Posted November 27, 2017 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Consider
One of the hardest things to forgive is losing a dream or a future we’ve been counting on because of someone’s harmful action. Perhaps a child is molested, and an unspoiled future is lost. A parent suffers estrangement from an adult son or daughter whose choices have caused friction and harm in the family. Criminal activity cheats a couple out of their retirement money.
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Posted November 20, 2017 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Numbers 14:19-23 (MSG)
“Please forgive the wrongdoing of this people out of the extravagance of your loyal love just as all along, from the time they left Egypt, you have been forgiving this people.”
Consider
In all the years since the Israelites were freed from bondage in Egypt, they seem to have learned nothing about God’s grace and power. Now on the brink of entering the Promised Land, they grumble about their hardships and threaten to abandon the quest and return to slavery in Egypt.
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Posted November 13, 2017 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Matthew 26:59-63a (NIV)
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'” Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent.
Consider
Jesus’ trial was rigged from the start.
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Posted November 6, 2017 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Matthew 12:35 (NLT)
“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.”
Consider
In this passage, Jesus is confronting the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, who claimed to represent God yet refused to acknowledge the divinity and authority of God’s Son. They were trying to discredit Jesus by accusing him of being in league with the devil. Jesus, however, turns the tables on them and accuses them of the same thing.
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