space for grace

February 18th PEOPLE JESUS MET THE COVETOUS MAN – A Poor Rich Man “Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.” Luke 12:15, The Living Bible Profile: As Jesus was teaching, a man from the crowd...

February 17th PEOPLE JESUS MET THE MAN BORN BLIND – None so Blind … They said, “You’re nothing but dirt! How dare you take that tone with us!” Then they threw him out in the street. Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and went and found him. John 9:34-35, The Message...

February 16th PEOPLE JESUS MET THE ADULTEROUS WOMAN – Not Condemned Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:10-11, NIV...

February 15th PEOPLE JESUS MET RICH YOUNG RULER – Self-Centred Let me say it again: ‘it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.’ Matthew 19:24, New Testament for Everyone Profile: This unnamed rich official knelt and...

February 14th PEOPLE JESUS MET THE SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN – Persistent ‘Woman what faith you have! Be it as you wish!’ And from that moment her daughter was restored to health. Matthew 15:28, New English Bible Profile: Jesus had gone to this region 50 miles over Israel's borders...

February 13th PEOPLE JESUS MET THE DEMONIAC – Delivered After Jesus had crossed the lake, he came to shore near the town of Gadara and started down the road. Two men with demons in them came to him from the tombs. They were so fierce that no one could travel that way. Matthew 8:28...

February 12th PEOPLE JESUS MET THE CENTURION – Faith-full When Jesus heard that, he marvelled; "I tell you truly," he said to his followers, "I have never met faith like this anywhere in Israel.” Matthew 8:10, James Moffatt New Testament Profile: This is the only instance that the...

February 11th PEOPLE JESUS MET MATTHEW – Using His Gifts Then, moving on, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" So he got up and followed Him. Mark 2:14, HCSB Profile: Matthew’s original name Levi suggests he was a Hebrew of the...

February 10th PEOPLE JESUS MET THE LEPER – Living Death Having stretched out His hand He touched him saying, “I am desiring it from all my heart. Be cleansed at once.” And immediately his leprosy was cured by being cleansed away. Matthew 8:3, An Expanded Translation (Wuest)...

February 9th PEOPLE JESUS MET THE SAMARITAN WOMAN – Satisfied in Jesus All who drink of this water will be thirsty again. But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. John 4:13, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition Profile...

February 8th PEOPLE JESUS MET NICODEMUS – Religious but Lost Most assuredly, I am saying to you, unless a person is born again, that second birth having the same source as the first one, he is not able to see the kingdom of God. John 3:3, An Expanded Translation (Wuest) Profile: A...

February 7th PEOPLE JESUS MET NATHANAEL – Without Deceit He continued, “I tell all of you the solemn truth – you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:51, The NET Bible Profile: It is fairly certain that Nathanael (John's...

February 6th PEOPLE JESUS MET PHILIP – the Unimpressive There he found Philip and said to him, “Come and follow me.” Then Philip went to look for his friend, Nathanael, and told him, “We’ve found him! We’ve found the One we’ve been waiting for! It’s Jesus, son of Joseph from Nazareth...

February 5th PEOPLE JESUS MET PETER – the ‘Rocky’ Follower Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16, NASB Profile: Impulsiveness characterised this fisherman, yet Jesus saw him as the “rock” who would often become the spokesman...

February 4th PEOPLE JESUS MET ANDREW – Bringing Others to Jesus The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus. John 1:41, The Message Profile: Andrew...

February 3rd PEOPLE JESUS MET JOHN – Loved by Jesus Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. John 13:23, NKJV Profile: John and his brother James were fishermen. Their mother was Salome - sister of Jesus’ mother - making them Jesus’ cousins...

February 2nd PEOPLE JESUS MET JOHN THE BAPTIST – Courageous Announcer “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Luke 7:19, NRSV Profile: John’s life was predicted 400 years earlier in Malachi 4:5, a prophet like Elijah would come to prepare the way for...

January 31st THE PSALMS Psalm 145-150 Psalm 147 He who heals men broken at the heart and bandages their aches, who counts off the stars, names them all. Psalm 147:3-4, Byington Translation Theme: Praise God for his Providence. Background: This anonymous poem was likely written following...

January 30th THE PSALMS Psalm 139-144 Psalm 139 I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there too - your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful - I can’t take it all in! Psalm 139:5-6, The Message Theme: The Wonder of God’s Presence...

January 29th THE PSALMS Psalm 122-138 Psalm 127 Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain. Psalm 127:1, World English Bible Theme: Raising a Family. Background: One of only two psalms...