For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:35) Sometimes we make the way of following Jesus far too easy. It was an amazing moment when Jesus was meeting with His disciples, and He questioned them, “Who do you say I am?” Peter impulsively gave the right answer: “You’re the Christ.” ... [Continue Reading]
Too Hard? (John 6)
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (John 6:60) In most things that matter in life, you will face adversity of some kind. There will be a point in time where you'll need to make a decision of whether or not the sacrifices are worth the reward. The same is true when it comes to faith. It's better to understand all ... [Continue Reading]
How Much Do I Trust? (Matthew 9-10)
Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2) Trust seems like such a simple thing, and in some respects it is. It's simple to trust that the chair I'm sitting in won't collapse under my weight. After all, I have lots of experience sitting in chairs. It's ... [Continue Reading]
Of Sowers and Soil (Matthew 8:14-34; Mark 4-5)
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.” (Mark 4:3) Sowing seed is an incredibly important role for a farmer. If he wants to reap any kind of harvest, then he needs to sow some sort of seed - he can't simply hope to reap a harvest in a field where no planting has taken place. So he (or she) must sow diligently. However, not all seed falls in a place that will ... [Continue Reading]
A Hidden Treasure? (Matthew 13; Luke 8)
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44) Jesus told a story of a man who found a treasure hidden in a field. He realized the great value of what he had found, so he quickly gathered as much money as he could by selling his ... [Continue Reading]
The Overflow of the Heart (Matthew 12:22-50; Luke 11)
For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Matthew 12:34b) We're pretty good at censoring our words (although even that is a practice that's somewhat waning in our culture), but every once in a while a person slips. Out comes this expletive or nasty thought that surprises everyone around us, including ourselves. Where did it come from? Jesus said that, from the ... [Continue Reading]
Rest from Religion (Matthew 11)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Religion is wearying. No matter how hard I try to be perfect or to live up to God's standards of holiness, I fall far short. The sacrifices I bring only last for a day, and it's almost as if the harder I try, the less likely I am to actually get God's attention. Religion is ... [Continue Reading]
Guilt by Association (Matthew 8:1-13; Luke 7)
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ (Luke 7:34) Jesus was never concerned about being guilty by association. If anyone could be accused of having an interesting set of relationships and people whom he hung around, it would be Jesus. There were tax collectors, sinners, ... [Continue Reading]
How Extreme Will You Be? (Matthew 5-7)
If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30) I've known ... [Continue Reading]
What Kind of Tree Are You? (Matthew 12:1-21; Mark 3; Luke 6)
Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. (Luke 6:44) Trees are very predictable. If you plant an orange tree, then you can expect juicy oranges to eventually grow from it. If you plant an apple tree, you can expect apples. Peach trees grow peaches. My guess is that you get the idea. What's really cool, ... [Continue Reading]
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