Pointed Ponder: The Finger of God to Free Captives

After just a few miracles, the magicians recognized Moses’ miracles were done by the finger of God, while Pharoah did not. After many more miracles, many people of low and high stature recognized Jesus’ miracles were done by the finger of God, yet the scribes and Pharisees did not. Just as Moses came to free God’s people from physical bondage, Jesus came to free people from Spiritual bondage. We know God hardened Pharoah’s heart, but who hardened the scribes and Pharisees heart?

Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

Luke 11:20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponders: Judging Oneself by God’s Standards

How do you judge yourself according to God’s word, the Bible, his Son? Do you look at your thought, words, and deeds compared to God’s words in the Bible? Do you check yourself against the spirit and letter of the law? Do you check your motives? Do you check that you love and care for others? Do you look at your successes and failures to find ways to be more effective? Do you look at how well you learn and contribute to the productiveness of others? Do you look at how well you listen and relate? What do you do?

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Courage: A Virtue and Vice

When you are thinking of doing wrong, a lack of courage to do what you are thinking, until you learn to do what is right is a virtue and an asset. 🙂 Where do you learn to do what is right and get the courage to do so? The Bible, examples, and mentors.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Forgiving Essential

God’s forgiveness expectations of us are high, because it is so essential. You can forgive a person, but still learn from their behavior to carefully set boundaries.

Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponders: Animals Talk?

My daughter proclaimed “Animals Don’t Talk” despite numerous books and videos to the contrary. We explained that that is true, but there was an exception where Balaam’s donkey did talk.

Numbers 22:28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Help Between Choices

God helps us along the way, between the choices he’ll have us make.

Genesis 20:6-7 (ESV) Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Being Blessings

As we see so many needy in the world, we are reminded by Jesus of our call to be a blessing to others by providing help in their time of need by our giving. Usually we think about our earnings for ourselves, but it’s important to think about our earnings for others too (thanks Amy).

Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Petitioning God Impacts

A mere single true follower of Jesus changes the world by their petitions God answers in accordance to his providence.

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Accepting the Invitation

Knowing many invited by God to come to him focus on their own priorities instead, so God extends his invitation to others too. Whether on the initial invitation list, or a subsequent one, accept the invitation, then come dressed in righteous robes cleansed by Christ.

Matthew 22:2-3 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

Matthew 22:8-9 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’

Matthew 22:12-13 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Jesus Our Teacher

When it comes to truth, the ultimate authority is God, as revealed by Jesus Christ. This reminds us as we learn from others we must always check God’s Word The Bible for weighty matters.

Matthew 23:8-11 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Pregnancy Prayers

While today fertility science helps many get pregnant in answer to prayers, in the past these prayers were answered without these modern intermediaries.

Genesis 25:21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Read Full Post »

The Prodigal God by Tim Keller on Lost in Obedience

‘It’s a shocking message: Careful obedience to God’s law may serve as a strategy for rebelling against God.’ by Timothy Keller in ‘The Prodigal God’ Chapter 3 Page 37

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Lifes Journey from Womb to Tomb

Life is a journey from womb to room to tomb. With Jesus, who helps us to bloom and handle gloom, we bypass the next step of doom, and instead zoom to the feast of the bridegroom.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: More Riches in Christ

Those who are rich towards knowing God and his Son Jesus become even richer.

Matthew 25:29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Read Full Post »

The Prodigal God by Tim Keller on Real Christianity

‘Would you please be open to the possibility that the Gospel, real Christianity, is something very different from religion?’ by Tom Keller in The Prodigal God

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Be Kind to the Needy

To be kind to Jesus, to God, be kind to those in need like the poor homeless in Haiti.

Matthew 25:37-40 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponders: Gifts to God?

God is a God of Abundance who created this vast Universe. What can we give to God or do for him and his Son?

Matthew 26:12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: God’s Dynamic Plans

God has plans and wishes to include those who’d follow. If so, Great. Otherwise, God’s plans move to others who will follow his plans.

Ester 4:13-14 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Heart Hardening

Typically, Pharoah is the illustration used when it comes to the hardening of the heart. Pharoah had already chosen his character and how he’d treat the people. Moses himself had to be saved by God by the laws of the land when a baby. So, God hardened his heart, to make an example of him, since he was already dedicated to doing wrong.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Jesus is Head Honcho

After rising from the dead and returning from heaven to earth, Jesus’ reminded us he’s head honcho in charge.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Untimely Friend Advice

Why didn’t Haman’s wife and friends mention to him that opposing God’s people would be his downfall, until it was a bit late? Do friends let friends oppose God without objection? This account of Ester is an illustration of the promise to Abraham that God will bless those who bless him, and curse those who curse him. God’s people showed faith, and were blessed and redeemed for that, with Mordecai and Ester’s faith showcased. As Abraham is the Father figuratively of the Faithful, these are children of Abraham not just in their genetic line.

Ester 6:13 And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Genetics Hints?

Curious whether genetic materials from plants exposed near certain breeds will influence their features, like to have spots or stripes.

Genesis 30:37-39 Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks. He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink, the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Grow in God

Learning God’s word increases our knowledge, but these seeds are meant to grow a new heart and mind towards God with repentance. Are you letting these grow and take root and reap their fruit?

Romans 2:3-4 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Ailments a Blessing?

Do you fervently seek God’s blessing? Could Jacob’s broken hip be a blessing from God, making him consider diplomacy more carefully?

Genesis 32:25-26 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, …for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Eternal Life through Jesus

God’s promises for eternal life, determined long ago, is that those who come to believe and follow Jesus will have eternal life. So, what you believe and act on is of primary importance, as is the need to seek God’s righteousness.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Spreading & Nurturing God’s Word

Whether in freedom or oppression, the deep challenging message of Jesus must go out, and be planted. Each person has the responsibility to tend to their soil to be receptive to the growth and habitation of God and his Word through his Son in their soul.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Where is Your Lamp?

How do people know you are following Jesus?

Mark 4:21-23 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponders: Sanctioned Testing

Did Job pray not to be lead into temptation, before God allowed his testing? How ready are we for sanctioned testing?

Job 1:12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Questions about Jesus

Do you know the right answers to these questions about Jesus? Asking thoughtful questions about God and his Son is a good practice if you are open to the right answers.

Mark 6:2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Prays in Adversity

Pray that the greater the oppression, the worse the suppression, the more genuine, deep, and penetrating the true Gospel will be.

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Imitation or Real Righteousness?

The human heart and mind often tend towards imitations of righteousness through traditions, rather than the true way that Jesus revealed. It’s good to do what is right, wanting to please God, but we often tend to want to do right instead to get praise from people. The wrong motivations corrupt our works in God’s eyes.

Jesus was speaking to those who appeared religious through outward practices …

Mark 7:8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: The Sons of God

Who are the sons of God?

Romans 8:14-15 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Read Full Post »

Pointed Ponder: Penalties to do Rightly

Would you do what is right when there are penalties to do so, like Joseph did by fleeing adultery?

Genesis 39:11-13 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, …

Read Full Post »