In the previous devotional I highlighted that the Holy Spirit is our Helper. Jesus said: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…” (John 14:16, ESV) In Greek, the word is Parakletos. It’s a word that is also translated as Counselor, Advocate and Comforter. J.I. Packer … Continue reading With the Paraklete you are plural
Tune me to your frequency
In John 14:16-17 (ESV) Jesus tells his disciples that his Heavenly Father will send them “another Helper, to be with you forever… You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” The word Helper is capitalized. This is none other than the Holy Spirit; we’re given that specific detail in verse … Continue reading Tune me to your frequency
Our daily discipleship makes an impression
Do you ever wonder if your efforts make any difference? If so, let me assure you of this. Never discount what God can do through his people. Our daily discipleship makes an impression on others—and that impression can start to reveal the face of Jesus. Jane is a thoughtful participant in one of the small … Continue reading Our daily discipleship makes an impression
Wrestling with God… to lose
Nikos Kazantzakis was an author who was most famous for his book Zorba the Greek. He once had a conversation with a monk named Father Makarios. The monk had once said that he wrestled with the devil—figuratively speaking, of course. At a later time, Kazantzakis asked: “Do you still wrestle with the devil, Father Makarios?” … Continue reading Wrestling with God… to lose
Like a sheep in a ditch… again
I recently came across a video of a young person helping a sheep out of a narrow ditch which had been dug to lay some pipe along the side of a road. Thankfully the boy was able to free to sheep. But as soon as it did, the sheep took off along the side of … Continue reading Like a sheep in a ditch… again
Jesus knows what it’s like
As I mentioned in yesterday’s devotional, I’ve been thinking a lot about what Jesus’ life would have been like while here on earth. He spoke Aramaic, a language closely related to Hebrew. His family would have called him Yeshua. He was raised in a small village named Nazareth, perhaps with between 100-400 people. His home … Continue reading Jesus knows what it’s like
The reason he endured it all
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman…” (Galatians 4:4) Lately I’ve been thinking about what Jesus’ life was like while on earth. [Full link below.] Life was difficult and dangerous. Consider a few of the details: He was born under Roman oppression under the tyrannical rule … Continue reading The reason he endured it all
Whether we’ve been praying for five minutes or fifty years
Paul’s wisdom and instruction in Philippians 4:6 endures: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Note his logic. He first says to not be anxious about anything. That’s something to shoot for, and it is certainly a work-in-progress for many of … Continue reading Whether we’ve been praying for five minutes or fifty years
Being compassionately different
“We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Lyman Stone is an advisor for Demographic Intelligence. He highlights something which made Christians stand out from the crowd in centuries past: “Probably a disease related to Ebola, the Plague of Cyrpian helped set off the Crisis of the Third Century in the Roman world. … Continue reading Being compassionately different
Talking to your problems about God
Do you have problems? I’m sure you do. If so, you’ve probably been talking to God about them. I recently came across this statement by Mark Batterson: “It’s okay to talk to God about your problems, but at some point you need to talk to your problems about God.”* At first it didn’t sit well … Continue reading Talking to your problems about God
