The more our desire is to serve with love and humility, the more we will be called by the Spirit to lead with authority and power. When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord. This […]
Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance. Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, […]
Jesus has been counted worthy to judge humans because He was willing to die for us. We have been ordained to judge, too: humans and angels. What qualifies us to begin the work? An ekklesia was sometimes called together in Greece or Rome to make a judgment in a matter. James 1 of England wanted to rule over Jesus’ people […]
I have talked with quite a few people this year and many others who have “given up” things for the religious season they call “lent.” Usually, the thing given up was something the person enjoyed, like dessert, or alcohol, or television. Recently, a friend was digging in the chocolate dish by my front door as he left after a visit. […]
We have the power and the responsibility to influence other people’s behaviors for the better. We also have the power to influence them and make them worse. I had a coworker once in the position of supervisor, who started all her interactions with tone of voice and choice of words that implied that the hearer was late, contentious, lazy, and […]
“Celebrate a festival in My honor three times a year. Observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, because you came out of Egypt in that month. No one is to appear before Me empty-handed. Also observe the Festival of […]
Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God. So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry […]
How often do you think you should read the entire Bible? Once a year? Take 3 years to do it? Maybe, if you find the time, once before you die? Aim for a goal that is costly and you will gain a prize that is valuable. From that moment many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him. […]
David’s “mighty men” committed their lives to him. At least, they did until they came back from one mission with him and discovered that their base had been raided and their families and belongings had been stolen by raiding punks (1 Samuel 29-30). Their answer was to decide how to kill David. David’s answer was to “encourage himself in Yahweh.” […]
Our wills are not strong enough. The turn of each year’s calendar pages prove it. There are systems in place to increase our doubt that we can overcome, like 12 step programs that make us confess every time we introduce ourselves that we are alcoholics, or whatever other version of failure we wish we could escape. There are other systems […]