Month: November 2014

“Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.”

James 1:13-14 MSG – A verse of the day from the Bible presented in Eugene Peterson’s contemporary version called The Message. Accompanied by a personal reflection.

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James is not known for being one to mince words.  Are you prepared to hear the truth and accept it: that it is you and only you who is responsible to “give in to evil”?  Easier to assign blame to another, but the fact is that we would be kidding ourselves when we do that.  Unsavory as it is, it is sometimes important to have it be told, and to listen to it.

 

“Jesus didn’t respond directly, but said, “Who do you think my mother and brothers are?” He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. “Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother.””

Matthew 12:50 MSG – A verse of the day from the Bible presented in Eugene Peterson’s contemporary version called The Message. Accompanied by a personal reflection.

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Blood relations are fine, there’s no changing the facts about being associated by birth or marriage to certain people, but here is Jesus questioning even the nature of blood relations.  What does it truly mean to be related one to another?  It means being in obedience to the will of God.