Day 89 - Revelation 13-16

The Great Deceiver.

In John 8:44 Jesus tells the Jews that the Devil is the father of all lies; that when he lies he is speaking his native language. Also to not believe Jesus is the Son of God is to be a child of the Devil. In John 10:10 Jesus says that our enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Our adversary, the Devil, is a cunning enemy. He is not some naive mindless rogue, but a crafty, deliberate, manipulative adversary. His aim is to be exalted above God. However, he has no power over God. God created Lucifer as a magnificent heavenly being who became the Devil.

In Revelation 13 we see the dragon, the Devil, giving power to the first beast, the Antichrist. He exalts the Antichrist to a position of unparalleled power in this world requiring all to take his mark upon them and show allegiance to him. I am uncertain as to whether Satan truly believes that he can still defeat God, but I do believe the father of all lies, the Great Deceiver, has deceived himself. I just think it is too insane for the Devil to believe he could dethrone God. He did try it once before, so I think it is not only possible but extremely likely Satan still thinks he can dethrone God. I think he believes he should be revered as greater than God. If he believes this, then he must also believe he can defeat God and dethrone Him. His nature has deceived him. His entire existence is consumed with following after a lie he created; he started.

In our sin nature we are very similar to Satan. Our own nature deceives us. It is our enemy, but sadly we trust it to take care of us and look out for us. We don't want to trust God and don't want to rely on Him. We want to rely on our own best thoughts. We convince ourselves that God is holding out and doesn't want us to be fulfilled. We believe he will leave us hungering for true fulfillment. We convince ourselves His plan for us can't possibly bring us fulfillment.

Don't trust your sin nature because we too will be deceived into believing a lie as Satan does. We will become his pawn just as the first beast, the Antichrist. We will think we are much and getting what we want, but in the end left empty grasping for the wind. For those who do not profess Jesus as Lord, they are already under this curse. For those of us who do profess Jesus as Lord we must not become ensnared by our own corrupt nature again. Live by the Spirit.

Day 77: Hebrews 1-6

Whew, half of Hebrews! I really enjoyed chapter 4 this morning, especially verse 2:

For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.

It's pretty simple here: it's one thing to hear God's Word, it's quite another to believe it and respond accordingly. We discussed this at Bible study last night, how we can simply add to our knowledge without seeing any real change in our attitudes and behaviors. However, God's truth demands a response in our lives!

So let me keep it short and ask: Have you believed the truth of God's Word? How has that been changing your life this week? What changes do you sense God wanting you to make? Will you be obedient to do it?

Day 75: 1 Timothy

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst."

1 Timothy 1:15

I want to zero in on the middle part of this verse, "...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." I remember the first time it hit me that Jesus was actually God Himself. It was a really big "WHOA...it all makes more sense now" moment that happened to me about 12 years ago. I had just started my walk with God and didn't know much. I wasn't that I didn't believe Jesus was God, but that I had never really thought about it.

During our High School Mission Trip to St. Louis, one of the youth from another church we were teamed up with was teaching about Jesus and His deity and I really liked the way He put it. He asked the kids in our Day Camp if they knew who Jesus was and then asked them to describe Him. The kids described the earthly Jesus. The youth then responded with something like, "Jesus wasn't a man, He was God who became a man." This put the whole emphasis on His deity and takes away from the questions about who He might possibly be; a teacher, a prophet, a rabbi, a messenger from God...

"...Jesus came into the world..."

Putting the emphasis on His humanity first can take away from who He really was. Not the man-God, but God who became a man. The incarnation of Christ is beyond comprehension, but of primary importance to our salvation. Only God could save His creation, and He did it as a man.

Day 71: Philippians

There are many great things in the book of Philippians, but without question the high water mark is 2:5-11. Here Paul gives the deepest and most profound statement on the incarnation - God taking on flesh and becoming the man Jesus of Nazareth.

There are so many things that could be said about it, but I just want to focus in on one thing. While Paul expounds some powerful theology here, it has (and was given for) intensely practical purposes.

The fact that God became a man and lived among us and died on a cross is not simply a theological belief to accept and adopt. No, on the contrary, it is the very example of how God calls us to live as well! Christ demonstrated an unfathomable humility, laying aside His deity and becoming the lowliest of servants. He submitted to the will of the Father to the point of dying the worst death of a criminal although He was without sin.

Such a powerful display illustrates the point Paul was making: that we should consider the needs of others as more important than our own. Just as Christ did not come to be served but to serve, so we too should live as humble servants.

Is that your goal for today? I pray it is, and that God provides us opportunities today to glorify Him by imitating Christ and intentionally serving all those around us.

Day 57: Romans 11-13

After spending 11 chapters dealing with the sinfulness of man and the goodness of God to provide us with a way of forgiveness and salvation, Paul moves to the practical implications for our lives as believers. Romans 12:1 begins this section:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

First of all, it all begins with God. The way we live our lives is a response to His great love for us displayed in the cross. We bring nothing to the table and are hopeless apart from His mercy and grace. Sit down and read the early parts of Romans to see just how wretched and desperate a state man is in apart from Christ!

So, in light of that incredible mercy and grace, we're to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Now in the Old Testament there were plenty of sacrifices, and even in the pagan religions of Paul's day there were many sacrifices as well. However, one of the key characteristics of a sacrifice was that it was killed - in other words it was completely given over to the object of its sacrifice. So a living sacrifice is almost a contradiction in terms, and yet it perfectly displays the idea behind living for Christ.

We are to daily die to self and commit our living to the One who died for us (see 2 Corinthians 5:14-15). It really is the only logical thing to do! Paul goes on to say this in the rest of the verse. The word translated here as "worship" is also sometimes rendered as "service" and together they give us a greater picture of what it means to worship God. It's not simply the act of singing songs but rather the service of sacrificial living.

So let's worship our great and mighty God today by living lives of sacrifice for Him! In light of His amazing grace and mercy in our lives, it's the only logical thing for us to do!!

Day 51: Acts 21-23

"For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 21:13b

*deep sigh*

I don't have anything to write on this topic. I haven't faced death for the name of Jesus. Nor have I ever had the threat. So I can't really spend much time on what it is like.

But what I can do is ponder. What would it be like to be face death for Jesus? What would I do? What would I say?

Part of me wants to believe I would face it with boldness and confidence, with joy and honor to be counted worthy enough to suffer for my Lord - much like Paul.

Another part of me fears that I would cower and run like Peter just before Jesus was crucified. Would I beg for my life? Would I hang my head in shame and denounce the One who died for me? Would I look at all this world has to offer and count it more precious than Jesus?

I have good friends in India who are praying for us American Christians. They pray that persecution will come to America so Christianity will become stronger and Jesus will be glorified more. It is a staggering thought, but Jesus did say the persecuted are the blessed ones (Matt 5:10-12).

