(Luke 15:17-24) Prayer: O Father, embrace me when I return to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: The father’s response is not a model for earthly fathers to follow. It is, rather, how the heavenly father responds to our repentance. The son is reduced to the lowest degree …
(Luke 15:11-32) Prayer: O Heavenly Father, let me never leave your house. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: This is a “Parable of the Father’s Love” and is drawn from real life. Many young unmarried sons (under twenty) asked for their inheritance to leave Palestine and better themselves. This …
(Matthew 21:33-43) Prayer – O Lord, you have given me everything. Make me a faithful tenant. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples and his opponents.) Context: Jesus spoke this parable in Jerusalem when the chief priests and elders questioned his authority. The parable fitted their situation. The tenants are …
(Luke 16:19-31) Prayer – O Lord, awaken me by this warning. Do not let me be like the foolish brothers. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: Judaism believed that riches proved God’s favor and that poverty proved sinfulness. Jesus reveals the true picture, which shocks his audience. The …
(Matthew 20:17-28) Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Reveal the glory you have prepared. Imagination: (Picture James and John seeking favors from Jesus.) Context: Jesus has just told the apostles that he would come in glory. With great ambition, James and John want that glory. Before granting any glory, Jesus must enter …
(Matthew 23:1-12) Prayer: O Jesus, give me the heart of a servant. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing His disciples in humility.) Context: Jesus does not criticize the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees (although he alludes to moral rigorism) but he condemns their practices of seeking honor and gaining titles. Jesus …
(Luke 6:36-38) Prayer: Father, fill me with your compassion. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: After teaching about loving enemies, Jesus concludes with “Be compassionate as the heavenly Father.” He then stresses the need not to judge others. This will determine what will be measured out to the disciples. …
(Luke 9:27-36) Prayer: O Jesus, take me up the mountain with you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus transfigured in glory with his 3 apostles.) Context: Peter has just proclaimed (by faith) that Jesus is the Messiah. Now, these three apostles experience Jesus as the Messiah. Also, the Father says that Jesus is …
