But the Holy Spirit does not work like that. Gifts are not allocated on a merit-based selection system. If someone has the gift of wisdom, is it not because they deserve it. Nor is someone given the gift of leadership or preaching because they are super-special in some way. It can be hard to separate the person from the ministry, but I think it is important to do so. … More Acts 2:1-21 & 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
For Jesus, it was not enough just to know he had healed someone, he also wanted to meet her, and to know that she really was OK after all. And he also know that it was better for Jane to meet him, not to stay anonymous. Jesus wanted to encourage her faith, to lead her closer to God, and to completely transform her life, not just bring physical healing. … More All Age Talk -The Woman in the Crowd
The temple and the sacrifices were meant as a picture, a teaching tool, as a semon-in-action that people could see and feel and live with. … More Isaiah 65:17-25 & Luke 21:5-19
I love the ‘after I awake’ phrase. Normally we’d say ‘fallen asleep’ as a euphemism for death, but calling death the awakening sheds fresh light. Job wanted to think of his life as a nightmare, from which he would gladly wake. … More Job 19:23-27, Haggai 1:15-2:9
Andy: Ah brill – I love this story! It’s one of my favourites. Nasty Zac – the little hairy short dude who no-one liked, then he goes and gives away loads of dosh and then Jesus liked him.
Rod: Errrmmmm … but … … More Luke 19:1-10 – Nasty Zac and the Cake-Fest
Paul is on trial before Nero (the ‘lion’ of verse 17), who was blaming Christians for everything from curdled milk to the burning of Rome a few years earlier. Paul is never going to be acquitted by Nero, yet he says confidently, ‘The Lord will rescue me’. How? … More 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
It’s not that the Old Testament is the covenant of Law and the New Testament is the covenant of Grace – it always was Grace. Right from the start. This always was Plan A. … More Jeremiah 31:27-34
He was SO ME, ME, ME that he thought he was really SO+ME+BODY special. He was clever and rich and he had a nice car and a good job and really, really great hair.
But God looked at Mr SOMEBODY and said ‘Do you think you are important because you are so clever? NO, that does not make you important.’ … More 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
All through the Bible we see people very honestly showing God their confusion. Some even shout at God! That’s OK. He can handle it. … More Ps 37, Lam 3:19-26, Hab 1:1-4, 2:1-4
The differences in their lives are clear, but the differences in their deaths even more so.
Lazarus dies and is carried by angels to Abraham’s side.
Dives dies and is buried. … More Luke 16:19-31
The Reflectionary 