This famous altarpiece from Wittenberg shows us how to live, breath, preach, and teach. The main thing is to keep Christ in the center. The Holy Spirit moves everyone: male and female, young and old. Jesus is the word of God embodied, real and active in our lives. When we keep Christ in the center our faith starts flowing. When Jesus is in the center, our life is balanced and blessed. All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him…
Disappointments are part of life. There will always be some sort of disappointments along the way. If we expect no hardships we will always be disappointed and might even become bitter. The trick here is to learn what to do with disappointments. Do we let the disappointments drag us away from God? Or do we give thanks even in the midst of hardships? Sure, it is hard. But when we praise God when we don’t feel like it, we are…
Have you ever experienced the sweetness of God? Because that is the essence of God. We only get little glimpses of it at this side of eternity but it’s real. It’s real, sweet, and wonderful. Knowing God is to know his sweetness. Being loved by God means being enveloped in his sweetness. Living in the Spirit is about enjoying the sweetness of God. The sweetness of God is readily available for all his children. It’s not magic but too often…
One of the most exciting things in a life of a Christian is to search for God’s guidance. Sometimes it can also be very frustrating. Human beings can make plans but God will decide whether and when something will happen. Like Thomas à Kempis (c.1380-1471) has said “For man proposes, but God disposes; neither is the way of man in his own hands.” But because we desire God’s will and guidance for ourselves, we would not want it any other…
Do you know how much God loves you? Do you know that you are God’s beloved? Because that is your true identity. Don’t believe me? Read on. God’s favorite word is yes. God says yes to you. Over and over again. And God’s yes is not valid just when you are doing well. God loves all of you. The bad and the ugly. The good and the beautiful. Everything. God speaks yes to you in Jesus. Whatever God has promised…
Have you let the pursuit of leisure, success or security turn you away from God? Do you feel that the world persuades you to lower you standards? Are you failing to live as though God mattered? These are questions that were piercing my heart this morning. And I let the Holy Spirit do its work in me throughout the day. Everything that keeps God’s will from happening in my life needs to go. For you say, ‘I am rich, I…
I’ve always thought that we should only serve one God and we should not have idols. God should be number one in our lives. I had thought those possible idols would be other people or work or hobbies, somebody or something else than me. But then I read this from Isaiah: “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress…
Do you feel rejected? Are you afraid that you have failed so miserably that there is no hope? Do you think your past makes you unlovable? I have good news for you. Because of Christ you are never out of reach of grace. Because of Christ you have hope everlasting. Because of Christ restoration is possible. For every single person on this green earth. No exception. All because of Christ. The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby…
Have you ever thought you could be Herod? The jealous king who killed innocent babies just to make sure there would not be any rivals for him. I used to say no. I used to think he was way out there. Not like me. But then I looked deeper into the text. I looked deeper into my heart. I looked deeper into the eyes of Jesus. Lord, have mercy. I am Herod! How come? you might ask. Let me explain….
John 3:16 is one of the most known Bible verses. But do you know to whom Jesus was preaching at that time? Do you know what happened to the listener later on? Jesus was talking to a pharisee named Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night. Maybe it was easier to come in darkness. Other pharisees could not see him visiting Jesus. Or maybe it was the only time he could find Jesus alone. Anyhow, he came and had a…