By the power of the Holy Spirit I think there is hope for me if this day ever comes.

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:8-12

Day 50: Acts 18-20

I have always been challenged and encouraged by Acts 19:17-20:

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

Here we see the power of the gospel, the fruit of repentance, and the end result of God's glory and kingdom expanding. That which was previously important and valuable to them became known for what it really was: sinful and offensive to God. So they destroyed it!

Surely they could have sold their scrolls and made a great deal of profit, even with the intention of giving it to the church or in support of Paul's ministry. But the ends do not justify the means, and the only suitable end for these items was complete destruction, lest they lead others away from the one true God.

In our lives, are we willing to take such drastic measures to rid ourselves of those things that displease and dishonor God? Do we make the effort to completely end those sinful habits in our lives, or do we merely try to limit them? Tone them down? Or maybe profit from them as they exit the door?

May God grant us to live out this kind of repentance, regardless of the cost, that it might glorify Him and display the power of His gospel in our lives!

Day 49: Acts 16-17

The Apostle Paul had impressive credentials. Paul (whose former name was Saul) was a Jewish Pharisee which had been converted to Christianity. He was a highly intelligent scholar of the Jewish law. He was born a Roman citizen in Tarsus. Scripture tells us that he studied at the feet of the great Rabbi Gamaliel. But Paul tells us in Philippians 3:8 “…I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Yet in the midst of all that happened in Paul’s life, he was found walking in the will of God! Acts 16 Verses 6 – 10 says:

"And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing ... to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."

This passage is all about being in the center of God’s will. It’s an age old question, “What is God’s will for my life?” I’m confident that God will show us His will, but we have to have the key in order to unlock it. So what’s the key to knowing God’s will? It’s wanting God’s will!

Psalms 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Day 47: Acts 11-13

On Friday I received our Youth Sunday School curriculum, "Your Life in Christ", in the mail. After it was delivered our office manager brought it into my office saying something like, "Your Life in Christ came in this box." (the book was in a box...I know you probably pieced that one together, but if not I thought I would help) Of course I couldn't resist and made a standard comeback to the effect of "I didn't know you could get that in a box." The sobering reality is we sometimes are very tempted to put Jesus in a box. In our flesh we kind of like Him in a box. You can take Him out when you want to be righteous and put Him away when you want to live in the flesh or when He doesn't agree with your tradition of holiness.

Here in our text for today, Peter's box for Christ got expanded once again. The box Peter had in Christ expanded several times; witnessing the numerous miracles, when Peter finally came to understand that Jesus was the Son of God, when Jesus died on the cross for our sins after speaking numerous times of this event, when He rose from the dead, and when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples. Now Peter is being hit with the fact that the Gospel is not just for the Jews. It is for all of mankind. Not only is salvation extended to the Gentiles, but full rights as brothers in Christ and children of God; Gentiles also receive the Holy Spirit.

My hope is that God can keep expanding my knowledge and faith in Him. I believe I will never arrive at full understanding of God this side of Heaven. Even some of the things I do know and fully believe in I don't fully understand. I think that's the way it's supposed to be. I do love it though when God pulls back the curtain just a little bit more for me so I can know Him more.

Day 43: Acts 1-3

Acts 1:8 is often referenced or quoted, and for good reason. It is the continuation of the Great Commission and reminds us of the mission of every believer: to be a witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

First of all, we see the necessity of the empowering of the Spirit of God. Apart from Him we cannot hope to be effective witnesses for the Lord. He gives us the strength, courage and wisdom to speak, and He moves in the hearts of those we are hoping to reach with the Gospel. He also enables us to bear the spiritual fruit in our lives that demonstrates the power of the Gospel we speak of.

Second, we recognize the responsibility of the disciples to be faithful to their task. While God would empower them, they still had to step out in obedience. The same is true for us today. As we humbly rely on the power of the Spirit, we need to step out boldly to love others and seek opportunities to share Christ with them.

Finally, we see God's heart for all people. The Gospel was not just for the disciples, nor just for the Jews. It was to be shared with the whole world. And in that whole world, there is no one that is beyond the saving grace of God.

I recently finished reading The Unexpected Journey, and I was really challenged by the testimonies of so many different "unreachable" people that came to follow Jesus. We don't know what is going on behind the scenes and how God is working in the lives of those around us. So we must be faithfully obedient to love and pray for those around us, sharing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them, and trusting that God is at work and will continue to add to the number being saved!

Day 42: John 19-21

As we wrap up John's Gosepl, he concludes with the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus. I love the way that we see the Providence of God's hand all over these pages of Scripture. Beginning in John 19:32, it says, that the soldiers broke the legs of the two men on each side of Jesus as was cumtomary during crucifixions. But when they came to Jesus, He was already dead. So they pierced His side. When He was pierced, blood and water flowed out. John 19:36 says, "These things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of His bones will be broken."

God aways fulfills His Word and His promises! As I think about about this powerful truth, I'm reminded that the same God in the pages of John's Gospel is fulfilling His Word and promises in the lives of those who follow Him.

Day 41: John 16-18

Here are a couple of scriptures that popped out to me:

1. John 16:13-14 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

• Just as the Son's meat was to the do the will of the Father and to declare all that the Father revealed unto Him, so the Spirit's primary purpose is to do and say all that the Son desires.
• Notice the wonderfully parallel structure between the Son's relationship to the Father and our relationship to the Son. We are able to have the same intimacy with the Son as He did with the Father because of the Spirit of the Son that indwells all those that believe.
• One of the greatest ways to know whether something said or something done is from God or not is to determine whether or not it brings glory to the Son. "He will glorify me." The Spirit indwells us to bring Jesus glory.

2. John 16:23-24 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

• The key to getting prayers answered is asking "in the name" of Jesus. But what does that mean? Does it mean to tack on "in Jesus name, Amen" to the end of all of our prayers? Certainly it doesn't.
  
• The main focal point of our praying ought to be the person of Jesus Christ. He taught us to pray "hollowed by thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done..." Notice the center of such praying - Jesus. He was teaching us to desire and pray that God's name might be hallowed in the hearts of men, that His kingdom would established here on earth, that men might revere him as King of kings and Lord of lords, that His will might be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. In other words, pray those things that please the Father - namely that His name might be greatly praised among every tribe, nation, and people group of the world.
• To pray in the name of Jesus means to ask for the very things that Jesus desires. It means to go to the Father as if you were the representative of the Jesus Christ asking for the very thing that Jesus would ask for in such a circumstance.
• May your praying be radically focused on the will of Jesus Christ and His kingdom!

