Reflection: You Feed Them

John’s gospel says that Jesus asked Philip where they were going to get enough food for all the people and that, “He said this to test him for he himself knew what he would do” (John 6:6). In any case, the disciples went to find out exactly how much food was available - five loaves of bread and two fish. What in the world could anyone do with that?   
Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.”

Reflection: It's Black and White

"Contrary to the shrill voices we hear from the world more loudly every day, John says, “I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth” (2:21). The definition of truth hasn’t changed. The Greek word for truth is aletheia. It is “the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance.” In 1828, Noah Webster defined it as “conformity to fact and reality.” The 1984 edition of Webster’s says truth is “conformity to fact or actuality.” Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary declares truth is, “the body of real things, events, and facts.” No lie is of the truth, and even today, you know it."

Reflection: Kindness and Severity

"We see expressions of God’s kindness in the Psalms with words such as lovingkindness, mercy, goodness and faithfulness. Note, however, that David and other writers often plead with this same God to shame their enemies. They expect him to break the teeth of the wicked and melt them like wax."

Reflection: (Don’t) Change Me

"Am I like the people of the Gadarenes or like the Samaritans? Do I pray, 'Dear God, please make me happy, but don’t change me'? Have I ever said, 'Thank you, Jesus, for the miracle, now please go away so I can get back to normal'?

Reflection: Straight Paths for the Lord

"Not everyone was willing to listen to John’s assessment of their sin. Many were disappointed that the news wasn’t more spectacular. This wasn’t what they had been hoping for. Where was the mighty king coming in a procession with his servants, his throngs of followers, and his army to set his people free from Rome? Those whose hearts were too crooked and rocky to allow them to agree with God and turn completely around missed the fact that their king had indeed come." 

Reflection: God Can Garden in Wagon Tracks

"Paths, wagon tracks, and roads are fit for their intended uses but are difficult places for vegetation to grow. Reclaiming them for growing things would take back-breaking work. But if God wants hard-packed earth to produce fruit, it will. Just because a place looks like barren desert to me doesn’t mean it would be the least bit difficult for God to grow a garden there if he chose. “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Reflection: In Whom Do You Now Trust?

“For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: ‘Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.'” (Isa. 8:11-13 ESV)

Reflection: Dressed for Action

"Peter later elaborates on this. “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13). “Preparing your minds for action” is one way to translate the Greek words that mean, “girding up the loins of your mind.” Picture, then, gathering up extraneous thoughts and fastening them out of the way, preparing your mind for exertion.
The book of 1 Peter is full of instructions for inspecting the readiness of our minds. Be holy as He is holy. Purify your souls by obedience to the truth. Love one another earnestly with pure hearts. Live as people who are free yet as bondservants (doulos) of God."

Reflection: The Holy One of Israel

"Because God is the all-powerful, all-knowing Creator, it stands to reason that his ways and thoughts are higher than ours. But he explicitly tells us who he is if we’re willing to seek and hear."

Reflection: Are You Persuaded?

"Like most of us, I haven’t physically committed the big, obvious sins like murder and adultery. I can honestly say I don’t outright lie or steal. But am I persuaded of what Jesus says about the sins of the heart?"