In yesterday’s devotional we focused on a passage from Mark 12 where some hypocritical leaders were trying to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar.Today let’s zero in on another element of Jesus’ response. As usual, there is more going on in the text than what first meets the eye.They asked him … Continue reading Whose likeness is this?

In Mark 12, some hypocritical leaders were trying to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar.It was a clever trap. Caesar (the Roman emperor) was a man named Tiberias. He was not very popular, could be very cruel, and levied heavy taxes on the people. The Jews felt like they weren’t fully … Continue reading Render to Caesar

In yesterday’s devotional I highlighted something from Augustine: “The essence of sin is disordered love.”In short, we all love certain things and certain people. But if we get the order wrong, that’s a problem. For example, if I love my job to the neglect my family, that’s sin. In that scenario I’m living in a … Continue reading Priorities and social pressure

Church Father Augustine said: “The essence of sin is disordered love.”*What did he mean?We all love things. We love people, we love friends, we love music, we love certain ideas, we love our favourite snacks, we love our hobbies, and we love God (hopefully!) But if we love things in the wrong order this, Augustine says, … Continue reading Disordered love

A boy had a little dog named Remmy while he was growing up. Remmy was a Jack Russel. He was mostly white with one brown ear. And he was very loved.One day it snowed outside. Remmy went out into the garden. That’s when the boy noticed something about his beloved dog. He wasn’t white anymore, … Continue reading What’s to be learned from a dog’s yellow fur

In Mark 12:30 Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”We could take a lifetime to fully grasp the implications. With each new year we gain new insights, and seek fresh strength, to put those words from … Continue reading Not some, but all

We know that God answers prayer. We know that he is near to those who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18). We know that he hears us when we ask things according to his will (1 John 5:14). We know that when we draw near to him he draws near to us as well … Continue reading Delays are not denials

"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words" (Matthew 6:7).A man was nearing death. A priest went to visit him in the hospital a few days before he died.The priest noticed that the man had pulled an empty chair up … Continue reading Pulling up a chair for Jesus

"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children..." (Ephesians 5:1)If you think someone is inspiring and want to be more like them, you probably pay attention to what they do and how they do it.How do they live their life? What makes them different? What can I learn from them and incorporate into my own … Continue reading How did Jesus pray day by day?

The apostle Peter warned his readers with these words:“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability” (2 Peter 3:17, ESV).Earlier in the chapter he had been telling them about Jesus’ return. They should live expectantly and with “holiness … Continue reading Stability