3. John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

• Ever notice how most people want eternal life in heaven? They just don't want God to be there when they get there. Notice in this verse eternal life is defined by "knowing" the only true God and Jesus. In other words, the end or aim of eternal life is that you get to know Jesus. Paul wanted that more than anything. He prayed that he might know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.

May these thoughts encourage your study of John 16-18.

Day 40: John 13-15

"In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also"
John 14:2-3

I see some striking parallels here with the account of creation that we find in Genesis. God created the heavens and the earth and then prepared them for man. He created light to illuminate our paths and mark our days. He created dry land for us to walk upon and dwell upon. He created all of the creatures of the earth to fill it with the evidence of His greatness and for man to have dominion over. He created earth and prepared if for us so that we could thrive. The earth is clearly designed to support life and is set apart from all other stellar bodies. Once God created Adam, God placed him in a perfectly prepared Garden for him to dwell in.

God created this vast and complex universe in a mere week. I believe in a 6 literal days creation because I believe Bible is His Word and that is what His Word says. And I believe my God is big enough to do such a things. His Word also says that Christ has gone away to prepare a place for the disciples; for us; for me! It's not like a preparing for a banquet with a 'X' number of guests. He is preparing a specific place for me and for you individually. Can you imagine what kind of place God could prepare if given close to 2000 years to prepare it? Look what He did in 6 days. I can't either, but I'm anxious to find out.

Day 36: John 5-6

As we continue reading through John (my favorite gospel!) I want to take a moment and discuss the identity of the Savior.

I still remember back in college when I began to truly read the Bible for the first time and I came face to face with the reality that Jesus is God in the flesh. Even though I grew up in church, somehow that just never clicked for me before. But there I found it, seemingly on every page of the New Testament!

I have a Muslim friend who told me Jesus never claimed to be God, but that His followers ascribed that to Him at a later date. It's true that we don't have stories of Jesus walking around shouting, "I'm God! Fall at my feet!" However, I think we see part of the reason for that in John 5:31 when Jesus said, "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid." He did not come to glorify Himself, but to do the Father's will. To constantly declare His deity was not part of the agenda.

This is well demonstrated in Philippians 2:5-11 where we see that although Christ was God, He laid aside His glory to come to the earth and die for our sins. What a mighty God we serve!

For the people of His day, Jesus' claims were clear. Here in John 5:17-18 we see that they understood exactly what He was saying: He was equal with the Father. In just a few chapters we'll read one of His most profound claims of deity in John 8:58 when Jesus applies the very "I AM" of God to Himself. Again, the implications are clear, as they wanted to stone Him for blasphemy.

Of course, John made it plain who Jesus was in his opening chapter: "the Word was God ... [and] became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory!"

The implications of this truth are almost overwhelming. Jesus is not just another great prophet or teacher or man of God. He wasn't just a revolutionary or influential figure in history. He is not on equal footing with Muhammad or Buddha or Lucifer or an angel.

He is the Lord of Glory! The Alpha and the Omega! The Creator and Sustainer of all things! I hope you've come to the place where you see Him as He truly is: indescribable, incomparable, and unlike anyone else. I pray you've come to the place that Peter did when he said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

And above all, I hope you've put your trust in His work on the cross for your sins and that you find Him to be the One true thing you can build your life upon!

Day 30: Luke 17-18

Luke 18:18-23

I would like to keep this simple this morning. Jesus hit me hard today as I read these words of His. He was asking me these questions and I would like to pass them along to you.

Wes, are you willing to sell all you have to follow Me? Are you willing to give up the DishNetwork? Are you willing to give up your highspeed internet? Are you willing to give up your fancy iPhone? Are you willing to surrender your home you just bought last fall? Are you willing to sell your 48' flat panel? Are you willing to give it all up for Me with joy and gladness?

Or, will you walk away sorrowful like the rich ruler? Will you ignore this call and justify in your own heart why you should keep them?

May God lead us to a place where we must give it up to follow Him!!

Day 29: Luke 14-16

As usual, I am nearly overwhelmed by all of the things stated in these three chapters. I'm torn in two directions this morning, between the story of the prodigal son and that of the shrewd manager. My thoughts on each don't really tie together neatly, but I think I will comment on both.

First off is the unusual story of the shrew manager found at the beginning of chapter 16. I'm always intrigued when a "bad" example is given to make a positive point (such as God being compared to the unjust judge in Luke 18). I think the point of the story is this: the shrewd manager took what was in front of him and leveraged it for what would be best down the road. He knew the situation he was in was fleeting and would soon be gone. He couldn't keep what he had, but he could translate it into future blessings.

While the cheating methods of the manager are not commendable, the idea behind them is. In the same way, we live in a world that is fleeting and will not last. We also manage someone else's resources and would be wise to use them in a way that is most beneficial for eternity. So rather than seeing how all that I have could be used for my own benefit, I should seek God's will and ask how they can best be used for His eternal plans! I once read that everything we own is either an idol or a tool. I pray you view everything in your possession as a tool to be used for God's Kingdom and glory. As Jim Elliot is oft quoted as saying, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

Switching gears, I've been blessed many times by the story of the prodigal son. I personally find it to be the best picture of repentance in the Bible. After living a life of sin, the son "comes to his senses" and sees the folly of his ways. He owns up to what he has done rather than lay the blame at anyone else's feet. He realizes he must get up and leave that lifestyle and so he sets his face toward his father. He knows he has no right to demand anything from his father but can only confess his sin and throw himself at his father's mercy.

In the same way, we all must come to God in this manner. There is an owning up to our sin and a turning away from it. We come to God not in our own merits but rather relying on His mercy. And when we come in this repentant, heart-broken manner, look at how God responds! He doesn't throw it in our faces but rather throws His arms around us! He is scandalously ready to forgive!

I am so thankful that God has received me in this manner!! That I can come to Him on the basis of the righteousness of Jesus rather than my own, which is nothing more than filthy rags. What a glorious God we serve! I pray that you bask in the glory of that forgiveness today and that it motivates you to live a life of thanksgiving unto Him!

Day 28: Luke 12-13

If we're captured by greed, or her second cousin, worry, we will miss out on real life. That's the inescapable conclusion I reach when I read Jesus' familiar words once again.

"A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (12:15b)
"Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." (12:23)
"But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." (12:32)

Provide ... a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted ... for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (12:33-34)

The Kingdom of God is the most wonderful gift of all; food, clothing, fortune, fame all pale before it. There is nothing to compare with it. God's children are free to rejoice and exalt in the Kingdom, our gift. But first we must put food and clothing, storing up and giving to the poor in proper perspective or we'll miss the point entirely.

