. How does Christ's status change how you think of him? How does it change what you think of anyone who chooses or is forced to live in another country?

Carrying Advent into the new year

Christians have chosen to set aside December 25th as a time to focus on God the Son's unique advent into our history as the man Jesus. While we rejoice in this time and use it as a way to celebrate God's first advent, we know that the truths of this time are really for everyday. May we be humbled by God's great gift through out the year. 1 Timothy 4:6.
(originally published 12/31/17)

Advent: We wait with a promise

While Christians mourn with the broken and work to be like Jesus by helping the vulnerable
(James 2), we also recognize our inability to truly change the world. The great hope of the Christian, is that one day Christ will return and bring justice and mercy to our broken world. Genesis 3 gives us that first glimpse of coming savior.
(originally posted 12/2/18)

Jump if you can

Christians often refer to "having faith in Jesus," or "salvation is by faith alone," but what does that really mean? Biblical faith includes not just knowing the story of Jesus, or even believing the stories to be true. Biblical faith goes one step further and actually trusts Christ and His sacrifice to be our righteousness, instead of trusting our good works as the key to God's heart. Rom 4.
NOTE: For a better summary of the 3 Components of Faith - see "3 Components of Faith – C.H. Spurgeon" on Hills Bible Church website.

John 12 describes a group of outsiders who proclaimed "We want to see Jesus" (John 12:21).  Jesus has always been open to, and attractive to the disenfranchised and lonely. Do your words remind non-Christians of  that Jesus?