Coming off the mountaintop

 

When Jesus and his disciples returned from the one of the greatest experiences of imaginable, they were met with a man needing immediate healing for his son (Lk 9). Christ did not rebuke the man, but provided immediate relief. How do you respond when your "mountaintop" experience is cut short by other's request for help and attention?

Powerful words

 When asked to heal a Roman military leader's servant,  (Matt 8:5-13) The leader declared that Jesus need not physically attend to the healing, but could simply speak the healing into existence. The request revealed just how power Jesus is, that his word could, by itself, heal the servant. Our words can't heal physical ailments, but our words are still very powerful. How do you use your words? To heal or to hurt?

Healing that angers religious men

 

Rather than waiting for another time, Jesus chose to heal a man on the Sabbath day (Lk 6). In doing this, he reminded the law-keepers that God's law was given for our good, not as a way to find fault with each other. Jesus saw a man in need, and in healing that man, he gave those around him an opportunity to receive his forgiveness and instruction. Are you able to rejoice when underserving receive blessings?

The journey begins now

When Christ calls his first disciples(Matthew 4:18-22), he asks them to "follow" but he doesn't say where he is going. Instead, Christ tells the prospective disciples what they will become, "fishers of men." When we answer Christ's call to accept his sacrifice and receive his gift of forgiveness, we begin a journey that is worthy of our attention. Are you focusing on the end of your journey with Christ, or on Christ himself? 

One who beat envy

 

The story of King Saul's son Jonathan stand as a unique testimony to the power to overcome envy. While Jonathan's father, King Saul, sought to destroy his political rival, David, Jonathan accepted that David was chosen by God. Jonathan's famous friendship with David and his acceptance of David's future position as king is exemplified by his passing on his robe and other items of nobility to David 1 Sam 18:1-4.

Can you give up power?

 When King Herod discovered that the Christ, who would one day rule Herod's kingdom, had just been born, Herod was determined to hold onto his political power by killing the Christ before he could be king. Herod's desperation to remain king resulted in a death sentence for any child under the age of two. What terrible acts would you be willing to commit to hold your power or privilege? Matt 2:16-18

God's man

 

King Saul appeared to be everything Israel wanted in a king, but lacked character and a strong moral compass. God determined to remove Saul after many of Saul's inappropriate and ungodly actions. While searching for the new king, God pointed Samuel to the least likely candidate, a boy named David. During this time, God warned Samuel to look at the new king's heart, not his physique. (1 Sam 16:7).