Jesus is offended by superficial religious activity that doesn’t produce reverent fruit toward God.
With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.
You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?”
For you and I, there’s no disaster too small, it could still have the power to throw us into doubt and despair. But for Jesus, there’s no disaster too big, that it would undermine the secure hold he has on his people.
At the cross, Jesus was prevented from seeing the Father’s mercy, so that we’d be given the sight to gaze on the Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness forever.
Even the dogs find crumbs under the table. Can’t I have some, too?
Though Christians should expect to encounter opposition at some point – and though we should expect rejection to take different forms – we shouldn’t forget what God has waiting for us.
Jesus sends us into each other’s lives, and into the lives of other people, so that we’d be able to encourage each other: “Do not fear; only believe.”
Christians shouldn’t be timid people.
To wage good warfare as Christians, we need encouragement (from God's word), the right equipment (faith and a good conscience), and knowledge about our enemies (how they became enemies, where they're headed, and the hope for them) if we hope to succeed.
Will you curse God and sink? Or will you trust God and swim?
So when it comes to being a follower of Jesus, the question isn’t can you perform the right actions. Because even demons can put on a show – even they can pretend to be something they’re not for a while.
Jesus has been given the ability to bring forgiveness to all who believe. The miraculous healing, here, proves it. Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross, confirms it. Jesus’s resurrection from the dead – it certifies it...
Is the coming of Jesus affecting us the way that it should? Do we have the right expectations? Do we have the right response?
The Gospel at it's core really is simple. And it requires a simple, though significant, response.
The fact that God declares us to be righteous with the unshakeable righteousness of Christ, all through faith – it is an incredible gift.
Let’s follow in the faith of Abraham, and let’s look to the one God has provided to save us, and to raise us.
We need the Spirit of God, working through the Word of God to lead us into the goodness of God.
Do you see God’s grace? By entering into a covenant with us – and making solemn promises, and giving visible signs, God is bending over backwards to us to prove his trustworthiness and goodness.
Jesus has been made our priest forever, to purify us for worship, and to pronounce the Father’s blessing on us for the fight of faith.