Wednesday – Change It – We Need Rest
We saw yesterday how God rested, and set out a rhythm for work and rest. Here we see God giving some of the reasons why it’s important for us to rest, and how it’s still God’s gift for all creation even though many years have passed. “‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as […]
Wednesday – Change It – Working Well
We’re looking this week at Psalm 127: Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. How do we know if we’re working for God or not? How do we know if we are building with him, rather than for ourselves? We need to know what God is working on. His […]
Wednesday – Change It – Working Badly
Another extreme approach, in addition to those we saw yesterday, is to see work as something to avoid at all costs. It’s not a new sentiment – many have seen work as a necessary evil in history. The Greek Philosopher Aristotle saw the ability to live without having to work as a primary qualification for […]
Wednesday – Change It – We Need Work
We’ve seen that from the very beginning, work was made to be good part of life. It’s part of God’s life, Jesus’ life, and now we see it was meant to be part of our life. In Genesis 2:1-15 [5] When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant […]
EPIC: Nehemiah – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read the story of Nehemiah, who rebuilt Jerusalem after a period of exile. We saw yesterday that he gave all the credit to God at every opportunity, even when he first asked for the occupying king’s permission to build. […]
EPIC: Esther – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read the story of Esther, a Jewish woman who became a Babylonian Queen. When she learned of a genocide being planned against her people, her adopted father convinced her to stand up and use her influence. He suggested, “And […]
EPIC: Ezekiel – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read a prophecy from the book of Ezekiel, where God told his nation fo Israel that they were like dried old dead bones, and he would someday bring them back to life. This would have been especially encouraging given […]
EPIC: Son of Man – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read a dream from the Book of Daniel that would have given great hope to the people of God who were living in exile, having lost their land, their temple, their self-government and even their ability to worship God […]
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read the story of three Jewish men being thrown into a furnace as punishment for refusing to bow down and worship a king and his gods. Here’s what happened next: Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in […]
EPIC: Jeremiah – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read one of the prophet Jeremiah’s prophecies about a coming Messiah, or anointed king, who would also be called the Lord. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house […]
EPIC: Jonah – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read the story of Jonah, who was told by God to go to the city of Nineveh as God’s messenger, and tell them to change their ways. He took a boat in the opposite direction, and after a violent […]
EPIC: Isaiah – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read an important passage from the Prophet Isaiah, who wrote poetic words of prophecy about someone called a “suffering servant” in Isaiah 53. He wrote these words to a people who were supposed to be God’s chosen people, but […]
EPIC: David & Goliath – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read the story of David and Goliath. David has just convinced his king to allow him to fight the Philistines’ representative fighter, Goliath. Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his […]
EPIC: David Anointed King – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read the story of David learning he’d be the new King of Israel, even though a despotic old king was still in charge. Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the […]
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi – Wednesday
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read the story of Ruth and Naomi, at least parts of it. Two desperate women who’ve lost everything stick together, and eventually the younger one marries a very kind and generous landowner, establishing a secure future for them once […]