Posts by John Staiger (Page 90)
Cain—Sin is crouching at your door!
(Gen.4; Heb.11:4; 1Jn.3:12; Jude 11) When the brothers Cain and Abel presented themselves before God in worship, Abel’s blood sacrifice was found acceptable by God, but Cain’s fruits of the soil were not.Whatever the reason for God’s dissatisfaction, Abel was credited as righteous, and Cain was not.It is safe to conclude that Cain’s display of anger over God’s goodwill toward his brother was indicative of a heart long since hardened by sin. “Woe to them! They have taken the way…
Abel—Killed for spite!
(Gen.4; Heb.11:4; 12:24; Mt.23:35) Some people will go to their graves being thought of as ‘born wreckers.’ After they destroy the lives of others, they are surprised that God would call them to account.Of course, no one is born bad, but Abel, second son of Adam and Eve, died at the hands of one of those men.Worship is the true measure of a man. Therein are his thoughts and motives on display before God (and eventually before others). All things…
The Magi—We three Kings…?
Three ‘toy’ memories from my childhood Christmas come to mind. The first: Lots of toys! The second: The toys going through an immediate baptism of fire (Indestructibility was the only standard). And third: The Christmas Nativity Scene. A host of unforgettable characters all looking their part. However, and not to rain on your Christmas parade, a casual reading of the gospel accounts will reveal that many aspects of The Nativity Scene have been re-manufactured. Yes, up against the indestructibility test…
Demetrius—A friend in a storm.
(3 John) You know that inexplicable look that your best friend has on their face when they want to say something, but won’t? You have seen it. At that moment, silence, they felt, was best option for both parties. It was during times when you allowed too many frustrating people to fill your head with issues. For your friend to address your state of mind, they would have to fight against a swirling current of conflicting thoughts. You were in…
Alexander the Metalworker—Lookout!
(2Tim.4:14-15; 1Tim.1:20)One of the saddest days of your Christian walk was the day you saw with your own eyes that Satan’s worst damage to the church was done from within. From that day forth you understood Paul’s warnings against “savage wolves coming in from among you” (Acts 20:29), and “by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people” (Rom.16:18). A man Paul calls ‘Alexander the metalworker’ did the church a lot of harm (2Tim.4:14-15). He warned Timothy…
Peter’s mother-in-law—Risen to serve
(Matt 8:14-15; Mark 1:30-31; Luke 4:38-39) Back in my single days I listened to H. Norman Wright’s sagely advice on relationships. One of the things he stressed, for those who were yet to exchange marriage vows, was the importance of having a good relationship with prospective in-laws. Not having any at the time, but seeing through the eyes of others the pitfalls of ignoring such sound counsel, I wisely (and to my eternal advantage), took his advice.All three Synoptic Gospel…
Scribes and Pharisees—Last ditch effort!
(Matthew 23) In our world where a person’s feelings about a truth is deemed more important than the truth itself, the words of Jesus have been easily rejected as inappropriate.In Matthew 23 Jesus opens fire on the men who considered themselves guardians of truth – the Law.He didn’t spare their feeling.Since these ‘Scribes and Pharisees’ placed themselves ‘in the seat of Moses’ (Israel’s Law giver), Jesus held them to account.He addressed them as “Scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites!”The ‘Woes’ that Jesus pronounced…
The Parents of the Man Born Blind – —Be careful what you see
(John 9:2-3, 18-23) If you were born blind in Jesus’ day, the common thought was that you or your parents had somehow sinned. Jesus’ disciples wanted clarification on that point as they happened upon one particular blind man.Jesus didn’t answer as they anticipated: “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (Jn.9:3).Not that the blind man’s parents were anywhere to be seen at that…
Herodias—Acting to type!
(Mt.14:1-11; Mk.6:17-28; Lk.3:19-20) Royals have a long history of marrying within the family. Thus, it was no surprise to anyone when Herod Antipas ran off with his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias. It was however of consequence to John the Baptiser. If the Herodian family were going to present themselves as Jewish royalty, then it was expected that they have a degree of respect for God’s marriage Laws (Lev.18:16). John’s rebuke of Herod Antipas for stealing his brother’s wife landed him…
The Queen of Sheba
(1Kgs.10:1-10; Mt.12:42; Lk.11:31) No idle chitchat took her to Jerusalem. She was an intelligent woman seeking answers from a famed source of advanced knowledge. This dignitary of the highest stature was willing to go the distance and pay the price for what she wanted. She had hard, unanswered questions.She was not disappointed. In fact, she became overwhelmed. Beyond the question and answer sessions she observed Solomon’s superior architecture, his streamlined administration, and his generous temple offerings.She praised his loving God…