Matthew 10:16 (Snake’s Wits, Dove’s Eyes)

Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16) Read: Genesis 30:1-31:16 Matthew 10:1-23 Psalm 12:1-8 Proverbs 3:13-15 Relate: Columbidae. Dove. Pigeon. Technically, there’s 310 species of the bird and in English the two words are used interchangeably. Too bad. I love doves. I…

Genesis 17:1 (Never Too Old)

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. (Genesis 17:1) Read: Genesis 16:1 – 18:15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7:1-17, Proverbs 2:1-5   Relate: In 1934 Harry had a short story published in a magazine and decided that he wanted to make a living as…

Matthew 4:16 (God Remembers)

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Matthew 4:16) Read: Genesis 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4:1-8, Proverbs 1:20-23 Relate: It’s all gone. Everything. The entire world is just… gone. It’s all covered in water and being tossed about by storm. There are no people left.…

The Spot

After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. (John 18:1-2) Read: Acts 10:1 – 12:5 Relate: Do you have a spot? Actually, currently I have three. Problem is, none of them…

Finished

I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. (John 17:4-5) Read: John 15:18 – 17:26 Relate: My internet browsing the other day led me to a specific blog on leadership and I just want to…

Benediction

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.” (John 17:1) Read: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-30, Mark 14:1-2, 10-26, Luke 22:1-30, John 13:1-30 Relate: Usually, when Jesus prays, it is a very private thing. Occasionally in the gospels we…

Overcome

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and…

Information Gap

 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.” (John 16:17-18) Read: Matthew 19:1-30, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 18:9-30…

Sin, Righteousness, Judgment

And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this…