Monthly Archives: January 2018

Wilderness Time

Posted January 29, 2018 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Mark 1:12-13 (NLT)

The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

Consider

Jesus’ forty-day wilderness experience is a theological echo of Israel’s forty-year trek in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. For both Jesus and the Israelites, this period was an important test of character and a preparation for the ministry of bringing God’s message of life and saving grace to nations who did not know God.

Continue reading >>

Share
Comment

Shadows on the Heart

Posted January 22, 2018 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Isaiah 1:15 (CEB)

When you extend your hands, I’ll hide my eyes from you. Even when you pray for a long time, I won’t listen. Your hands are stained with blood.

Consider

Isaiah begins this passage with a plea to turn back to the law of the Lord (1:10). Like the Israelites of Isaiah’s time, we, too, get lost in the rituals of prayer and worship and miss the point of the law—relationship. God cares exclusively about what motivates our worship and our prayers, not about how elaborate we make them.

Continue reading >>

Share
Comment

Just Relationships

Posted January 15, 2018 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Proverbs 28:5 (NIV)

Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

Consider

This deceptively simple proverb unveils three truths about relationships.

1. Justice (“what is right”) is a relationship issue. When we are unjust, our selfish choices cause harm and suffering in others.

2. We choose whether to approach our relationships as people with selfish intent (“evildoers”) or surrendered to God’s purpose (“those who seek the LORD”).

3. Those who seek God understand fully what evildoers cannot understand.

Continue reading >>

Share
Comment

Living in Light

Posted January 8, 2018 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

John 1:1-5 (NLT)

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Consider

Word. Life. Light. Like a good novelist, John opens his Gospel with images of his main character. Jesus is the Word, the very essence of almighty God made flesh to walk the earth as one of us.

Continue reading >>

Share
Comment

Resolutions That Stick

Posted January 1, 2018 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT)

Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Consider

“Headaches are like resolutions. You forget them as soon as they stop hurting.”

This quote from the movie Psycho (1960) gives us a clue as to why our New Year’s resolutions tend to give out before the winter snow melts.

Continue reading >>

Share
Comment

Subscribe!

Want my free resource,  “Ten Do’s and Don’ts for Healthy Relationships,” plus my latest posts, delivered to your email inbox?

Judith’s Books