At first sight, this text has nothing to do with undeserved grace or does it? I was astonied by this year’s (B) lectionary reading. Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging…
Do you consider yourself worthy of God’s love and grace? Worthy of eternal life and other God’s blessings? I hope so. Because then you’re open to God and to salvation by grace and not by merit. Let me explain. I love reading the Acts during the Easter season. It’s great to see what disciples did after the resurrection of Jesus. Today a few words from Paul and Barnabas’ message to the Jews touched my heart and got me thinking. Then…
Is your faith an abstract collection of doctrines or do you have a resurrection faith? That kind of faith that drives any trace of fear out? That kind of faith that laughs in the front of death? That kind of faith that boldly declares like Paul: If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s (Romans 14:8, NRSV,*? When…
Do you feel inadequate to be God’s disciple? Are you struggling with insecurities? Today’s post is for you. Here’s what Paul wrote to Timothy from jail. Suddenly Timothy had to take up a primary leadership role and he felt inadequate and maybe a bit terrified of the size of the task waiting for him. Then he receives this letter from Paul reminding him of a very encouraging fact in all of our lives: For God did not give us a…
Do you know it is possible to hope even when there is no hope? I was stunned by this discovery as I was once again reading the fourth chapter of the letter to Romans. That’s where Paul reminds us of Abraham as an example of faith. How Abraham did not focus on his impotence but on God’s competence. Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping (NLT). Hoping against hope, he believed (NRSV). For Abraham, human reason…
