In John 12:1-7, Judas chastised Mary for anointing Jesus’ feet with an expensive, fragrant oil, which he argued could’ve been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. Jesus replied, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not … Continue reading Callings and Arguments
Tag: religion
Idols and Rebels
"We are men also, with the same nature as you..." - from Acts 14:15 Paul and Barnabas shouted this at a crowd that was about to start worshiping them. I recently had a conversation with a friend about kids who rebel from really conservative families. How does that subject relate to this verse? The thought … Continue reading Idols and Rebels
What You Need to See
“He who sees me sees the One who sent me.” -John 12:45 The glory is closer than you think. The doubters of Jesus’ time demanded a sign, and replied to Jesus with fierce indignation and arguments about how He couldn’t be who He said he was. They replied with a doctrine of distance when Jesus … Continue reading What You Need to See
My Two Biggest Fears
My two biggest fears are; 1.) Not having sufficient emotional abundance and availability to really be helpful on that level to those who are closest to me, primarily my wife and possible children in the future. 2.) Getting stuck at a level, personally, professionally, and spiritually that is well below my potential. Why these thoughts … Continue reading My Two Biggest Fears
At the Heart Level
Sharing these passages, the theme I have in mind is that of God calling people closer to Him at the heart level: Isaiah 1:11-16 11 “What are all your sacrifices to Me?” asks the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no desire for the … Continue reading At the Heart Level
Healing a Soul
The context here is John 5:1-15. Verse five is what hit me the hardest: “One man was there who had been sick for 38 years.” You can be healed of a condition, but how do you recover from being trained into a mindset, or from having your mindset reinforced by your circumstances? Thirty-eight years. How … Continue reading Healing a Soul
Purpose and Holiness
Recently, God was speaking to me about how holiness is connected with purpose. It's easy to think of holiness as it relates to things that are obvious sins, but even those sins can be thought of as not just wrong or bad, but as violations of, or deviations from, God's purpose for a person. When … Continue reading Purpose and Holiness
Iterative Revelation: Generations
This has been hanging around in the back of my mind for a couple months now, but has been very challenging to articulate. Twice, I was praying by myself in my truck, and God stirred something in my spirit about generations. I can best describe it using the following example. Let’s say you lived a … Continue reading Iterative Revelation: Generations
Atoned For
It is possible to be so devout that it is counter-productive... probably about where the line blurs between 'serving God' and gratifying your own impulse to feel like you are being or doing good enough. See Also: Manifest Forgiveness Effective Humility
Show Me Your Glory
Recently, there was some Jesus Culture in the playlist at work. As Kim Walker-Smith sang "show me Your glory," my fiancè appeared from around the corner. The lesson was like God saying, "Do you want to worship me? Do it by loving this person I have put before you. Practically, to you, she is My … Continue reading Show Me Your Glory
Andrew K. Banks 