Author Archives: risingwiththeson

Everything’s OK

Tell the righteous it will be well with them. (Isaiah 3:10 NIV) The children at church were all gladly singing “Jesus in My Life,” when one of the older kids stopped to ask, “What if everything is not OK?” “Well, what does the song say?” the teacher asked. “Everything’s Ok and everything’s alright ‘cos IContinueContinue reading “Everything’s OK”

Identifying with the Offering

Lay your hand on the animal’s head, and the LORD will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him. (Leviticus 1:4 NLT) By laying their hand on the head of the animal, the ancient Israelites identified themselves with the animal whose death would be accepted as atonement for them.ContinueContinue reading “Identifying with the Offering”

A Triumphant Life

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession. (2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV) Yesterday, Christians everywhere celebrated Palm Sunday, Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. I’ve heard it said that when a triumphant king returned from battle, he was welcomed the way Jesus was – with clothes and branches spread onContinueContinue reading “A Triumphant Life”

Don’t Trust Anyone Except God

The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God’s name! Yes! The King of Israel! (John 12:12-13 MSG) My brother-in-law has a hard timeContinueContinue reading “Don’t Trust Anyone Except God”

Double for Our Trouble

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the greatlocust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locustswarm—my great army that I sent among you.” (Joel 2:25 NIV) In response to Judah’s unfaithfulness, God sent a swarm of locusts to destroy the land for a number of years. However, with repentanceContinueContinue reading “Double for Our Trouble”

Ready Access to God

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to himContinueContinue reading “Ready Access to God”

Let’s Point it Back

“Doom! It’s Doomsday! I’m as good as dead! Every word I’ve ever spoken is tainted blasphemous even! And the people I live with talk the same way, using words that corrupt and desecrate. And here I’ve looked God in the face! The King! GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies!” (Isaiah 6:5 MSG) We can spend our entire lives pointing theContinueContinue reading “Let’s Point it Back”

A Story of Sacrifice

If you really think about it, the Bible is a story of sacrifice. There were animal sacrifices that people offered for their sin, but there were other sacrifices that were much harder to offer. As a test of faith, Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Hannah offered her son, Samuel, for theContinueContinue reading “A Story of Sacrifice”