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.

Why Palms?

John 12:12 describes a jubilant crowd waving palm branches and throwing them in front of Jesus as he entered the city of Jerusalem. In modern terms, we might think of these palm branches as a way of saying "Jesus for King" or "revolution now!" Jesus did not manifest a political or military revolution. Those goals were too small for the Son of God, instead he paid for all of the sins of all humanity.

Why not jump?

Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan in a very real and personal way Matt 4:5-7. During this time, Satan tried to persuade Jesus to jump from the top of the temple, claiming that God would be 'forced' to catch Jesus. Christ rebuked Satan with the words, God should not be tempted. Do you take unnecessary risks hoping the God will supernaturally manifest, or do refrain from tempting God?

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)

Can you trust him now?

As Christians, we believe that Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice for us in the past and will deliver us from the final judgement in the future. However, we tend to trust him less to care for us in our present circumstances (Romans 5).  Can look past your current situation, to the future and to the past to find faith to trust your savior in the present? 

In the Same Pot

Christianity is based on the idea that no one is better than anyone else. In Romans 3, Paul declares both religious and non-religious people are in the same condition. Everyone does wrong and everyone needs the hope of salvation from the consequences of our sins. Are you able to let go of your pride and ask God to forgive your wrong-doing based on His sacrifice through Jesus Christ?

Give Us, not just Give Me

When Jesus instructed his disciples in prayer, he gave them the famous line, "Give us this day our daily bread."(Matt 6:11) As Christ's disciples, modern Christians might consider the plural in this line. God encourages us to remember those around us while we pray for our very sustenance. 

How to change what you're thoughts

Almost everyone suffers from what seems like uncontrollable fear, worry, or some other thoughts we wish we could stop. One method that has proven helpful for Christians has been to memorize portions of the Bible and rehearse those passages as a way of breaking the unwanted thought cycle. Philippians 4:l8-19 tells us to change the way we think.

Not Enough

Although good works are a natural outcome of our faith, we must always remember that they are NOT the source of our salvation (Philippians 3:9). As Christians, we should be constantly humbled by the sacrificial death of Christ, where he took our punishment for us, and gave us grace in return. May we always give grace to others, just like Christ gave grace to us.

Do you think God is your servant?

Luke 17 provides insight into how we think of God. While referring to ourselves as humble, our requests show that we expect God to do be our servant and to perform according to our timetable. How are you treating God? As master or servant?

It's not a competition?

Psalm 73 describes a personal crisis of faith. The writer feels helpless against those who would take advantage of the weak. Instead of giving up, the writer units with other believers in the sanctuary of God v17. Maybe you can find the same strength the psalmist found by seeking others who share your beliefs.

Use the Right Tool

As Christians, we often feel helpless when faced with the injustices and fears around us. While we are morally obligated to take action, we often feel the inadequacy of our work. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10 that we are facing spiritual problems that require spiritual tools to solve. Perhaps we should consider spending great effort asking God to intervene. 

Sitting on the Money

In 2 Corinthians 8, we learn of poor believers who insisted on giving to another group that had experienced a great hardship. Paul commends these poor believers for understanding that it's God who provides for our needs. Like the bread provided to God's people in Exodus 16:20 , wealth is fleeting. What causes us to not give? Do we truly believe that all we have is by God's grace?

What Does Repentance NOT Look like?

Judas Iscariot's repentance fails to ease his conscience and bring the forgiveness of God. Shortly after returning the silver he had gained by betraying Jesus and confessing his wrong-doing to his co-conspirators, Judas hanged himself. What was wrong with Judas' repentance? He sought only to improve how he was perceived by those around him. To that end, he did not seek forgiveness from God, but from those whom he considered important. 

Enjoy your circle status

Many of us are tempted to find meaning in the way others feel about us. We long to be a part of the "in" group. The great irony is that as Christians, we are already part of Christ's inner circle. When you consider your place next to the perfect Son of God, you no longer need to impress others and can be free to humbly serve them, while knowing that you are loved by the most important person in history.

The thread of eternity

The apostle Paul suffered extreme physical torture for most of his life, yet he described it as "light affliction." How could Paul seem so at peace with this? He knew that our lives are very short compared to eternity.

Jesus questioned Peter's love - but how?

In John 21 Jesus asks Peter three times if he (Peter) loves me (Jesus) more than "these." The reference to "these" is pretty open-ended. Maybe Jesus was referring to the objects nearby that represented Peter's professional life (fisherman), thus asking if Peter loved Jesus more than his old life. Maybe Jesus was making a reference to the others around Peter - asking if Peter still believed that he loved Jesus more than anyone else could. Both questions are worth our consideration - do we love Jesus more than anything or anyone, and are we aware of others who love Jesus like we do.

Too desperate to pray

When we find ourselves in times of anguish and desperation, our words may fail us. God knows what we need before we ask and He gives us His Holy Spirit to speak the words we cannot Rom 8:26-30. We all experience pain and desperation, but we don't need to fear these times because we have a voice, even if we have trouble hearing it.

Good and Free! Isaiah 55

Isaiah 55 accosts us like a street vendor hawking goods. The difference is that this vendor is giving away the best food and drink for free (Isaiah 55:1). In a world that proclaims, "you get what you paid for," we might find this offer difficult to accept. Are you willing to take God at his word and receive the rich forgiveness He offers for free?

Life Follows Christ

Isaiah 35 paints a uniquely beautiful picture of redemption. In the first two verses we read of the desert rejoicing in blooms of life as the Messiah strolls through. These verses speak not only to a day of topographical changes, but also to the life Jesus Christ can bring to the deserts of our lives. What dry and lifeless places in your life would you like to see blossom at the touch of Jesus Christ?