Jesus is your conduit of mercy
“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12) Guilt is a powerful motivator. It can change habits and open handbags, clean up words and free up wallets. Yet, in the life of a Christian, guilt is not of God. Conviction is the sorrowful sense that something is […]
Service (Luke 4:39)
So [Jesus] stood over [Peter’s mother-in-law] and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them. (Luke 4:39) In the culture of Jesus’ day, it was customary and expected for a woman to serve as a hostess whenever guests were in her home. So, the fact that Peter’s mother-in-law […]
Running Again
Running Again (Or, “How the Worst Itch Ever Reminded me of the Best Fix of All”) The itch was so bad I could barely stand it. There I was, surrounded by the beauty of a fresh sunrise, sidewalk-jogging past a serene waterway and a meticulously trimmed golf course, and all I could think of was […]
Jesus is your better hope
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:18-19) There are many substitute saviors in this life. For the Jewish people, it was […]
Defending Jesus (Luke 4:29-30)
[The people] got up, drove Him out of town and brought Him to the edge of the hill their town was built on, intending to hurl Him over the cliff. But He passed right through the crowd and went on His way. (Luke 4:29-30) Jesus has no need of a bodyguard. He is not helpless […]
Jesus is the anchor of your soul
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf… (Hebrews 6:19-20a) Of all the storms in this life, perhaps none is more troubling than uncertainty. Bad news and hard times can at least […]
The Father’s Delight (Luke 3:22b)
You are my beloved Son. I take delight in you. (Luke 3:22b) The steadfast, unchanging posture of God the Father toward God the Son is not dutiful acceptance, but glorious delight. The scandalous, unbelievable truth of the Gospel is that for those who are united with Jesus by grace through faith, the position He has […]
God has greater truths for you
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:14) Good parents don’t give car keys to their toddler and put them behind the wheel on the freeway. Yet, certainly they hope their child grows up to drive someday, and […]
Consistent Fruit (Luke 3:8)
Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourself, “We have Abraham as our father,” for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! (Luke 3:8) There’s no point in saying “Jesus changed my life” if your life hasn’t really changed. Anyone can pray […]
Jesus wants to set you free from works
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:9-10) Did God get tired and need a break after His work of creation? Of course not. He rested to set an example for us. […]
