Marching Forth!

When strangers I have never met come to the door and feign friendliness, I immediately sense these people are not at my door for the sake of visiting me but want something from me.  It is not a good feeling.  As I read the Gospels, I observe this was a regular experience for Jesus when people came to Him with their needs.  Some brought diseased family or friends for Him to heal, and others requested Jesus to accompany them home to heal a sick daughter or to share a meal--so they could try to find fault with Him.  Even as Jesus walked along random people among them hoped only to touch Him!  After Jesus fed 5,000 men and their families one day, they crossed over the lake in pursuit because they were hungry again.  People always wanted something from Jesus. In Luke 18 , Jesus was walking near Jericho and a blind beggar asked about the commotion.  After he was told Jesus of Nazareth was passing by he began to loudly cry out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mer...

Of late I have been impressed with the ability of God to do exactly what He says He will do.  You can count on it:  when God says "I will" do something, there is no doubt He will do it in His time.  God is powerful enough to fulfil His word in the lives of flawed, weak people as well, like when He told Abraham that Sarah would have a son though they were both past the age of siring and bearing children.  The angel Gabriel said to the virgin Mary in  Luke 1:30-31 :  " Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS ."  Without sleeping with a man, Mary would conceive the Son of God Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Even when what God says is humanly impossible, He will be faithful to do it. Today I recalled when I first sensed God's call to pastoral ministry.  I never aspired or desired...

It is easy to recognise the great lengths Jesus Christ went to fulfill His divine purpose to seek and save sinners.  The Son of God willingly chose to put on human flesh and became like us, born of a woman.  Saddled in a human body with fleshly needs and desires, God experienced what it is like to not "feel" like doing something you should do.  Jesus is distinct from all other people on our planet because He always did the will of the Father gladly.  Consider what limitations God willingly put upon Himself to be contained in the body of a newborn in the womb of Mary before being born, was raised in a family, and was told what to do by imperfect people! God left His glorious habitation in heaven and came to earth in the person of Jesus.  There are some people who can afford to travel around the globe first class, but they would rather have others attend to such business.  They would rather stay where they are than go through the inconvenience and expense of ...

On the Sunday morning Jesus rose from the dead, Luke 24 introduces us to two disciples who trudged along the road to the village of Emmaus, some 7 miles (11 kms) northwest from Jerusalem.  Cleopas and his companion were sad as they walked along the road when they were met by the risen LORD Jesus Christ Himself.  Jesus asked what sort of conversation they were having with one another, and Cleopas was incredulous this stranger would be ignorant of the recent developments in Jerusalem that dashed their expectations of redemption. Cleopas explained their conversation concerned Jesus Christ who was a prophet mighty in word and deed before God and all the people.  The Jewish rulers had condemned Jesus to death, and this resulted in His execution by crucifixion.  Cleopas and other disciples of Jesus believed He would redeem Israel, and with Jesus dead it seemed their faith had been misplaced.  They were also confused and astonished by reports of women (who also follow...

I came across a wonderful verse that expressed the confidence of God's people due to the sovereignty and power of God.  The reader was directed to look to Jerusalem, their quiet home, and were assured it would be God's enduring dwelling place.  In the New King James Version,  Isaiah 33:22 is rendered as a parenthetical phrase:  "... (For the LORD is our Judge, t he LORD is our Lawgiver,  t he LORD is our King; He will save us) ...".  Again and again the prophet emphasised the God of Israel is the LORD, the most High God who has no equal or rival.  It is ironic people these days do not like the idea of being ruled by anyone, yet it was God's majesty and power to rule which assured God's people of His salvation. The children of Israel acknowledged the LORD as their Judge, one who presides over a court with authority to hear and determine civil and criminal cases.  People generally are not pleased to be judged, to be in a position where the d...

I followed the advice of a good friend and went to an AA meeting yesterday as an observer.  About 30 of us sat around a table and the moderator asked questions to people known to her, and they shared from their experiences concerning alcoholism and sobriety.  Everyone was very friendly and without judgment as everyone called upon honestly spoke about their own defects of character and how meeting together and having a sponsor made a positive impact on their lives.  All attendees were able to benefit by hearing and identifying with the experiences of others and the wisdom gained at great cost over time through failure and success.  The high level of self-awareness and insight people had into their own patterns of thinking and motives was impressive--as well as their willingness to share freely with other like-minded people who desire sobriety. After the meeting, I was approached by a kind woman who inquired about what motivated me to come along--seeing I have not stru...