If you're like me, you're most familiar with this teaching in the context of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34). The meaning is essentially the same. Perhaps because it's so familiar you think you know what it means. But Luke's rendering of Jesus' core teaching is just enough different (it was probably delivered on a different occasion) that it forces us to look again, this time more closely. I encourage you to explore this passage with new eyes.

Day 27: Luke 10-11

Well, it's 11:20pm and the Lord roused me from slumber and said, "Go! Write your blog."

Chapters 10 and 11 of Luke are filled with some of the most beloved passages of truth, it is hard to focus in on any one passage.

May I give some exegetical/interpretational notes that may aid in our understanding.

1. Luke 10:2-3 And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

• Do you really think the harvest is plentiful? We often think that there is not anyone really interested in the gospel - that people in America are hard hearted and inoculated to the gospel. Christ's words here should speak to that...THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL. That is, there is a harvest out there waiting to be reaped. The problem is that there are too few laborers willing to go and be eaten by the wolves.

2. Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

• I think one of the problems we overlook here in this account is not what Martha was doing or not doing, but rather HOW she was doing it. I don't think her serving was all wrong, but rather 2 mannerisms of her serving fall short. First, her serving left out time at the feet of Jesus hearing his words. Service apart from intimate fellowship with the one you are serving is misguided zeal at best, and man centered effort that will never have God's blessing at worst. Second, her service for her Lord was with regard to others rather than singly focused on Christ. Listen to her criticisms and hear her heart. "Look at poor me. I am the only one that truly loves Jesus because I am the only one working." She measured her love by her busyness. Her eyes were diverted and her labor was corrupt. I love the Lord's kind and caring response. "Martha, Martha." Do you hear the loving gentleness behind his rebuke. May we learn to rebuke this way.

3. Luke 11:2 And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

• When you pray, is your praying heaven saturated? As you pray for the health of a loved one or some benefit you desire to see Christ perform for you or a member of your church, is the request heavenward or "you"ward. All praying and all requests must be so that God's name might be hallowed as it ought to be. That his kingdom might be established in the hearts of men on earth as it is in heaven. Let your praying be transformed into Christ exalting requests that sound less like this: "Lord, I need a job - would you give me a job." and more like this: "Lord, I need a job, but I want the job that will allow your name to be magnified in my life the most. Would you direct me to the employment where you may be glorified in my daily bread winning - where your kingdom's advancement might increase because of this job?"

May your study of Luke 10 and 11 increase your walk with the Savior.

Day 26: Luke 8-9

There is just something about the story of the demoniac in the region of the Gadarenes that is always intriguing to me. The verses that kinda settled in my soul the most from the story this time were Luke 8:28-30.

The people tried to constrain him, but chains couldn't hold this demon-possessed man. The demons would drive this man mad as he shed his clothes and dwelt among the dead. Though when Jesus arrived there was no question as to who was in charge. This demon-possessed man had uncontrollable strength, but the demons immediately begged for mercy from Jesus. Man could not control the demoniac or his demons, but the demons knew they could do nothing but obey the Son of Man. I am of course drawn to James 2:19 where is states that...

"You believe that God is one; you do well.
The demons also believe - and they shudder."

I draw great confidence and comfort in my great God when I read that even the most vile of all creatures shudder at the greatness of the Creator. They are aligned against Him, yet they know they are no match for Him. Insanity when you think about it. How great a deceiver Lucifer was and is to have deceived a third of the angels in an attempt to dethrone the Almighty.

How arrogant and ignorant we are when we listen to his deceptive words and are tempted to dethrone the Lord of Lords and King of Kings in our own lives and replace Him with some mere idol. He alone is worthy of our worship and praise.

Day 25: Luke 6-7

Wow what rich material from the ministry and lips of our Savior. There are multiple passages and thoughts from these verses that are just amazing. The catalog of blessing is certainly instructive to my life. The words about John the Baptist, the greatest and yet those in the kingdom greater are challenging.

I was specifically challenged in my quiet moments with this text in verses 27-36 of chapter 6. Love your enemies. Love those sandpaper people in your life. Love those who hurt you and do you wrong. Love those who purposely hurt and misuse you. Those are very hard words.

Give to those who ask and do not withhold. Give to those who you know will never return or pay back. If you only do good to those who do good to you what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. There are people in our lives that pull things out of our lives and leave us empty and depleted. It is my great challenge to be first a giving person. I want that to be the characteristic of my life but my heart is often far from that place. May God give me a new heart that is tender and sensitive to Him and His.

Day 24: Luke 4-5

In chapter 4 Jesus begins what is known as His public ministry. What has for awhile really encouraged me is that before this He was tempted in the desert. A connection is where Jesus told the disciples to wait in the upper room until they received power. Another is the Isrealites when they spent 40 years in the desert and were to inherit the land that was to be given to them. At the end of this Jesus came out in the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 14) aswell as the disciples received the power of the Holy Spirit and the Isrealites received the land that was given them. I think it is important that we grasp the concept that there is a trying time that must be passed before one enters into the land (minstry, marriage, things of life) that God desires to give them. And when this has been reached, we move and work in that land by the power of the Holy Spirit to honor our God. While we should continue to be a brother or a sister I know for me at least, that until I have completed my '40' I will not inherit that which God desires to give to me and so I should be careful not to rush into a land that God has not spoken that will be mine or one that I am not ready to take possession. The victory is God's and my part is beleiving Him that it will come to pass.

In chapter 6 Jesus speaks to Peter of how He will make them fishers of men. There are things in my life that I see where God has spoken about things and interests that I do that will be used for the Kingdom's sake. Maybe like me, you enjoy problem solving and God is telling you that you will be a counselor of some sort, or maybe you work in a seed plant and God is telling you that you will sow many seeds. Whatever it is I hope God would show you what He desires of you that He will purpose in your heart. God is great at letting His children know specifically what He desires of them, He is a Father and like a father would tell his children what he expects of them and doesn't just expect them to figure it out, our Heavenly Father tells us as well.

I hope you be blessed and encouraged to be with Him in everything you do. Our God is an amazing God! The only true and living God!

Day 23: Luke 2-3

To show us that John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ, Luke quotes Isaiah 40:3-5. John’s call was to “prepare the way” of the coming Messiah. John must have preached this message with much zeal and power because many were questioning whether or not he was the Christ (3:15).

What is interesting to me is the name John means “Jehovah is a gracious giver.” How appropriate for a man who has been appointed to prepare the way for Jesus! But I think there is something a little deeper here than what I have seen before. What I'm about to share may not be much of a revelation to those reading this, but this is something that God has used today to impact my little, self-centered world.

Isaiah 40:3-5 says,

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Now compare this to Luke 3:4-5,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Here is how this has impacted me:

God is a gracious giver because He has chosen to reveal His glory to a sinful, rebellious, depraved heart like mine. His glory revealed is Jesus, and taking a wicked, depraved worm like me and presenting me blameless, holy and above reproach in His sight by the blood of His death on the cross.

