February 4, 2013
Jesus accused the Pharisees of the hypocrisy of outward expressions of holiness without any true heart change. The Pharisees had added layers of rules on cleanliness in their interpretation of the Torah. They even had instructions on how to do dishes. Yet, their eyes were blind and their ears deaf to Christ’s message. The disciples of Jesus may not have washed their hands according to the Pharisaic tradition, but their hearts were humble and open to Christ’s teachings. As God told Samuel, “man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart” (1 Sam.16:7). What does God see in your heart?
February 2, 2013
What Jesus said to the Sadducees, He might say to our generation as well. Who were the Sadducees? They were a Jewish sect that existed during the intertestamental period and consisted of a wealthy ruling class of priests that were often seen as allies of the Romans (or whoever was in power). They claimed to be Torah only followers, rejecting the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. They denied the after-life, the resurrection, the existence of angels, and a final judgment. They mostly saw the Scriptures as a basis for morality and no more. The way I was taught to remember them in Sunday School was that “They didn’t believe in the resurrection, so they were sad-you-see.” I think we have a lot of “sad-you-sees” in our world today.
January 31, 2013
This was Jesus’ answer to the disciples after they saw him curse the unfruitful fig tree and it immediately withered. The disciples marveled over the miracle, but Jesus told them that they would be able to do even more than this through faithful prayer. How should this word from Jesus affect our praying today?
January 25, 2013
The most important question of all: Who do you believe Jesus to be? We are not followers of ritual or religion, but relationship. We follow a person, Jesus the Christ. Recognizing Him as more than teacher and prophet, we receive Him, placing our faith into Him as Savior and Lord. Jesus still asks this question. And we must each answer it for ourselves.
January 20, 2013
One of Christ’s many kingdom parables, this one emphasizes the willingness of one to give up everything in this world in order to have it. The value of the kingdom is “hidden” to most, yet revealed to those who discover its treasure. Others probably thought the man foolish for giving all that he had, but he treasured the kingdom of heaven over the world’s kingdom. There are still those today to whom the treasure is hidden. And strangely, there are those not mentioned in the parable, to whom it is revealed, yet they continue to haggle over its price. Are you willing to give all or are you holding back?
January 18, 2013
Jesus affirmed two miraculous events here. First, what many call fable (Jonah), Jesus treated as fact. Jesus not only affirmed the Jonah story in Scripture, but saw it as a Messianic sign. Second, He prophesies His own death and resurrection. Modern man may discount the stories of the Bible as myth, but Jesus did not. He not only believed Scripture, He fulfilled it.
January 15, 2013
When trials and difficulty come don’t doubt God’s presence and care. Didn’t He allow His own Son to suffer in order to fulfill His purpose? And what is God’s purpose for us…? He is making us like Jesus. So don’t fear. God knows what you’re going through. Call on Him for strength and trust Him with your future for He cares for you.
January 9, 2013
Lip service or religious ritual are insufficient. The Lord requires a relationship. Thus, He says to the one who only played lip service, “I never knew you.” Do you “know” Him as your Lord and Savior?
January 7, 2013
What we have called the Lord’s Prayer would better be called His model prayer, for this prayer was given to teach His disciples how to pray. They had heard prayers at home, in the synagogue and in the temple, but they had never heard anyone pray like Jesus, so they begged, “Lord, teach us how to pray.” And so, He did. Starting with the most radical idea of all, that we might pray to God, calling Him “Father.” Jesus makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God as Abba, Father. Have you prayed to Him today?
January 5, 2013
The Jews often referred to the whole of the Hebrew Bible as the Torah (the Law), even though it was the title to the first five Mosaic books only. Here, Jesus is saying that the Word of God is more permanent, lasting, and dependable than heaven and earth themselves. Jesus had such a high view of Scripture that He said even the smallest stroke of the pen would not only be preserved but fulfilled. If Jesus has such a view of Scripture, how should we regard God’s Word?