Dennis Malcom

Jesus never did anything by accident. As Robert Coleman wrote years ago, “His life was ordered by his objective. Everything he did and said was a part of the whole pattern. It had significance because it contributed to the ultimate purpose of His life in redeeming the world for God…. Mark it well. Not for one moment did Jesus lose sight of His goal.”

When the lockdown first began I had the opportunity to sit in on a couple of Zoom webinars with John Ortberg. John is one of my 3 favorite preachers of all time. Whether John is speaking or writing, he has a unique knack of speaking directly to my soul. The topic was about “Preaching and Caring for Your Soul in Disruptive Times”. Needless to say, I could not wait to hear what he had to say about preaching to a camera in an empty room when the whole world is in disrupted chaos.

As I enter into this Good Friday I’m wondering about the angels. Angels have been intimately involved in Jesus’ life from before he was born. It was the angel Gabriel that came to Mary and announced that she would give birth to God’s son. Another angel, maybe Gabriel again, came to Joseph in a dream and told him to move forward with marrying Mary. When Jesus was born a choir of angels filled the sky over the shepherds and sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This verse is one of the great promises of scripture. It stirs hope in the weakest of hearts. But it is important that we understand who originally received this promise. It was written to exiles. Exiles who had been carried away to a foreign country.