Category: Prayers

“I am tortured in these flames.” —Luke 16:24 Jesus told a parable about a rich man who was in the netherworld — an allusion to what we would call “hell.” The rich man was in hell not because he was rich or because he refused to help the poor man, Lazarus. The rich man went to hell because he was insensitive to Lazarus. He didn’t even notice the poor man at his door, although even dogs noticed Lazarus (see Lk 16:20-21). The rich man was not only insensitive to Lazarus but also to Moses and the prophets, that is, the...

“The word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: Tell this to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people.” —Haggai 2:1-2 The Lord in His perfect plan of salvation put a prophet, a governor, and a priest together to rebuild the Temple, restore God’s people, and renew the world. Historically, prophets were often persecuted by government authorities and priests. Sometimes governors or kings tried to usurp the rights of the priesthood. Then prophets railed at the government for its sin, sacrilege, and...

“Now thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways! You have sown much, but have brought in little.” —Haggai 1:5-6 Like Herod, some people are “perplexed” (Lk 9:7) regarding some of the events in their lives. They rightly sense that their confusion would be cleared up if they met Jesus (see Lk 9:9). However, like Herod, when they do encounter Christ, they often retreat into selfishness and refuse to meet Christ on His terms. Other people are frustrated. They “have sown much, but have brought in little” and “have eaten, but have not been satisfied” (Hg 1:6). “He who...

“Take nothing for the journey, neither walking staff nor traveling bag; no bread, no money. No one is to have two coats.” —Luke 9:3 Jesus commanded His disciples to “take nothing for the journey.” This does not mean that they had nothing but that they did not control whether or not they would have something. Jesus later “asked them, ‘When I sent you on mission without purse or traveling bag or sandals, were you in need of anything?’ ‘Not a thing,’ they replied” (Lk 22:35). Jesus’ disciples did not live in poverty so much as in trust. When we take...

“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act upon it.” —Luke 8:21 For the Israelites, blood lines were of critical importance. The commandment that “the life is in the blood” ruled both their dietary laws (see Lv 17:11) and their entire culture. Their heritage and family lineage literally defined them as a people and a nation. Now in Jesus, the family is no longer defined by the blood line passed on from father and mother. In Jesus, the family is defined by a new blood line: the Blood of Christ. Faith in Jesus,...