Colossians 1:19-22 says,

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

It is my prayer that we too would be “John the Baptists” and prepare the way of the Coming King by proclaiming the Gospel so that all flesh will see the salvation of God – His glory!

Day 22: Luke 1

Today we begin our walk through the Luke's gospel. Two things hit me this morning in this opening chapter. First of all is the certainty of the gospel record. Luke's purpose in writing was to strengthen the faith of other believers, that what they received was rooted in historical fact.

Peter affirms the same thing when he wrote, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty" (2 Peter 1:16). We can be confident today in the truth of the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The second thing that really stood out to me this morning seems almost like a footnote in the overall story of the gospel. In a scene reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah, we meet a couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth, who are "well along in years" but "had no children." This had been a disgrace for Elizabeth and was something the couple had longed for and prayed for. And yet they were described as "upright in the sight of God" and followed Him "blamelessly." Why would God allow such devoted followers to suffer this shame and disgrace and heartache?

We see in this first chapter that it was all part of God's plan. In the fullness of time, he would grant them a child and that child would be the greatest ever born among women (Luke 7:28). He would be the forerunner of the Messiah!

While Zechariah and Elizabeth may have often wondered why God had allowed them to suffer in this way, they continued to serve Him faithfully. They trusted Him in challenging times and entrusted themselves to His will and His way.

We face similar situations in our own lives. And while they trusted in God's goodness and faithfulness as demonstrated to the Israelites in the past, we have a far greater demonstration of His love for us today! As Paul writes in Romans 8, God has fully demonstrated His great love for us at the cross. He gave His own Son for us! What greater expression of love could He give?

Let us commit ourselves to Him and His will no matter the circumstance, for we can trust in this great promise: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Day 21: Mark 15-16

As we come to the close of Mark's Gospel, I can't help but see the tug-a-war of emotions as the events unfold in the life of Jesus, leading to His death in chapter 15, and then to His glorious resurrection in chapter 16.

The section that impacted me the most in this morning's reading is 15:11-13. "But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them. "Crucify Him!" they shouted."

They exchanged the truth for a lie! Right before them stood the King of kings, Lord of lords, the Creator of the universe, and they couldn't even see it. They were blinded to the truth that stood right in front of them. As I think about this, I'm hit with the harsh reality that things haven't changed in 2000 years. People are still exchanging the truth for a lie.

Day 20: Mark 14

Read:

Mar 14:37-38 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Jesus is here rebuking Peter for his inability to pray an hour with Jesus. I find it interesting that Jesus seemed to speak like an hour of prayer was some small task. How many of us find it difficult to pray 15 minutes before our minds wander or our eyes get droopy? I hear Jesus saying, "Peter, come on man! Can't you even pray for a measly little hour?" I hear Him saying to me, "Come on Jim. Can't you even pray for a measly little hour?"

The second truth I see here is the doctrine that the Lord teaches us during this rebuke. He says to pray SO THAT you do not ENTER into temptation. In other words, temptation is coming around the corner, pray and get ready for it so that you don't fail when it comes. He goes on to kindly let us know that the Spirit is indeed willing and ready to help and strengthen us, but our flesh is too weak to overcome temptation and too weak to seek the Spirit in preparatory prayer prior to the temptation.

I think it would be good to say here that one of the reasons we fail when temptation comes is because we have not prepared ourselves prayerfully. Jesus is teaching us the importance of prayer in facing temptation. Note in His life the two major temptations (in the wilderness and before the cross) were preceded by much fervent praying.

Amp up your prayer life and decrease your sin life.

May God bless your reading of Mark 14.

Day 19: Mark 12-13

Mark 12:18-27 caused me to wonder, "Why did the Sadducees follow the Law so strictly?" They didn't even believe in the Resurrection! If your observance of such an impossible Law wouldn't make a difference in the end, would you follow it? I can only come up with two options...

#1 Their devotion and admiration of God was so great that they would dedicate their lives to adhering to His commands even though they believed Him to be an impersonal God they would never meet. They would also never know if they had served Him well or not. They would use their existence trying to serve Him with no reward or knowledge of His approval. I guess that would be kinda noble.

#2 They were using the Law to put themselves in places of power to be revered and feared by common people. Note that the Sadducees thought only priests should be able to read and teach the word of God. Essentially, they would use the Law of God to manipulate people.

I'm leaning more towards option #2. I'm sure their may be other options out their, but their altercations with Jesus makes it apparently obvious what their real motives were. They wanted the seat of glory for themselves. They wouldn't even allow the Son to receive more glory than themselves.

How does this impact me? Well I got to thinking about the multitudes of people who get up on Sunday morning for services to check it off their "how to keep yourself holy" list. Or when I read the Bible to check it off my list. Or when I read it and don't let it impact my life. And the various other things we do to make ourselves feel holy or to appease God. If I truly believe that I have this great Salvation and Jesus came to give us life, then why am I tempted to do so many things out of an obligatory response instead of an overflow of my love for my God and Savior? If I believe that my sin is the death of me, then why do I run back to it? It's that nasty old flesh that's why! I'm tempted to try to earn grace through my works of righteousness once I have received it, and tempted to pick up my sin that I was compelled to leave behind when I gained my Salvation. Now isn't that dumber than dumb? If grace is grace then it's grace. And if sin is the death of me then why return to it?

I don't want to be like the Sadducees or the Pharisees, but I have the same sin nature attached to me that they did. Praise God that I also have the Holy Spirit to keep me on the path of Grace. Though I may wander from time to time He is a kind, merciful, and compassionate God to gently lead me back. He is also loving enough to use more forceful methods to lead me back if I don't respond to His gentleness. Thank you God for saving me and sustaining me.

Day 17: Mark 8-9

I have decided to share one thing from each chapter for today.


8:1-13 The Feeding of the Four Thousand



One of the things that I love about this passage is the way the bread is distributed. Awhile back I was struggling with acceptance that without God, I can do nothing. God brought me to this passage and it changed my view of what it means to give and inspired me to write a song about it and it's effect on me. Jesus blessed the 7 loaves and handed them to the disciples to further disperse them to the multitude. The point of emphasis I wish to make is that with whatever we give, we give what we have. If I have not received, I cannot give, but even with what little I may have to give it can feed thousands by the blessing through Christ handing it to me to give to others.



9:42-50 Causing to Sin



I have heard a few different ways to look at this so will share both. I believe both are accurate.

