At the time of Jesus’ birth, outside Bethlehem an angel announced Jesus’ birth to shepherds. The angel declared to them that their Savior, the Christ/Messiah had been born. They would have a sign of a child lying in a feeding trough, wrapped in swaddling clothes. This sign to the shepherds enabled them to find Jesus,Continue reading “Jesus Available To All”
Category Archives: Purpose
Living Consistently
It seems strange that Jesus and his disciples were traveling through grain fields and the Pharisees saw his disciples eating the heads of grain on the Sabbath. Were the Pharisees constantly around Jesus? Were they traveling with him? How would they have seen what the disciples were doing traveling along a footpath through the middleContinue reading “Living Consistently”
Kingdom Potential
Early in his ministry, Jesus revealed himself to be a different type of teacher. He didn’t accept everyone who wished to follow him. The scribe who wished to follow was discouraged because Jesus said he didn’t have a fixed place to live. To the disciple who desired to stay and care for his father untilContinue reading “Kingdom Potential”
Defeating Temptations
Jesus’ 40 days in the desert to be tested by the devil give us a strategy for defeating temptation. First Satan may use our physical needs against us, in order to tempt us to live for ourselves, rather than living in a dependent relationship on our heavenly Father. Jesus refused to use his own powerContinue reading “Defeating Temptations”
The Renewing of Our Mind
On my last post, I concluded with a question: how do we live out Jesus’ instruction to pray this day for our daily bread? As I mentioned, Jesus’ instruction to pray for our daily bread completely transforms the reason for which we work. While God may use our work to provide for our daily needs,Continue reading “The Renewing of Our Mind”
God’s Image Revealed
It intrigues me how Jesus revealed truth in unexpected situations. When some Pharisees and Herodians came to test him about paying taxes to Caesar, they hoped to discredit Jesus before the people or accuse him before the Romans. If Jesus said that they should pay their taxes, he would have been discredited before the people,Continue reading “God’s Image Revealed”
Living and Following Truth
The story of the rich ruler, in Mark 10 identified as a man who ran up to Jesus, reveals the cost of entering the Kingdom of God. His decision to keep his wealth and not follow Jesus, reminds me of what martyred missionary Jim Elliot had said that one is no fool who gives upContinue reading “Living and Following Truth”
Attending to the Important
Ironically, we tend to concern ourselves with what we shouldn’t, and overlook what we should concern ourselves with. After feeding the four thousand, Jesus and his disciples got into a boat to travel to Bethsaida. After embarking the disciples realized that they had only brought one loaf of bread. As they sailed, Jesus instructed themContinue reading “Attending to the Important”
Jesus’ Timetable
Once again on the boundary of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus received a deaf and mute man. Jesus healed him by placing his fingers in his ears and placing spit on his tongue. Then he declared his ears to be opened so that he could hear and the bonds on his tongue were loosed. Mark’s descriptionContinue reading “Jesus’ Timetable”
Living with in the world with a heavenly mindset.
Although the question posed to Jesus about paying taxes was designed to find fault with him, in one sentence Jesus shed light on how his followers are to live in the world. Jesus’ contemporaries chaffed at being ruled by the Romans; paying taxes to Caesar was particularly aggravating to them. However, it was necessary forContinue reading “Living with in the world with a heavenly mindset.”
David Freitag 