Thomas VanderPloeg

God created humans to be in relationship together. As followers of Jesus, we make room in our lives to cultivate meaningful relationships in ways that encourage the spiritual fruit of faith.

Making room in my life to listen and respond to the Holy Spirit means that I must declutter my life in order to make room.

The Bible tells us that faith is interactive. This means that the faith God has planted in his people calls for a response; the Bible also gives us a clue to what that response looks like.

Samuel needed help to recognize God’s voice. God still reveals himself all around our world; sometimes we too need help knowing how to listen.

The choices we make from day to day all combine together to impact the person we become. Joshua reminds the people that their journey with God involves some choices; our path of discipleship involves choices too.

The resurrection of Jesus confronted the disciples with a question: what should they be doing now because of what Jesus has done? It is a question that still confronts us today.

Even from the time of Christ’s birth, there are those who anticipate resurrection; we can be people today who also live as those anticipating resurrection.

I would like for us to jump ahead in the story today for a frame of reference. Before we back up and trace through the events of this Maundy Thursday, let’s use a story from Matthew’s gospel to set our point of reference. You see, we may have the tendency to read these stories as an outside observer…

Jesus demonstrates the humble nature of shalom in the way he fulfils Zechariah’s words on the day of the triumphal entry to Jerusalem.