The verse I have focused on is 43-48. While it is obvious that we are to put of the deeds of the flesh I believe another view for us to be careful to not live in is legalism. No, Jesus is not encouraging mutilation as a way to rid you of sin, but just as Wes was sharing yesterday it is what's inside a man that defiles him. So if you think that cutting your hand off will keep you from sin, you will find out the desire is still there after your hand is gone. It is Christ who has circumcised the hearts of those who believe thus cleaning them from the inside, that even their outward may have life to please the Father.



I hope you all be blessed this day and rest in the peace and grace of God. God is awesome.

Day 16: Mark 6-7

In Mark 7:1-22, Jesus confronts the Pharisees yet again with matters of the heart. Jesus is teaching that defilement comes from within a man, not from things on the outside. The Pharisees were so concerned about outward "cleansing"and holding the traditions of the elders, they ended up rejecting the commandments of God.

These men were masters of disguise. They put on a good act and fooled many people, but not Jesus. Jesus confronted them and got down to the depths of these men's hearts. A place that cannot be seen by a mere man. I can't help but to wonder how many of our church goers are masters of disguise as well. Putting on the appearance of one who is born again with the hope to somehow please God, or even fool him for that matter.

There is a washing that these men needed; it wasn't an outward washing, but an inward cleansing that removes sin, not hides it behind the disguise of religion.

Here are some verses for us to chew on:

Proverbs 30:12 - The Pharisees and many church goers today
Psalm 51:2, 7
1Cor 6:11
Eph 5:26
Titus 3:5
Revelation 1:5

Day 15: Mark 4-5

I love the story of the demoniac in Mark 5:1-20. It so wonderfully demonstrates the power of Jesus and the effects of the gospel.

Mark builds up for us just how scary this guys is. He lives among the tombs, running around night and day shrieking and cutting himself. The townspeople were terrified of him and had tried to subdue him, but even chains and irons could not contain him! Luke gives us another detail about this man: for a long time he had not even worn clothes (Luke 8:27).

So Jesus steps out of a boat and immediately runs into a naked, bloody, shrieking demon-possessed man that no one can control or subdue. Does this strike fear into Jesus? Hardly! Rather, the demons are afraid of Jesus! And with but a word from Jesus, this man is set free from the bondage of Satan.

While we certainly look much better than this man on the outside, I see so many parallels between his life and mine today. Before Christ came into my life, I too was caught in the power of sin. I was unable to save myself and was left to suffer the effects of my sin. It worked to destroy me and all the relationships I held dear.

But when Jesus came into my life, He set me free! Just as we later find this same man clothed and calmly sitting in his right mind, Jesus cleanses us and clothes us with His righteousness! He makes past tense of all my sin and gives me peace of mind. And just as he did with this man, He commissions all of His followers to do the same: "Go and tell how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

What an incredible privilege to experience His redeeming power and share that story with others!

Day 14: Mark 1-3

Today as we continue our journey through the New Testament, we begin a new book. We see the gospel presented through the eyes of Mark. Chapter 1 begins with the baptism of Jesus by John - signifying the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry. We see the response of His heavenly Father in verse 11, "And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Jesus came to fulfill the purpose for which God sent Him. It pleased God to send Jesus to the world to save man from their sins.

Mark 1:23-24 "And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God."

To get the impact from these verses it is necessary to understand that Jesus came to earth in the weakness of man. Why do you think Mark emphasizes the humanity of Jesus so much? Romans 8:3 says that “God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.” Again in Philippians 2:7-8 NASB: "He emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Hebrews 4:15 says that He was tempted “in all points like as we are.” He was subject to the same weakness of flesh. Then in Hebrews 5:8: "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered. And from His own lips He said, “I can of Mine own self do nothing."

In chapters 2 and 3 we see how the Pharisees respond Jesus. They misunderstand His ministry from the start - their eyes are blinded from the truth of who He is, and what He came to do. They criticize His healing and especially His ability to forgive sin ( 2: 7 ).

In Mark 3: 23 Jesus introduces us to parables. He asks the question: "How can Satan drive out Satan?" This of course is in direct response to the Pharisees accusation of Jesus doing works through the power of Satan. In verses 24 - 25 Jesus says, "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand."

My final thought is this: The evil spirits saw Jesus as he was, plain as day. They saw him not as a carpenter or a good man or a rabbi but as the Son of the Living God. Humbled in human frame he still was the Messiah and the Son of God. The evil spirits KNEW His power and His authority. They had more discernment than most people around Him.

Day 13: Matthew 27-28

In keeping with my exegetical notes on texts, I thought this might be a good thought.

Read:

Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Notice how the motivation or the motive for the Gospel is clearly given by Jesus: "All authority is given to me in heaven and in earth." What this means is that God has given Jesus a name above every name. God has named Christ to be the "Firstborn" among many brothers (us). He has made Jesus heir of all things. THEREFORE...Go preach the Gospel. Jesus has established His headship over all things in heaven and on earth BY His death on the cross. Note Philippians 2:5-10 in reference here. BECAUSE Jesus humbled himself and became obedient unto death, THEREFORE God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name above every name.

Jesus is simply stating this fact that He is LORD OVER HIS CREATION. His instructions are to go make disciples by preaching the gospel to every creature. It is this gospel preaching that brings men into the kingdom to become submissive to the King of kings. The key I want you to see is that YOU play a MAJOR PART in the exaltation of Jesus Christ, BY PREACHING THE GOSPEL. You are bringing God the glory due to His exalted name when you proclaim the gospel of the glory of Christ.

You may also like to reference Colossians 1:15-20 here as well.

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Col 1:19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
Col 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

May God bless you all as you continue to study His word.

Day 12: Matthew 26

Matthew 26:37-46
Peter, James, and John are given the distinct privilege to go and pray with Jesus and for Jesus to prepare themselves for His impending crucifixion. Jesus was anointed with oil in Bethany for His burial and they have the chance to anoint Him with prayer before He saves the world of sin. Instead, they sleep.

Matthew 26:48
Judas with his many flaws and greedy, self-serving nature is still chosen by Jesus to be one of the Twelve. Given the chance to be a pioneer of the Christian faith and to be bestowed the distinction among all Believers as being one of the Twelve; a distinction that would carry on through eternity. He betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver of which he doesn't keep and Jesus says of Judas that it would be better that he was never born.

Matthew 26:56 and Matthew 26:33-35
As Jesus is arrested the disciples abandon both their Savior and their promises to Him.

Matthew 26:58
Peter had said he would never leave Jesus' side, but we find him hiding in the shadows.

Matthew 26:69-75
Peter got too close to be following from afar and vehemently denies any association with Christ. The good news here is that this final act of rejection brakes Peter and he sees who he really is. We all need to be broken.

