Joy in the Journey

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. John 6:26   Why do you seek God? Take a minute and think about it. It seems to me that there are very few wrong answers to that question. We are supposed to seek God in all things.   John 15:5, Jesus reminds us that He is the Vine. We’re just branches who can do nothing without him. So we should seek Him in all matters. While there aren’t too many, if any, wrong answers to the why we seek God question, there is a problem. Read the verse above again. The people, according to Jesus, whose perspective is perfect, are coming to Him not because of who He is but because of what He has . They’re looking for a handout not a hand. Recently I’ve seen a dear and treasured relationship take a not terribly surprising but hurtful turn. Someone I dearly love and with whom I’ve spent an enormous amount of time has stepped away a ...

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5: 8, 10 Just the other day I had a conversation with a group of women. The conversation was about grace and Law. There is still so much in this world that strives to convince us that the free gift of salvation is simply too good to be true. Further it is fairly unfathomable that every sin is the same. As soon as I said that we cannot save ourselves the conversation took that familiar turn, the inequity that we see in how God measures, or more accurately does not measure sin. Immediately the protests start. But what about people who harm children? Well, we’re all God’s children. What about people who sin repeatedly? That always reminds me of Paul’s thorn in the flesh. There are teachings that say it was ...