As our Redeemer, God paints a picture of hope by reminding us that our story is not over. Like the Israelites, God‘s work in our lives is a consistent and continual process of renewal. Why? Because of the covenant of redemption that promises us as his people, and He as our God.
In order to imitate the ministry of Jesus, we need to be in the right place to do so; both personally and as a church. However, like any good recipe, we need to make sure that we are working intentionally and that the timing is right in order for things to turn out best.
Jesus’ ministry was defined by a roller coaster of feelings. While most people loved what he said, many were also threatened by him to the point that they wanted to silence him in any way they could. However, there were some who took up Jesus’ challenge to change their lives in ways that mattered. How do you respond to the ministry of Jesus?
Olivet Discourse is actually the end of Jesus public ministry. It is a look into the future return of Christ. Satan leads the whole world astray by his deception. None of God’s plans can be thwarted. Jesus calls us to not be deceived to keep watch and be ready. If Christ was to return are you ready?
In Luke 11:29-36 Jesus rebukes the inclination of our hearts to seek and value signs. Just as Jonah became a sign, Jesus Himself is the sign We are to believe in Him. At Jonah’s preaching, the people of Nineveh repented and were saved. In the same way, the Queen of the south praised the God of Israel after she heard Solomon.
We are often inundated with messages on social media offering “secret life hacks” to bring us closer to a better, fuller life. These “secrets” often lead us to worldly interpretations of biblical truths. See to it that you are rooted in Christ and not deceived by fine-sounding arguments of the world.
Do you ever wonder if commitment to God in the face of hardship or persecution is worth it? As the early Christians did, looking at the past can serve us as examples or warnings of what happens when we turn our hearts from God. Keeping spiritual relationships can assist us in keeping our hearts open to Christ. See to it that you don’t allow sin to creep into your heart and keep you from the purpose(s) God has planned for you.
When you consider your walk with Christ, do you only consider the surface matters and/or sell out for moments of worldly “pleasures”? As Christians, we should see to it that our walk with Christ shares the gospel without us saying a word (but rather through how we conduct ourselves). In this, our biggest weapons are prayer and relationships with others in the church.
Twenty years ago, a single moment changed the world and brought fear to many. We need to remember that fear comes when we take our eyes from God. The answer to fear, therefore, is to never forget how powerful God is; a power that is continually shown in the signs and wonders revealed to us in the Bible (and in our daily lives) if we only have the eyes to see it.
Do you feel like your sufferings are neverending and wonder why God is punishing you? The Book of Job teaches that Satan needs permission to challenge us. God allows this because challenges purify our lives and refine our faith and faithfulness is about more than how many “blessings” we have.
