Jonah 3:1-10 Nineveh, the heart of the the great Assyrian kingdom, repented at the preaching of Jonah. It was unexpected – even by the preacher. Yet it happened. This was a revival! Everyone turned – from the greatest to the least person. What can we see? We see God’s salvation reaching out to non-Jews long…
Tag: Lent
A Tale of two Kings
“A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” Jeremiah 31:15 Great sorrow attended the birth of Christ. In one day, several mothers were brought to tears when King Herod ordered all toddlers in Bethlehem to…
Crucify Him!
Mark 15:1-14 On this day we remember a gruesome event in the history of mankind. It was a sad call for the execution of someone who had done nothing but good and showed nothing but love. It was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. But why did this happen? The Jewish religious authorities saw him as…
The Faithful Church
Psalm 78:3-8 The people of God are the portion of humanity who have chosen to submit to his rule. They belong to him, confess his name, and obey his commands. Or so they should. The generation of Israelites who came out of Egypt failed in this task. Although rescued from Egypt, their hearts remained there…
Shame at the cross
Psalm 22:7-8 Crucifixion was not only an agonizing form of death, it was a shameful one. It portrayed one as a criminal and an outcast. So when Christ hung on the cross, he was dealing not only with the guilt of human sin, but also with the shame that comes with it. Isaiah described this…
Rejoicing in persecution
1 Peter 4:12-16 According to Open Doors, 11 Christians are killed daily for their decision to follow Christ. In North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, and several other countries, it is extremely difficult to be a Christian. Believers are attacked by both the state and Islamist groups. Systematic killings of Christians have also been ongoing in…
Righteous Suffering
1 Peter 3:8-18 The Christian life comes with a good dose of suffering. We are a people seeking God’s glory in a world that is hostile to him. Whether overt or subtle, the believer feels the world’s opposition. A look, a remark, an attack – it comes in various forms. And it can be discouraging….
Remember Judas
Matthew 27:3 I wonder what Judas thought. He changed his mind when he saw that Jesus was condemned. What was he thinking? Did he think the Jewish rulers merely wanted a word with Christ? He cheapened Christ, betraying him for thirty pieces of silver. He obviously saw no value in Christ beyond the monetary gain…
Already and Not-yet
Isaiah 35:5,6 The entrance of Christ into our world was like ‘water breaking forth in the wilderness, and stream in the desert’ (Isaiah 35:6). He came in power, healing all who were oppressed of the Devil. He came literally opening the eyes of the blind, unlocking the ears of the deaf, and causing the lame…
A King without borders
Psalm 72:11-13 Christ came as the awaited Messiah who would occupy David’s throne. This passage reflects the expectation that he would be a global King, whose rule would extend over all the earth. While the Jewish hope that the Messiah would literally live in Jerusalem in a restored palace wasn’t realized, Christ does reign as…
The Christian Mind 