April 2, 2013
Practically, if you want to plow a straight furrow, you have to keep your eyes forward. Plowing requires forward focus. Following Jesus is similar. If you want to be His follower, you must keep your eyes on Him. Clinging to your past, you will lose sight of where Jesus leads. Following Jesus requires total surrender to His leading.
March 31, 2013
Jesus predicted his own death, burial and resurrection. The disciples didn’t understand Christ’s claims until after his resurrection. It was on the basis of this historical event that the disciples went from frightened, unschooled followers to courageous, emboldened proclaimers of the gospel. And so we greet one another even until this day with, “He is risen!” He is risen indeed!
March 30, 2013
Before Christ raised the 12-year old daughter of Jairus the synagogue ruler from the dead, he comforted him saying that she was not dead, only sleeping. The mourners laughed at Jesus, but He answered their unbelief by saying, “Child, arise.” When death encounters Life, death looks like sleep. Death is defeated, when Life says to us “Come forth!”
March 29, 2013
The demoniac whom Christ had set free immediately began witnessing to the “whole city” what Christ had “done for him.” On this Good Friday may we all bear witness to what Christ has done for us. For on this day over 2000 years ago, Christ was crucified between two thieves on a hill called Golgotha. Christ died for our sins, so that we could inherit eternal life. Now, let’s go tell the “whole city how much” Jesus has done for us!
March 28, 2013
Of the four soils that Jesus described in his parable about receptivity to God’s Word, the thorny soil probably best resembles American hearts. There has never been a generation so blessed with access to the Bible and the gospel message. Yet, American believers have a stunted spiritual maturity. They spend their days distracted by so many things that they fail to focus on the important. Are you cultivating the seed of God’s Word or is your spiritual life getting lost in the weeds?
March 24, 2013
This is from Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, describing the new economy of the kingdom of heaven. Instead of reciprocal response, the believer is to respond out of a new spiritual character, as God does. God’s kingdom people are to “love, do good, bless and pray” because this is what’s in them to do regardless of how others treat them. God’s people are revealing His character to the world by this. Jesus’ sermon is subversive to the world’s economy which says to respond in kind. Jesus says that we are to “love, do good, bless and pray” no matter how we are treated. The Jesus’ Way turns the world upside down.
March 22, 2013
The more that crowds gathered around Jesus, the more often He would “withdraw” to pray. Jesus modeled an important rhythm between doing ministry and personal devotion. We recognize the need for food and rest for our physical bodies after exerting work, but we often overlook the need for our souls to be replenished after doing ministry. Do you ever withdraw to pray?
March 20, 2013
Jesus answered all three of Satan’s temptations with Scripture. Luke gives a shortened version of the Deuteronomy 8:3 passage, which Matthew’s gospel quotes fully: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt.4:4). Ironic that both the Luke and Matthew passages should have the same reference. Jesus overcame Satan with the power of God’s Word. We have this same Word available to us.
March 17, 2013
The 84 year old widow, Anna was looking for the redemption of her people. She fasted, prayed, and spoke of this daily at the temple. Seeing the infant Jesus, she worshiped and gave thanks to God. Where are the modern day people like Anna who are looking for Christ’s return? If the Lord delays, I plan to still be preaching at 84 too.
March 15, 2013
Against family tradition, but in accordance with the Lord’s instruction, Zechariah named his son John. The boy grew and became known as John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Christ. When Zechariah wrote the name, no doubt he wrote it in Hebrew: יוֹחָנָן (Yôḥanan), which means “Graced by Yahweh.” Since the New Testament is written in Greek, his name appeared as: Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs) in Luke’s text. In English, the name “John” is derived from this Hebrew/Greek lineage and has become the most common masculine name in the Western world. According to Jesus, John was the greatest ever born up until that time. He truly lived up to his name, as the angel Gabriel had predicted. He was great before the Lord.