For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:10)
Continue reading “Prayer Request”Prayer Request
Philippians 2:1b – Comfort
[Therefore] … if [you have] any comfort from his love…
Summary: As we continue through Paul’s checklist, we are reminded that being broken before God is a prerequisite for finding comfort in his love.
In this passage, Paul provides us with a kind of “pre-flight” checklist.
When I was young, my dad owned a small plane, but it was a very simple one. No electrical system or fancy-dancy navigational equipment. Just magnetos for electrical power and a good, swift pull on the prop for a starter.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:1b – Comfort”Philippians 2:1a – Specks and Planks
[Therefore] if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ…
Summary: It has been several days since we took a break from Philippians, so it might be worthwhile to review our last meditation, “Philippians 2:1-2 – Paul’s Request,” before continuing with this one.
There is a theme that runs through Paul’s collection of claims and clauses in his sentence. Behind the workings of his finely tuned academic brain, I hear a question that seems to come from his heart. It sounds like this:
Continue reading “Philippians 2:1a – Specks and Planks”Matthew 5: 2 — Who is Jesus? Part V — Brother
… and he began to teach them.
Summary: The word “brother” carries a special meaning. A brother is different than a father. Understanding this difference helps us understand who Jesus is.
If our relationship with our human fathers is unique, so is our relationship with our mothers and siblings. The good father provides a sense that there are boundaries to how we behave. The boundaries may vary from father to father, but all good fathers provide this context even if they are not aware that they are doing it.
Continue reading “Matthew 5: 2 — Who is Jesus? Part V — Brother”Matthew 5:2 — Who is Jesus? Part IV — Son
… and he began to teach them.
Summary: Jesus’ role as a “son” defines him in an entirely different way from who he is as a God, Creator, and King.
God, Creator, and King are three radically different roles for one person to occupy. Even with just these three aspects to consider, the implications are staggering. Yet we have only begun to explore the various roles that Jesus fills. Of those that are left to discuss, his role as “Son” is perhaps the most important.
Continue reading “Matthew 5:2 — Who is Jesus? Part IV — Son”Matthew 5: 2 — Who is Jesus? Part III – King
… and he began to teach them.
Summary: It is important to understand who it is who is teaching us the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus is more than an itinerant rabbi; he also happens to be a king.
In the Book of Revelation, John describes Jesus this way:
Continue reading “Matthew 5: 2 — Who is Jesus? Part III – King”Matthew 5: 2 — Who is Jesus? Part II — Creator
… and he began to teach them.
Summary: Jesus is more than a man. People who meet him face-to-face are looking into the eyes of the being who made everything.
In Part I, we looked at Jesus’ divine nature and the fact that he is God. Yet, somehow, Jesus is more. Other religions lay claim to stories about how the world was made, but only one man was ever said to have created the world. Jesus’ disciple, John, describes Jesus this way:
Continue reading “Matthew 5: 2 — Who is Jesus? Part II — Creator”Matthew 5: 2 — Who is Jesus? Part I
… and he began to teach them.
Summary: The weird truth about Jesus is that he also happens to be God.
There are many “teachers” out there, but not all teachings are true. So, who is Jesus, and why should we listen to his teachings?
Continue reading “Matthew 5: 2 — Who is Jesus? Part I”Matthew 5: 1-2 — Finding Jesus
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
Summary: Learning about God is a tricky business. It is easy to fall into the trap of depending on someone else’s description of God rather than listening to God directly.
Dear Readers: The next few days will be hectic for me at home, so we are reposting a few meditations from our series on the Lord’s Prayer. I will still be checking for comments. I hope to see you here!
Several months ago, I felt the Spirit pointing me towards the prayer in Matthew 6: 9-13. It is commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer,” and is one that I learned as a child. Being raised as a Lutheran, we said the prayer every Sunday in church.
Continue reading “Matthew 5: 1-2 — Finding Jesus”Philippians 2:1-2 – Paul’s Request
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Summary: Paul’s thoughts are sometimes complex. In this meditation, we take a 30,000-foot view of Paul’s thoughts in his passage in hopes of seeing the “bigger picture.”
If you have read this blog for any length of time, you are probably shocked to see a meditation that is based on two entire verses at once. Never fear! We will, no doubt, dissect this in future meditations. However, given the complexity of Paul’s thought here, I thought it best to begin with an overview.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:1-2 – Paul’s Request”