In the Life of Christ “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” —Luke 18:14 Jesus tells this parable to people who were confident in their own righteousness and looked down upon others. That introduction is important because the problem is not merely that the PhariseeContinue reading “The Prayer God Receives”
Category Archives: A Day in the Life
When Heaven Seems Silent, Keep Praying
In the Life of Christ “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” —Luke 18:1 There are seasons when prayer feels less like a conversation and more like repeatedly knocking upon a closed door. We pray for healing, reconciliation, justice, guidance, or the returnContinue reading “When Heaven Seems Silent, Keep Praying”
Ready While Life Looks Ordinary
In the Life of Christ “For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.” — Luke 17:24 When I read Jesus’ teaching about His return, I hear both a promise and a warning. The promise is that ChristContinue reading “Ready While Life Looks Ordinary”
The Kingdom Standing in Front of Us
In the Life of Christ “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.’”Continue reading “The Kingdom Standing in Front of Us”
The Blessing That Brought Him Back
In the Life of Christ “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” — Luke 17:15–16 As Jesus continued toward Jerusalem, ten men met Him near the border between Galilee and Samaria. LukeContinue reading “The Blessing That Brought Him Back”
Clear Eyes and Merciful Hands
In the Life of Christ “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” — Luke 6:37 When Jesus tells me not to judge, He is not asking me to surrender spiritual discernment or pretend that wrongdoing does not matter.Continue reading “Clear Eyes and Merciful Hands”
When the Miracle Became a Threat
In the Life of Christ Some moments reveal more than people intend. The raising of Lazarus should have led everyone who witnessed it to worship. A man who had been dead four days walked out of his tomb at the command of Jesus. Many who had come to comfort Mary saw what happened and believed.Continue reading “When the Miracle Became a Threat”
When Jesus Calls Us Out of the Tomb
In the Life of Christ “Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.” — John 11:43–44 When I walk with Jesus toward the tomb of Lazarus, I am struck by how honestly John describesContinue reading “When Jesus Calls Us Out of the Tomb”
Jesus Did Not Come to Patch the Old Life
In the Life of Christ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins willContinue reading “Jesus Did Not Come to Patch the Old Life”
A Place at the Table
In the Life of Christ “While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples.” — Mark 2:15 When I picture this scene, I hear more than a theological discussion. I hear dishes being passed, chairs moving, and conversations filling Levi’s home. Levi had leftContinue reading “A Place at the Table”