At first glance, this passage seems to merely reiterate a number of things we’ve already discovered about God. God communicates to his people through dreams and through his prophets. God’s plan is unalterable regardless of how much man or Satan try to interfere. And God protected Jesus so that he was able to accomplish the… Continue reading Matthew 2:13-23 – God’s (VERY) Mysterious Ways
Category: The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 2:1-12 – God’s (NOT-SO) Mysterious Ways
Over the years I’ve read this passage (Matthew 2:1-12) a number of times and always focused on the wise men and their gifts, Herod and his insecurities, and baby Jesus and his mother, but I don’t think I’ve ever considered the chief priests and the scribes. God, through the prophet Micah, told them that the… Continue reading Matthew 2:1-12 – God’s (NOT-SO) Mysterious Ways
Matthew 1:18-25 – God’s Timely Gift
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. There is a video on Youtube you may have seen titled “Basketball Awareness Test” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB_lTKZm1Ts). Two teams of four players — one dressed in white, one in black — pass a basketball between themselves. You are asked to track the number of passes made between the players… Continue reading Matthew 1:18-25 – God’s Timely Gift
Matthew 1:1–17 – God’s Eternal Plan
As a bit of an introduction, I wrote quite a bit about the Lord’s Prayer and the Sermon on the Mount a year or so ago (you can access those posts here: The Lord’s Prayer – Lord, Teach us to Pray…). Since that time, I’ve written about the book of James (you can find those… Continue reading Matthew 1:1–17 – God’s Eternal Plan
Some Final Thoughts on The Lord’s Prayer
In the beginning, God created light, the planets, the atmosphere, plants, animals, then Adam and Eve were placed in the garden. Eden—unspoiled paradise—was our first home. But Adam and Eve weren’t alone, God was there. And I don’t mean he was there in some incorporeal form, He was in the garden in such a way… Continue reading Some Final Thoughts on The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer and the Father’s Love
One of the things you must believe if you are to hold fast to naturalism is that every particle of dust in the universe is merely that; a particle of dust. Likewise, if you are to hold fast to most any transcendental point of view you are almost always required to believe that every particle… Continue reading The Lord’s Prayer and the Father’s Love
The Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 145
The first car I owned was a Mazda 626, a fairly common car at the time. I didn’t recall seeing many on the road, but when I drove mine off the lot I started seeing them everywhere. Once our mind is tuned into one thing we often see it everywhere, even when it’s not there.… Continue reading The Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 145
The Key to the Father’s Treasure
I wrote in my first entry, Introduction, that prayer had become an unhinged experience for me until I began working through the Lord’s Prayer. I never really thought much about the Lord’s Prayer as a model and I always shunned formulas and structure for prayer, but lately, I’ve been questioning the assumption that God just… Continue reading The Key to the Father’s Treasure
Matthew 7:24-27 – The Father’s Eternal Kingdom
I’ve been watching The Godfather the past few weeks while I exercise. Watching something longer than the workout is about the only way I can maintain any sort of regular exercise regimen. I need the anticipation of what comes next to motivate me to get back on the elliptical each day for another 40 minutes.… Continue reading Matthew 7:24-27 – The Father’s Eternal Kingdom
Matthew 7:15-23 – The Father’s Deliverance
Evil hides behind many faces, the most well-known is that of the devil. While he is often pictured with horns, a red cape, and carrying a pitchfork, he really comes in the guise of a snake or an angel of light. He tempted Adam and Eve in the garden, he bartered for Job’s life, he… Continue reading Matthew 7:15-23 – The Father’s Deliverance