Oh, how she worshipped! The religious leaders plot to kill Jesus. while Mary (the sister of Martha and Lazarus) anoints Him with expensive oil in an act of extravagant worship. But the disciples, they don’t understand. They reason that perfume could have been sold to help the poor. And Judas is enraged. Judas, the discipleContinue reading “Stop. Look up. Worship!”
Author Archives: Kim Jaggers
Which will you hear?
Jesus has been talking about the End Times, being ready for His return, and about how His followers should be using what they’ve been given for eternal harvests. (Matt 24-25) He then starts talking about a time of judgment where the sheep (Christians) will be separated from the goats (non Christians). The sheep will beContinue reading “Which will you hear?”
All of us…
I’m up early. The lights of the Christmas tree glow and the smell of a cinnamon candle fills the room. But, as I open my Bible back to Matthew, I’m reminded once again that this is not my home. As comfortable as it can feel sometimes, this is not our home. Across the street, myContinue reading “All of us…”
Be Ready and He Will.
Jesus continues in His talk about the End of Days, not with a specific date, or hidden calculator as some are inclined to hope, but with parables about being ready (Matt 24:52-Matt 25:13). He says, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (MattContinue reading “Be Ready and He Will.”
Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings to Savor
Oh that moment, I walk in the door at my parents’ home. Turkey cooking. Dressing baking. The aroma of delicious anticipation floating through the house. I want it to last forever. There’s something so wonderful about slowing down and savoring our blessings. Though our earthly blessings are fleeting, there are hints of heaven in everyContinue reading “Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings to Savor”
Giving Thanks
The service had already started when two men helped him through the side door. The old man’s legs did not seem to want work on that cold Sunday morning as they half-carried him toward the front. We all kept singing, but tears filled my eyes as I watched him stumble as he tried to willContinue reading “Giving Thanks”
One of the most debated statements Jesus ever made.
It is one of the most debated of the statements Jesus ever made —“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt 24:13) What does this mean? “Interpreters offer three basic possibilities for Jesus’ meaning here. One is that those who remain faithful to Christ until death will see eternal salvation—meaning those whoContinue reading “One of the most debated statements Jesus ever made.”
Sign of the End of Days
Jesus called out the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees and mercifully states how He longs to gather them close to Himself but they were not willing. (Matt 23). He then walks away from the temple leaving it forever behind in His earthly ministry. (Matt 24:1). The disciples point back to the grandeur of theContinue reading “Sign of the End of Days”
The Encouragement of Prophecy in Matthew 24
I’ve been pondering it for days. Years really. For every time I read Matthew 24, I come away thinking, I don’t clearly understand. But this time, as I work through commentaries and pray through it all, one suggestion strikes me as certainly plausible. Perhaps the Word, Jesus, in talking about the Second Coming is intentionallyContinue reading “The Encouragement of Prophecy in Matthew 24”
A BRUTAL indictment.
Matthew 23 is nothing short of a brutal indictment of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus calls them hypocrites and fools. He says they do what they do to be seen by others. He says they put heavy burdens on others that they themselves do not follow. Jesus says, they look good on the outside butContinue reading “A BRUTAL indictment.”
Whose SON is HE?
“What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” (Matt 22:42) Friend, we can’t just move past those words. Slow down. Pay attention. What do you really think? “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” (Matt 22:42) For if the Christ, the Christ of this Christmas we are aboutContinue reading “Whose SON is HE?”
This summarizes it ALL.
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matt 22:37-40 While theContinue reading “This summarizes it ALL.”
Take Heart. Jesus is doing what He came to do!
The Pharisees and Sadducees try to trip Jesus up with their questioning but He remains steady and wise in His answers, completely in control. Completely in control. The Savior had told His disciples He was headed to die, and the religious leaders and Roman officials, who thought they had power, had no power in theContinue reading “Take Heart. Jesus is doing what He came to do!”
Let’s remember and let’s encourage one another!
It’s sad and scary. The Parable of the Marriage Feast. Jesus has told several parables about His coming to earth to save sinners (Matt 21-22), when we come to this one about a King preparing a great marriage feast for his son and sending out invitations. But the people, “they made light of it.” (MattContinue reading “Let’s remember and let’s encourage one another!”
When His Love Overflows
I love God. I need Him every day. I’ve seen Him be faithful. He’s used His Word to lift my head, direct my steps, and comfort my heart. One day, I just started sharing what the Lord is teaching me on my Facebook page. Today, there are almost 9,000 that follow along there and othersContinue reading “When His Love Overflows”
For the helpless…
With smiles on their faces and exuberant expectation, the crowds waved the palm branches shouting, “Hosanna” which literally means, “Save Please!” (Matt 21) and then, just a while later, that same crowd would scream, “Crucify Him!” And we question, how could they so quickly change? How could they question the famous one, the Miracle Maker,Continue reading “For the helpless…”
Clash of Good and Evil and The Eerie Silence of Christians
The clash between good and evil has never been more apparent in my lifetime, nor has silence of those who call themselves, Christians, been more eerie. Like many of you, I want to look away. I want to think about Thanksgiving menus and Christmas decorating. I want to pretend that this world, that my kidsContinue reading “Clash of Good and Evil and The Eerie Silence of Christians”
It’s embarrassing to moms everywhere…
Jesus clearly tells his disciples he will be condemned to death and will rise on the third day (Matt 20:17-19). And you’d expect to read of the disciples awe-filled response. But instead, the mother of two of the disciples, James and John, starts lobbying for her sons to have prominent seating in the Kingdom. It’sContinue reading “It’s embarrassing to moms everywhere…”
Hope for these hard days!
Life has indeed been hard lately. Stress and worry have been as a thick cloud consuming my energy and robbing my sleep. I’ve ran to God. I’ve pleaded for Him to pull us out of this pit of problems. But we’re still in the “not yet”. But this season of trouble, is only a seasonContinue reading “Hope for these hard days!”
This seems wrong.
God deals with us according to who He is, not according to who we are. In the Parable of the Laborers, those who were hired last and only worked a short while for the master, received the same pay as those who had been sweating all day long. (Matt 20:1-16) In our system of fairness,Continue reading “This seems wrong.”