“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you, but whoever wishes to be great among you must be a servant.” — Matthew 20:25-26. Today’s verse presents a radical, counter-cultural mandate that flips the understanding of authority on…
Rejection
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight. — 1 Peter 2:4. Peter’s reference to Christ as a stone is similar to when Jesus asks, “Have you never read in the Scriptures, ‘the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’” (Matthew 21:42.) Many of Jesus’…
Little Children
The gospel of Matthew records a simple moment in the ministry of Christ: “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” (Matthew 19:14). This was not merely a gesture of affection; it was a radical statement against the structured,…
Plowshares and Swords
Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. — Joel 3:10. Reading today’s verse, I wondered how do I reconcile Joel with the verses in Micah 4:3 and Isaiah 2:3-4 where we are to beat our swords into plowshares. The core tension is not merely a contradiction, but a paradox that highlights the…
The Clean Car Effect
This morning, I had the pleasure of taking Suzy’s car—a vessel that had recently doubled as a refuse hauler for Goodwill and Habitat—to the industrial spa known as The Dilworth Car Wash. The interior was a biohazard of fallen leaves, dusty boxes, and what I suspect was petrified bagel. After a thorough cleaning, both in…