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Bible Text: Titus 2:7-8 | Preacher: Keith Pond | Series: Titus: Encouraging the Man of God | Titus 2:7-8
The Promise of the child comes in the midst of a siege and seeming hopelessness. Christ has come but his people still long for him to return.
Bible Text: Various | Preacher: Keith Pond | Series: Amid the Darkness | Various
Bible Text: Various | Preacher: Keith Pond | Series: Amid the Darkness | Various
In this passage, Jesus deals with the religious leaders' anger and annoyance that He eats with tax collectors and sinners by telling three parables. Each parable deals with something being lost, hunted for, and then found with joy and celebration. However, in verses 11-32, the focus not only rests on on the prodigal but on the elder son in verses 25-32. Rather than rejoicing, he is bitter and angry that the Father has allowed the prodigal to return home.
Jesus warns the crowd that half-hearted discipleship is actually not discipleship. Christ must be our all and have our primary allegiance.
Jesus is at a feast with the religious authorities, and there have been some awkward silences due to Jesus condemnations of them. Then after another one, a man shouts out “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Jesus then gives a story that shows that not all who think they will be there will be, but in fact many they assumed never will be there are invited and come.
What does God's word say to the saint who finds himself in the midst of overwhelming darkness and despair? When there, you may wonder, "What's wrong with me? Christians shouldn't be here, should they?"
I am so glad we serve a God who will not leave us nor will He forsake us. Therefore, His word provides us hope and assurance when we find ourselves in such dark and despairing days or with which we can come alongside brothers and sisters in the midst of their agony. - Keith Pond