The first beatitude sets the foundation for understanding the kind of life to which God calls us and the primary condition for access to that life and relationship with God. Poverty...

All week we have been reading about how God sets boundaries for our relationship with God and guidelines for abiding in God’s presence—being in the kingdom of God. With all these...

God’s ways are the opposite of the world’s. So Paul is trying to teach the Corinthians that they shouldn’t try to discern God’s working by looking at the usual people and...

We often have our own ideas of how God should show up in our lives, but God chooses the boundaries of our relationship. The Corinthian church has both Greek and Jewish...

Scholars suggest that Psalm 15 is an “entrance liturgy,” a psalm offered in preparation for the faithful to enter the house of God. The question posed in the psalm is both...

God begins the case against the Israelites by reminding them of God’s saving acts of service, mercy, and love toward them. It is as though God is asking the beloved people,...

In the sixth chapter of Micah, God is taking the people to court. Their behavior has been unwarranted and offensive, and God wants to make a plea against them. So God...

Freedom to Be in Community The sun was shining high over Jerusalem. The poor guy sitting on the roof just wanted some relief from the heat. So he moved his chair...

Freedom to Praise About ten years ago I heard “Revelation Song” by Jeannie Lee Riddle for the first time. Although it was beautiful, I thought the lyrics didn’t make sense; they...

Freedom to Receive Jesus has begun his ministry, but he’s not going to do it alone; he clearly plans to involve others in this venture. This makes sense on a number...