With the exemption of Judas, does anybody else find a little encouragement from the disciples' weaknesses? It's kinda strange when you just say it aloud and think about that statement, but I do sincerely find encouragement through their weaknesses. Not that I want to emulate their shortcomings, but I find that God's grace, strength, and mercy are communicated the loudest through our weakness. Encouraging because when you read through Acts, you encounter these same men transformed!! Men who do not run from danger of persecution or imprisonment but embrace their calling.

Jesus did not fill his roster with all stars. He chose average men and women. He chose dirty sinners. It took a while, but He cleaned them up. Then, He released them on an unsuspecting world, and they turned it upside down.

He chose you and He chose me. Not because of our greatness, but because of His grace.

Day 11: Matthew 24-25

Wow, what a deal. I get to blog on the words about Jesus coming again. There are so many things that speak so clearly to me out of this text. I am challenged when Jesus says one of the signs of His imminent return is the fact that many men's love will grow cold. That verse challenges me because there are so many ways and days that I am tempted to close my heart become jaded and skeptical and no longer help, especially when it costs from my very soul.

But in my reading of this text the verse I would like to discuss with us today is in 25:10. In the midst of the story of the virgins Jesus said those who were ready went in with him to the wedding. Now I know that this is referring to our readiness in Christ. Do we have the indwelling Spirit of God and have we made peace with God and been born again.

But I wonder if it could not also apply to my readiness in other realms as well. Am I ready to serve through spiritual preparation and discipline. Am I ready to love through surrendered heart and life? Am I ready to hear Him through training my spirit to understand and discern the things of the Spirit.

Sometimes one of the things that goes on in my life is a pottering around that suddenly I realize an hour or two has passed and I have accomplished none of the things that I realize I need to get done today. Am I ready and if I am do I enter into the party where Jesus is the center of attention. I am praying that today God will find me ready and that we will walk in incredible intimacy today. Paul

Day 10: Matthew 22-23

God is good and He will see His purposes through. He keeps His word and loves His children.

22:1-14
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

A few things God has shared with me to share here. First Jesus is speaking about the Jews as the original guests to the banquet. In verse 8-10 it is just a good thing to know that no one type of person is excluded from the invites, I believe no one is excluded from the invitation itself. It is a reminder to me that we ought not to give up hope or think of someone as too bad or too good to be able to be born again which I believe is what Jesus is speaking of in regards to the man without the wedding clothes in verse 11. In Revelation 22:4 when it is speaking of the new Heaven and new Earth it states 'They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.' There are many other examples but the point I wish to share is that by no means other than God's work through the Cross and the rebirth of the Holy Spirit can anyone enter the wedding. Also see Rev. 19:6-10 speaking of the wedding supper.

22:15-22
Paying Taxes to Caesar
I love this verse where the Pharisees speak of Jesus' integrity. Verse 16. The focus I am drawn to is ' You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.' I am enjoying how God is making this more of a reality for me. I was once a huge people pleaser and so fearful of man that I would imitate them so that I might not offend them. Though we ought to have respect to those above us in authority such as parents, elders, law..... we cannot put them above our convictions of what is true and holy and pleasing to God. Prov. 29:25 'Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.'

22:23-33
Marriage at the Resurrection
The angle of approach here for me as I read is something that God has been speaking to me in varoius areas of my life, actually all. Verse 29 ' You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.' in Hosea 4:6 it says 'my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.' If we are to walk rightly and pleasing to God we ought to seek to know Him and His ways. In a relationship one spends much time learning about the other person's interests, what they desire, who they are, etc. The basic principle applies to our relationship with God. If we are to understand Him and the what's and why's of life we need to spend time at His feet like Mary and not trust in our own understanding.

22:34-40
The Greatest Commandment
Love, no greater thing than love. Paul in 1 Cor. 13 speaks much of this. To love God above everything else which means to obey Him in all we do, and to love our neighbor as ourself, not a god.

22:41-46
Whose Son Is the Christ
I am amazed at the way Jesus cuts through the fog and gets to the point in a way that puts these men to silence.

23:1-39
Seven Woes
Self-righteousness. I am pretty overwhelmed with the depth of what is shared here. For us, we ought to stay true to our convictions and have no part in the huge burden of living religiously.

Day 9: Matthew 20-21

I always make the joke that sinful man is good at worshipping and serving one thing: Me, Myself and I. Or, like I call it, the Unholy Trinity! But it is so true. So when I read Matthew 20:20-28 I can't help but to feel some confrontation between the words of Jesus and my sinful flesh.

As a good ole American boy, I have grown up in a culture that fuels the idol worship of self. It's all about me, I am the god of my life. I must do whatever it takes to make sure the Unholy Trinity is pleased and satisfied.

Likewise, parents can be the same way about their own children. They are fueled by not living up to the American dream. So you hear them say things like, "I just want my children to have the life I didn't" Or "I want to give them everything I wasn't given"

As a result, parents can sometimes stop at nothing to see that their children have all this world can offer. We sorta see this attitude in the mother of James and John. She requests that her sons be seated on either side of Jesus in His kingdom. Afterall, they did leave everything to follow Jesus, so surely He owes them something, right?

Jesus combats her thinking and motives by defining true greatness in His kingdom. "You wanna be great in My kingdom? Ok! Be a servant! Stop seeking self-exaltation, humble yourself , become a slave and serve others."

The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Philippians 2:1-8:

"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

How do we go from self-centered, self-pleasuring, self-exalting desires to having the mind of Christ? I think the key is found in Philippians 2:13, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

This change in nature and attitude cannot simply be a work that we produce. Our works produce death, but the work of the Holy Spirit produces life. Read Romans 8.

Matthew 20:28 tells us when we serve others we reflect Jesus. Any time we reflect Christ, God is glorified (Matthew 5:16).

Day 8: Matthew 18-19

Once again, I find myself overwhelmed by all of the great stuff in these two chapters! The parables of the lost sheep and the unmerciful servant, the rich young ruler... hopefully some of you will chime in today and we can cover more of it!

This morning I was really challenged and intrigued by Jesus' statement to the disciples that they must "change and become like little children... therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Greatness in the Kingdom was a frequent topic of conversation among the disciples and I think it's still a prominent (although sometimes subtle) one today.

In this world we're certainly impressed with power, prestige, influence and human credentials. And even on the smaller scale of our daily lives, there's a selfish drive to have these things. But these things do not impress God and they do not commend ourselves to Him. What is highly valued in His sight is child-like humility.

So what is that? What does it look like? What struck me the most as I pondered this was that a child has an almost complete lack of self-sufficiency. Really, what all can children contribute on their own? They've mastered nothing and are simply dependent learners. While I'm sure there are plenty of other things that reflect child-like humility, that's the one that's sticking with me this morning.

One individual that we would consider great in the Kingdom, the Apostle Paul, echoed this truth over and over again: "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God" (2 Cor 3:5); "We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Cor 4:7) and "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature" (Rom 7:18). He went so far as to say, "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" (2 Cor 12:9).

