Royalty are prepared their whole lives to rule a nation. If we, as disciples of Jesus, are going to rule and reign with Him, how are we being prepared?
The disciples were often confused by the things Jesus spoke about and were not prepared for His death and resurrection. It takes time and a converted mind to understand where the Spirit of God is leading us.
Everybody has an opinion about what’s “wrong” with the world, but are our expectations realistic? Do we see the world as it really is or how we want it to be? And if we want the world to be different, what are we doing about it?
Many of us are waiting for God to raise up a great leader to initiate a movement that will change the world. But what if God is waiting for us to rise up and lead?
We all try to plan for the best life possible. But life sends us challenges that force us to rewrite those plans. Sometimes, following our calling means learning to adapt to new realities.
What kind of prophet could convince a great people to change their ways? Not much is recorded about this servant of God, but what is told is quite revealing.
Everyone faces trials…and this is a good thing. Like rain upon the land, hard times nourish the soul and strengthen our character. It might ruin our plans for the day, but in the long run it is a blessing from God.
When we do wrong, some people are genuinely sorry for what they have done, while others are just sorry they got caught. The story of Zacchaeus reminds us that the gospel message is one of hope and opportunity.
There are people that we admire and people that we envy. Which people do we emulate? What kind of life are we building - a life to please others…or ourselves?