365 Reflections

Exodus 9:6 (ESV)   And the next day the Lord did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. Exodus 9:11 (ESV)  And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. Exodus 9:26 (ESV) Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail. Exodus 10:15 (ESV)  They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt. Exodus 10:23 (ESV) They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. The recurring message of the final plagues is the repeated theme that while Egypt suffered the wrath of God, t...

In the parable of the sower Jesus describes four possible responses to the Word of God.  Some have heard but the devil takes it away.  Some spring up quickly, joyfully accepting the message, but when testing comes their shallow faith is revealed. Then there are those who let the money and cares of this world choke out the word of God from their hearts. But the final soil is good soil.  It produces a crop.  It bears fruit.  Jesus says this is how it happens: Luke 8:15 (ESV) As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. Patience... that's a key word here.  Jesus is implying something for everyone who has wanted to be a fruitful Christ-follower... be patient with your own results. For everyone wondering why they have struggled to see change in their lives EVEN as a Christ follower, they need to know: Fruitfulness isn't overnight.  That's good and b...

Galatians 4:15–16 (NLT) Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. 16 Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? Any Pastor can resonate with Paul at this point.  In two of his letters in scripture, Paul has to defend his calling and Apostleship to the very local churches he started. In ministry, the honeymoon always eventually ends. Paul first arrived in Galatia because of a sickness.  They take him in and care for him.  He leads them to Christ.  But leaves on a missionary journey.  Only to find out later false teachers had come into to disrupt the flock.  And attitudes toward Paul changed dramatically.  No longer is there care and concern, now there is animosity and distrust to the point that Paul has to ask, "Have I now become your enemy?" How often that happens in the church.   But no...