Joe Barnett

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.             —John 13:34 Love for family and friends: spouse for spouse, parent for child, child for parent, friend for friend. Easy. And lovely. Love for the less fortunate: the poor, the sick, the sorrowing, the suffering, the down-and-out.  Compassionate. […]

We are convinced that one died for all.                  —2 Corinthians 5:14 Caiaphas was a savvy politician; knew how to read the polls and run the numbers. The Sanhedrin was in a stew. Jesus was drawing a crowd, and that had the court shaking in their sandals, fearing

He was called God’s friend.          —James 2:23 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Exo. 33:11). In Jehoshaphat’s Temple prayer, he said that Abraham was God’s friend (2 Chron. 20:7). In Isaiah God said it himself, calling him “Abraham my friend,” (Isa.

To whom will you compare me?                   —Isaiah 46:5 Here is a graphic comparison between God and gods. Pay special attention to the “carry” words. Listen to me … you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your

Appoint a king to lead us.       —1 Samuel 8:5 “Appoint a king to lead us,” Israel demanded. Samuel was plenty put out by that, but God told him to go ahead and do it, saying it was Him they were rejecting, not Samuel. The people put their kings in place. God put

By faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.      —Hebrews 11:4 Punch the pause button and stare into space just long enough to name three people who have had a major role in shaping your life. They may have joined the ranks of the dear departed, but death has not ended your

Get rid of all bitterness.     —Ephesians 4:31 If you’ve been around a spell, you have been mistreated … by a spouse, a parent, a child, a teacher, an employer, a co-worker, a friend. And you’ve probably been waylaid by an agonizing chapter in your life: divorce, failure, betrayal, illness, loss. The natural reaction

By this gospel you are saved.      —1 Corinthians 15:2 Gospel means “Good News.” But before there is good news there is bad news. The bad news is that we are sinners: transgressors and trespassers; derelicts and deadbeats; reprobates and renegades; frauds and phonies. You can’t make us good by giving us a good

I have come into the world as a light.                     —John 12:46 Isaiah saw people walking in darkness. So do we. Darkness permeates our world, our towns, the conduct of many who govern, the lives of some we love … and too often our own lives.

It is he who made us, and we are his.                      —Psalm 100:3 Jesus left his church in the hands of eleven men. Ornate cathedrals in Europe depict them in stained glass and sculpted marble as seraphic saints. Truth be told they were men of moderate