After Moses died, the Lord told Joshua to be strong and courageous; Joshua was about to cross the Jordan River and conquer the land. The Lord told him a second time to be strong and courageous as an encouragement to Joshua that he, the Lord, would be with Joshua wherever he went. But there was… Continue reading Matthew 7:13-14 – The Father’s Narrow Road
Category: The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 7:1-12 – The Father’s Forgiveness
I’ve been told for most of my life that God’s love is unconditional; I think that’s probably true. But I also think we can misunderstand what that means. Certainly, any sort of sin that we have committed, or will commit, is covered by the blood of Jesus and is forgiven by the Father. He seems… Continue reading Matthew 7:1-12 – The Father’s Forgiveness
Matthew 6:19-34 – The Father’s Provision, Part 2
Last week we looked at how we can, when praying “Give us this day our daily bread,” ignore the fact that we hold onto treasures that are not the true treasures of the Father and his righteousness. This week I’d like to address one of many possible reasons Jesus may have placed “Give us this… Continue reading Matthew 6:19-34 – The Father’s Provision, Part 2
Matthew 6:19-34 – The Father’s Provision, Part 1
It might be safe to say that most people have never wondered from where their next meal was coming; we have pantries, bank accounts, and friends upon whom we can rely. We have jobs, or if not, savings, social security, or welfare. So it is that when we pray, “Give us this day our daily… Continue reading Matthew 6:19-34 – The Father’s Provision, Part 1
Matthew 5:17-6:18 – The Father’s Will on Earth
Discovering God’s will seems to be an obsession with most people. In the time I spent with church youth groups and teaching high school students, other than sex, the number one topic was the will of God. Even for me, during my last couple of years in college I remember hoping for a neon sign… Continue reading Matthew 5:17-6:18 – The Father’s Will on Earth
Matthew 5:3-16 – The Father’s Kingdom on Earth
Of the many courses I took in seminary, one of the more important ones was the course on Hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is not, as I used to think, the study of all people named “Herman,” but it is the study of how to properly read and interpret the Bible. One of the basic tenants of Hermeneutics… Continue reading Matthew 5:3-16 – The Father’s Kingdom on Earth
Form follows Function follows Form
One thing that should be readily apparent to anyone who reads the Bible is its depth. New shades of meaning can be found each time you read a single passage. For instance, a few years ago I spent nearly an entire year reading just Psalm 51, and even to this day, I feel like I’ve… Continue reading Form follows Function follows Form
Some Assembly Required.
It was a dark and stormy night in college when I was driving back from a late movie in Muncie, Indiana. I took a corner a bit too fast and my car bounced across the road, into a lawn, and slammed through the small space between two massive oak trees. The car was totaled and… Continue reading Some Assembly Required.
Which of you has a friend…
Luke records a curious little passage not found in any other Gospel. It reads as follows: And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one… Continue reading Which of you has a friend…
For if you forgive others…
Jesus said, “Amen” so shouldn’t we be at the end of our discussion on prayer? Actually, no. In both Matthew 6 and Luke 11, Jesus continues discussing prayer after providing his prayer to the disciples. He told us we should pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” And in Matthew… Continue reading For if you forgive others…