Rather than blame others for the difficulties we face, we should first consider what part of the problem lies within our own borders, as our Lord directs.

The Gospel of Luke delivers up more parables than any of the other three gospels, and in Luke, Chapter 7:36-48 we see an encounter with Jesus and two individuals I call seekers; embedded within this encounter is a short but powerful parable, used then and now to offer us life, true life in Christ. In simplest form, it is about two seekers, one man and one woman.

Many people see religion as “do the following things, obey the following rules, submit yourself to the following seat of discipline, do the following works” and then you’ll know God or you’ll be enlightened, or you’ll be on an inside track to the heavenly.

The work God requires is believing in Him. This is not a belief in the abstract, an existential trust without a coherent object. They must believe in the One God has sent, Jesus

Our focus is never to be fixed upon the situation, but on Jesus Himself, in the midst of our situation.

With no fanfare, no voice from heaven, no lightning, no thunder, He distributed to those who were seated. He just kept passing out crackers and fish. He was creating it.

We all need shock absorbers. Life is bumpy, so how you deal with it and stay on the road God has for you is very important. We cannot simply sit down and whine about our bumps and say it is not fair. We must get up and find a way to press on, instead of waiting on someone to fix it all for us. When we do that, God heals us, and uses us in His kingdom, and in helping others.

The Son is His ultimate Word. He has spoken to us in His Son. God expressed Himself, and that self-expression was with God and became a human being.

Zacharias jumps immediately to the New Covenant because he knows that’s the only entrance into these blessings. There is no way to produce a new heart. There’s no way to change the inner man. The Law has no power to regenerate, no power to transform, no power to forgive, no power over sin.

By His death a garment is procured, not just to cover our sins, but to eradicate them forever