In many ways, it would appear that tremors of existential uncertainty have been rumbling through the collective millennial soul since the mid 2010’s, and my prayer has been that this animation might be used by the Lord in some small way to achieve the twin end of dismantling the explicit and implicit arguments of […]
The Wounds of God – An Animation about Doubt and Love at the Cross Read More »
John 8:12, “I am the light of life, the one following me does by no means walk in the darkness, but has the light of life.” Jesus says that the one who follows Him will have the “light of life.” I’m taking that to mean “the reality-illuminating revelation of who God is, whom to know
1 Corinthians 8:1-3, “This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (I’ve given you three levels of complexity on this right up, so, read which ever version
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Read More »
1 John 4:18, “…perfect love casts out fear.” As we receive the love of God in Christ and are transformed into that same image of self-giving love, fear is cast out. What is fear? At its roots, fear is the belief that our story will end in darkness, that we will be finally cast
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the
Song of Songs 8:6, “…love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.” During the “poetry” section of my morning readings, I’m working through Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs, which I like better). There’s long been debate on
John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus’ call to obey His commandment (s) (there are, I believe, two commandments in view when John uses the plural “commandments”, 1) to receive Jesus as the Son and Revealer of God, and 2) to love as He
1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment…” When we receive the love of God–poured out in the slain and risen Christ, mediated by the indwelling Holy Spirit–we are caused to love as we have been loved. And when the
1 John 4:12, “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.” God is definitively made known in His Son at the cross, and we continue to make Him known as we love one another as He has loved us…. If
Exodus 34:6, “YHWH, YHWH, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…” Proverbs 16:6, “By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for…” Final atonement comes when the Holy God revealed on Mt. Sinai shows the fullness of His steadfast love and faithfulness toward His sinful people
Exodus 34:6 + Proverbs 16:6 Read More »
James 5:11, “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” We have seen the heart of the Author of all our trials, and it is displayed at the cross of Christ….We know that the Lord is compassionate and
Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” To take up our cross means to follow after Jesus Christ–the Beautiful One who has satisfied our soul, who is the End of all our Desiring, who is Divine Love incarnate. It means to press
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on
Philippians 2:6-11 Read More »
Luke 7:48, “And He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” Jesus suffered beyond imagination so that anyone who receives Him as Lord and God can hear this words spoken over them from the throne of the universe–today.
Mark 10:44-45, “…whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His live as a ransom for many.”
Mark 9:37, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…” What we are enabled to do for others in the name of Jesus (that is, because of who He is and to make known who He is) is received as being done to Jesus Himself….and what is done to Jesus is done
1 John 3:18, “Little children, let us not love in word or in talk, but in deed and in truth.” If Christ crucified and risen is our life, then His love will manifest in our deeds…may it be increasingly so.
Isaiah 53:10, “…His soul makes an offering for guilt…” A staggering, sobering, soul-freeing reality….the life of our Lord and God is the offering for our guilt if we are trusting in Him…..the price has been paid in full.
Hebrews 7:25, “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” A false god or savior can–perhaps–give us a sense of safety right up until death….but as soon as our heart stops, they will disintegrate into mocking vapors…However,
Isaiah 49:15-16, “…I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…” If we are trusting Christ as our Lord, God, and Savior….this is God’s word to us, no matter what.
