Life This Side of Heaven

There’s a wonderful word that shows up repeatedly in the New Testament. In order to get the correct meaning in English we usually translate it as a phrase. It means, “take courage, take heart.” It was the first thing that Jesus said to the terrified disciples on the Sea of Galilee. But coupled with what follows, it's much more than simply a call stop trembling.

Despite how often we may hear something repeated, not everything is based on fact. However, here’s something that should spark our interest and really fire up our imagination. It’s not based on wishful thinking or science fiction. It’s based in God’s promise.

Over the generations, Hollywood studios have turned to ever-increasing and larger movie formats. The goal is to use widescreen presentation, with highest-resolution imagery, to give audiences the best possible picture. All of this sounds like this might have intrigued the apostle Paul.  Listen to his prayer here in Ephesians.

As a part of God’s creation, the rainbow was given to serve as a reminder of a gracious promise. But here’s the interesting part. Although we're blessed and comforted by it, the reminder isn’t actually meant for you and me.

Following the flood, God announced a gracious, one-sided, promise to Noah. Under no obligation to do this, why would He announce that He has bound Himself to this covenant?

By feeding the crowd, Jesus would have calmed people who were both anxious and hungry. He provided them with a meal that they would certainly savor.  And it would also put them in mind of God's mercies to them in past. Jesus, the Bread of Life, continues to do these things for you and me this very day.

I'll be the disciple were looking forward to the rest to which Jesus had invited them. Do you ever wonder if they might have groaned in disappointment when they saw the crowd waiting for them on the shore? Were their plans spoiled? Perhaps not. It might be worth a closer look at Jesus' invitation.

“Will the skyscrapers outlast the pyramids?” That was the provocative title of a BBC article a number of years ago. Okay, now to be interesting, let’s add a third category to that question.  What about God’s Church? It’s not as frivolous a question as it may sound.

Does God ever feel … far away? Does God seem distant from what’s taking place in your life right now? Does it seem as if He’s not hearing your prayers?

Grafting is an agricultural practice in which a shoot, or branch, is placed on another tree so that they may live together and grow. But can a graft bring life to a tree that is lifeless, to stump that is dead? God answers that question here in Jeremiah and tells us of the extraordinary Branch He promised which now brings life.