Luke 3:15-18 When John began to preach in the wilderness, crowds flocked to see Him. He baptized those who confessed their sins but rebuked the pious religious leaders for their self-reliance (Matthew 3:7-10). After 400 years without a prophet, people rushed to John, wondering if he might be the Christ, the one for whom they…
Palm Sunday: The Loving Act
As the time drew near for Him to ascend to Heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem… But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because He was on His way to Jerusalem. — Luke 9:51, Luke 9:53 NLT Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, the day we celebrate Jesus’s…
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem As King
Jesus’ coming to Jerusalem riding on a donkey, to the accolades and praise of the gathered crowd, fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus as King. Isaiah 62:11 calls for “Daughter of Zion” to watch for this King, and Zechariah 9:9 depicts the King “lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the…
In My Weakness
My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. — 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV The Scriptures don’t provide the specifics, but we know that the apostle Paul struggled with what he referred to as a “thorn in [his] flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Whatever the problem was, it was so bothersome…
Restoration
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast…
3 Scriptures That Will Help Draw You Near to God
This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. — 1 John 5:14-15 Have you ever shared something deeply…
Loving Those Who Hate
Dear Jesus, Sometimes it’s really hard to love people, particularly when You ask me to love those who hate You and do evil things. Please show me. How can I hate evil and still love the haters? Isn’t that what Paul did when he was in prison? In the worst of circumstances, he hated evil…
Please Forgive Me
First go and be reconciled with your brother; then come and offer your gift. — Matthew 5:24 At a church potluck awhile ago, older parishioners were asked to share childhood memories to help us younger parents strengthen our families. An elderly Greek lady, Helen, told us that every Saturday evening her family had prayed special…
Scrubbed Clean
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean. — Ezekiel 36:25 KJV My Maggie is an artist; she likes to draw. Being the exuberant soul she is, she prefers larger surfaces. A big white wall is irresistible; tabletops are attractive too. In a pinch Maggie will draw on herself if indelible markers are available. Maggie’s…
Trusting in the Master Gardener
Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east in Eden. — Genesis 2:8 The Butchart Gardens of Victoria, British Columbia, enjoy a worldwide reputation. Begun in 1904 in Mr. Butchart’s abandoned stone quarry north of the city, the gardens now contain fifty acres of year-round blossom and sculptured greenery. I first visited…