Even for some of us who follow Jesus, life can be an enigma. We assume when we decide to follow Jesus that we will always be happy and life will go smoothly. It can be a rude awakening when we find that is not the case. I believe that two passages from Scripture can assistContinue reading “The Secret to Happiness”
Tag Archives: Faith
Jesus’ Deity
For those of us who affirm the deity of Jesus, it can be easy for us to assume that he did not face the same struggles that we face, because, we tell ourselves, he was God. While that is true, Jesus was, and is, God who became man, it does not follow that he didn’tContinue reading “Jesus’ Deity”
Living Right Side Up
We live in an upside down world that exists in contrast to how Jesus revealed his Kingdom to be and the world should be. When his disciples asked who was the greatest in Jesus’ Kingdom, Jesus gave them a surprising answer. He called a child to stand in their midst and declared that unless, they,Continue reading “Living Right Side Up”
Kingdom Transformation
After Jesus instructed Matthew the tax-collector to follow him, Jesus went and ate at Matthew’s home with other tax-collectors. The Pharisees, who observed Jesus’ action, were offended by Jesus’ association with tax-collectors and sinners. The Pharisees lived according to a principle we have today: “Bad company corrupts good character.” However, Jesus hung around tax-collectors andContinue reading “Kingdom Transformation”
Evaluating Expectations
After breaking the bread and drinking from the cup, Jesus took his disciples to the Mount of Olives, where he told them they would all be scandalized because of him. Although they denied it, later that night they all would be. Peter was most vehement in his denial, so Jesus told him exactly what heContinue reading “Evaluating Expectations”
Understanding God
After Jesus descended from the mountain of transfiguration, he encountered a father, whose son was afflicted by a demon. Jesus dealt with the demon and healed the boy. When the disciples asked Jesus about their inability to cast it out, he said it was their little faith, which raises the question of how was theirContinue reading “Understanding God”
Life’s Challenges
The episode of Jesus and Peter walking on the water illustrates how we often live our lives. After sending the disciples in the boat to cross the lake, Jesus sent the crowds away and retired to a mountain to pray. In the middle of the night, as the disciples were struggling to cross against aContinue reading “Life’s Challenges”
Little Faith
There is a bit of irony in Jesus’ calming the wind and the waves. As he was sleeping, the disciples came to him, awakened him and out of fear called to him to save them for they were perishing. Jesus got up and first rebuked their little faith, then he calmed the wind and theContinue reading “Little Faith”
Our Daily Bread
When we consider what has become known as the “Lord’s Prayer” or in some circles “Our Father”, we discover that Jesus is giving us the freedom to issue commands in prayer. We are not asking God to do these things, but actually commanding him, because all the verbs are commands, not requests. That is amazing!Continue reading “Our Daily Bread”
Disappointment with God
During Jesus’ testing in the wilderness, Satan took him to the pinnacle of the temple and stated that since Jesus was the Son of God, he should throw himself down so that God would send angels to save him. Jesus saw the devil’s second temptation as testing the Lord God, which we are commanded notContinue reading “Disappointment with God”
David Freitag 