Don’t be Afraid

On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Read: Zephaniah 1:1-3:20, Revelation…

Shoot The Messenger

If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. (Ezekiel 3:18) Read: Ezekiel 3:16 – 6:14, Hebrews 4:1-16, Psalm 104:24-35, Proverbs 26:27 Relate: History hinged on a pair of messengers. Way back around the…

Put Down Your Sword

I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; (Psalm 44:6-7) Relate: Like pretty much every day this week, Wednesday’s paper had an article about the conflict between Russia, Ukraine and the separatists that are little more than Russia’s…

Powerless

I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going. (John 14:30-31) Read: Jeremiah 2:31 – 4:18, Colossians 1:1-17, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs…

Set Apart and Sent

Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the…

When the Light Shows Up (John 1:5)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:5) Read: Genesis 11:1-14:24, 1 Chronicles 11:24-27 Relate: Good vs Evil. Light vs Darkness. God vs Satan. They two equal and opposite sides forever locked in an eternal struggle for dominance that neither side will ever win. Although it might sometimes seem to tip…

Sentry Duty (11/16/13)

Read: Ezekiel 33:1-34:31, Hebrews 13:1-25, Psalm 115:1-18, Proverbs 27:21-22 But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths. (Ezekiel 33:6) Relate: On March 3, 1918, the New York Times carried…

Who Dares To Defy My God? (5/15/13)

Read: 1Samuel 17:1-18:4, John 8:21-30, Psalm 111:1-10, Proverbs 15:11 Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? (1 Samuel 17:26) Relate: Growing up I loved numbers. That’s an understatement. I loved statistics to the point I was definitely a bit OCD about it. OK… more than a bit. I remember sitting there in…

Gideon’s Fleece: This For That (4/26/13)

Read: Judges 6:1-40, Luke 22:54-23:12, Psalm 95:1-96:13, Proverbs 14:5-6 Then the Spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded. (Judges…