Faith,
Confession: I love the weapons of this world. I really do. They’re easily had. I’ve been trained in them since birth. Social media provides a wonderful pathway for their use. They even give me a feeling of power and accomplishment! I’m not proud of this fact. I simply know it to be true. God have mercy on me for their use!
It’s a good thing God has given us His Word to combat our sinful instincts in these divisive times. This week, I’ve been meditating on Paul’s words to the believers in Corinth:
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 1 Corinthians 10:3-4
I’ve also been researching Jesus’ context. During Jesus’ ministry, God’s holy land was enemy-occupied territory ruled by a dictator, Caesar, who promised to bring peace through strength. Soldiers in the streets were a common occurrence, and over 2000 crucifixions outside the walls of Jerusalem were a bloody billboard for all who would oppose the “Peace of Rome.”
What was Jesus’ counsel to his disciples in the midst of the oppression? This answer will challenge us but provide a way through the chaos as we explore The Chaos, the Water, and The Way — an exploration of Exodus 14 and Luke 6.
In Christ alone,
Pastor Brad
*No message notes this week.
Here are this week’s deeper-dive resources:
“Blessed are the Poor in Spirit”: Explore the Meaning of the Beatitudes (6:45)
Why Christians Ignore What the Bible Says About Immigrants (10:46)