Tag: forgiving others

Hebrews 8:1-13 – Jesus is Our High Priest

Read Hebrews 8:1-13

Now we are returning to our main point. How fortunate we are to have a High Priest who sits on the throne of God, offering us better promises than ever before. There is nothing wrong with all the High Priests who have gone before. They are simply limited to what they can offer. How do we respond to that? Take some time to reflect on that.

All that is said about Jesus’ identity as High Priest and the new covenant can only serve to comfort us with hopeful expectation. Our response should be to remain faithful, unlike those given the old covenant. They turned their back on God, despite God’s grand provision for them. In turn, God turned his back on them. Continue reading “Hebrews 8:1-13 – Jesus is Our High Priest”

Mark 11:20-33 – A Different Side of Jesus

Read Mark 11:20-33

It’s starting to get real. Jesus knows his time is limited, and I’m sure he’s feeling the pressure to give his disciples as much wisdom as he can. They are going to need all the faith they can get when he’s no longer with them. Were you expecting to see the fig tree become a teachable moment once again?

The power of Jesus’ words, cursing the fig tree only a day earlier, had caused it to immediately die. The power of Jesus’ name can move mountains, too. Jesus tells us to “pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” That sounds a lot like what people today call “manifesting.” Unfortunately, the idea is similar, but people calling it that don’t rely on God’s powerful provision. I prefer to focus on how God is moving in my life. Continue reading “Mark 11:20-33 – A Different Side of Jesus”

Luke 11:1-4 – Jesus Teaches Us to Pray

Read Luke 11:1-4

This reading moves us to the second half of our theme of the “Holy Spirit & Prayer.” The idea of prayer can be foreign to new Christ-followers who wonder what it means to pray. Isn’t Jesus the best source to teach us to pray? The disciples thought so, too. They had often seen Jesus go off on his own to spend quiet time with God. Talking to God is what prayer is all about.

I imagine the disciples wondered what Jesus would ask the Father. For folks who grew up in a Protestant church like I did, these words in our text are familiar. Known as “The Lord’s Prayer,” we find another teaching of Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 6:9-13. The Lord’s Prayer is read weekly by congregations as part of the order of service. What a great prayer to pray in community as well as individually! Continue reading “Luke 11:1-4 – Jesus Teaches Us to Pray”

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