Pilate’s condemnation of Jesus reveals what happens when personal interests interfere with the practice of justice. Individuals in power may have more of a desire to maintain or enhance their position, rather than doing what is right or just, because it could conflict with their a desire to maintain or promote their position. It isContinue reading “Misguided Leadership”
Tag Archives: God
Free-Will or Fate
At times people wonder if they truly have free will, whether they make their own decisions or if they are just robots making decisions that fate or a higher power has predetermined. In John’s Gospel we see an incident that gives us a glimpse into how both free-will and a predetermined plan work together. TheContinue reading “Free-Will or Fate”
What is Eternal Life?
Because of the name “eternal life” it is natural to assume that it means simply living forever. The common understanding is that it is life not on earth, but in some beautiful place where we will see all our loved ones who have died before us. We might even imagine that we become angels someday,Continue reading “What is Eternal Life?”
Believe Jesus’ Warning
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus instructed his disciples to watch and pray that they might not fall into temptation, because the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Earlier that evening, Jesus had warned Peter that Peter would deny him. However, Peter refused to heed Jesus’ warning. When Jesus told PeterContinue reading “Believe Jesus’ Warning”
Childlike Forgiveness
The topic of forgiveness reveals another example of Jesus’ teaching—that unless we become like children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Children respond to hurt very differently than others who are older. When a small child gets hurt while playing with other children, he or she goes to a person in authority: mommy,Continue reading “Childlike Forgiveness”
Pray Boldly
In the Old Testament, men like Abraham and Moses boldly made assertions to God. In the case of Moses, Scripture informs us that God changed his mind due to his bold prayer, even though God had commanded Moses not to pray for Israel. Moses disobeyed God’s command and prayed that God would not destroy IsraelContinue reading “Pray Boldly”
Applying What Jesus Taught
The great challenge of following Jesus, is applying what he taught, but Paul’s statement in Ephesians 5:15-17 to know God’s will indicates that we are to understand what Jesus wants without it being explicitly stated. Jesus seemed to expect this from his disciples and marveled when they didn’t grasp it. After the disciples told JesusContinue reading “Applying What Jesus Taught”
A Troubled Spirit
Did you realize that Jesus felt troubled and agitated, but he instructed his followers not to? Isn’t that a curious contrast? Jesus felt troubled outside of Lazarus’ tomb in John 11:33; later he experienced a troubled spirit on Palm Sunday the Sunday before his death (John 12:27). With his disciples, Jesus felt troubled in hisContinue reading “A Troubled Spirit”
The Privilege of Children
Most of us, if ever invited into the powerful atmosphere of the Oval Office, would hesitate to bring our young children (or grandchildren). If we did dare to bring small children, propriety would dictate that we require them to sit quietly before the president. However, there is a photograph taken in the early 1960’s ofContinue reading “The Privilege of Children”
Who is God; Who are we?
Jesus’ revelation of God as his Father was radical in his day as well as ours, in fact it was one of the reasons he was persecuted. Furthermore, Jesus revealed his followers as children of God, therefore heirs and co-heirs with Jesus. As children of God, we now share in the family business of Father’sContinue reading “Who is God; Who are we?”
David Freitag 