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Monday’s Passion: Following an Anti-Religion Activist (Mk. 11:12-19)

 

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.  12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.  15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”  (Mk. 11:11-17 TNIV).Read More »Monday’s Passion: Following an Anti-Religion Activist (Mk. 11:12-19)

The Offering: Leave it at the Altar (Rom. 12:1-2)

I recently saw a t-shirt which made for Christians.  On the front of the t-shirt is something that looks like a fire-fighter’s logo or crest.  Inside the crest are these words: “God doesn’t sell fire insurance.”  Beneath the crest are these words: “But he gives it away to his friends.”  On the back of the t-shirt is one more line: “Are you a friend of God?”  There, in three lines, is a t-shirt designer’s summary of the Christian faith: God doesn’t sell fire insurance.  But he gives it away to his friends.  Are you a friend of God?  Here, the Christian faith is all about “fire insurance.”  And what is “fire insurance”?  It refers to the fires of Hell.  Based on this t-shirt synopsis, the Christian faith is primarily “fire insurance” to save you from Hell.

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A Do-Not-Steal Prayer

[Martin Luther is known to have prayed regularly through each of the Ten Commandments.  He did so by 1) contemplating the commandment’s teaching, 2) considering how the commandment might lead to thanksgiving, 3) recognizing how the commandment would lead to confession, and 4) praying for empowerment to live out the commandment.  In that same spirit, I’ve written a prayer below which reflects on the Eighth Commandment–do not steal (Ex. 20:15)]

You are the LORD my God.  You brought my ancestors out of Egypt out of the land of slavery.  You have brought me out of my own Egypt, out of other kinds of slavery.

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