Jesus said the same to all of us in John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing." That's the child-like humility I want to own more and more in my life: a complete recognition that apart from Him I can do nothing, that in reality I am just as reliant on Him as a child.

Day 7: Matthew 15-17

Right off the bat the Pharisees begin questioning, or should I say interrogating Jesus once again. They ask Jesus in verse 2, "Why do your disciples disobey our age-old traditions?" What do you think about traditions? Traditions arn't necessarily bad, but must never supercede our relationship with Jesus. What do you think? Notice what Jesus says in verse 8, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me."

The pivital verse for me in this reading begins with an all important question by Jesus in 16:13.
"He asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is? Well, they replied, some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." And then Peter chimes in and makes this great statement of faith in verse 16. "...You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!"

This profound statement of faith has to be true for every believer! and it's the foundational truth that the church was built on. What does Jesus mean in verse 18 when He says..."Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." Might Jesus be referring to the great statement of faith that Peter had just proclaimed. Is not Jesus the Rock, or foundation of the church?

Then as we move on to chapter 17 - we see what is commonly called the Transfiguration of Jesus. Might this be a foreshadowing of our own transformation. The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. "

I would love to hear your thoughts?

Day 6: Matthew 13-14

My apologies for the tardiness...but here are some thoughts:

Mat 13:11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Mat 13:12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Mat 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Mat 13:14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.

Without the Holy Spirit we would be not be able to know the "secrets of the kingdom." Spiritual knowledge is a gift. Read Romans 8:5-13 and I Corinthians 2:14. This should give us reason to praise and worship the One who has "given" us the grace to hear and understand truth.

Would love to hear your thoughts as you think through the parable of the sower. Open for discussion...

Day 5: Matthew 11-12

Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

I find great comfort from this passage. This is a calming passage if you let it calm your weary soul. He has fought the fight for your soul and He alone has won the victory over death. Then why do I still at times feel as if the yoke of Christ is not easy and the burden is heavy? I know that I can't make God love me more. How could He love me more? The Father sent the Son to die for me while I was a sinful enemy of God. How much more now that I am a child of His!? His yoke IS easy and His burden IS light. It is when I once again pick up the yoke of self-righteousness I feel the heavy load of my past sins. God has cast them into the abyss. The penalty of my sins has been removed from me as far as the east is from the west. My sin is removed and in its place is the righteousness of Christ.

Now I am to produce good fruit. Not to earn a place at the table of the Father, but to take my place in my Father's fields.

Praise be to God who is Mighty to Save!!

Day 4: Matthew 9-10

As I read over these two chapters with you my dear brothers and sisters I am amazed as Matthew speaks of the wonder of following our Savior. There are so many precious moments in these two chapters we could reflect on. I love what He says in chapter 10 about our calling. That if we confess Him before men He confesses us before the Father. I am challenged by His statement that He did not come to bring peace but a sword. I want to focus in on Matthew 9:35-38 for a few moments however. In Chapter 9 we have just been to the Decapolis region with Jesus in chapter 8 and observed the deliverance of the demon possessed in the tombs, a dramatic moment. Now upon His return Jesus heals a paralytic, raises a rulers daughter from the dead, a woman with an issue of blood for 12 years has been healed, two blind men receive their sight, and a man mute and demon possessed is delivered. That's pretty dramatic. Now in verse 35 Jesus goes about preaching and healing every disease and sickness in the cities.

In verse 36 Jesus sees the multitudes. Jesus looks out at humanity and scripture says He is moved with compassion. Jesus sees our situation. He is touched by our need and hurt. He is aware of our every thing. What a Savior. So what does He see? The next verses outline for us what He sees.

Jesus view of reality: The multitudes are weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus sees great need in our world. Jesus sees that life is making people weary. If we could look around us today we would see that multitudes are weary with the struggle of managing work and life and relationships. How do I balance family, work, responsibilities, and my own wishes for life. At the same time we are mooring less we have no authoritative direction apart from our God.

Jesus view of opportunities: According to Jesus the harvest is plentiful. Jesus looks at my world and He sees tremendous opportunities at every turn. I look and see a people that are closed to the gospel and don't want to hear what I have to say, but Jesus sees a field white and ready to harvest. I need to see people with the eyes of Jesus and realize that today I am going to be surrounded by opportunities and people that are ready.

Jesus view of our service: Jesus said the laborers are few. Jesus sees many people ready to do and follow on their own terms, but does He find in my heart a willingness to do whatever He desires and an ability to join Him in His great work? May I see my world through the eyes of Jesus today and may He see in my heart a willingness to serve that He can trust. If so He will lead me in fruit bearing today. LETS GO!

Day 3: Matthew 7-8

I pray these blogs that have been posted and those that are to be posted will be fruitful and really bless my brothers and sisters. It is a joy to serve in this manner to you. God is good.



These chapters are here seperated as in the NIV



7:1-6 Judging Others

It is good that we judge soberly to be as iron to iron and sharpen one another in the body of Christ that we be more like He is. In the same type of judgment when it is seen beneficial to encourage it is this same type of judgment that is beneficial to rebuke. Many love to use this verse in their defense when it comes to sin they love. I like what Paul Washer said concerning these "Twist not scripture lest ye be like Satan." -1 Cor. 5:12 -

Just as it is absurd for me (or probably any of us) to sit down with the Royals and try to give them advice about being a professional baseball player when I myself am no professional, it is the same when I see someone who has sin that I am not in victory over and begin to try to minister to their need as a blind man leading another blind man. Also, Oily rags aren't very good for cleaning a bug covered windshield.



7:7-12 Ask, Seek, Knock

God wants to give His children good gifts. James wrote of the reasons one may not receive. - James 4:2-3 - Whatever is received in the Lord it is to further glorify Him and not to lead us away from Him. Praise Him for those things He does give, and offer them up to Him as Abraham offered to God what was given him. - Gen. 22 - All that is, is the Lord's.



7:13 The Narrow and Wide Gates

We reap what we sow, for the believer in Christ if we are to enter into life as God desires we must continue in our repentance and turning away from sin. Only then can we have life as He desires us to have. As we further our life in Him we should be more and more 'narrow minded' and discover the fulfillment that is in Christ.



7:15-23 A Tree and Its Fruit

For seeing fruit in others' lives it takes patience. One thing is that we ought not to expect a recent convert to be a well established tree. We need to look through the eyes of the Spirit to see whether someone's 'fruit' is real or fake. Some bad fruit is easier to see than others but in general, if it exalts Christ and the truth of the gospel, it is good fruit.



7:24-29 The Wise and Foolish Builders

Jesus ends the sermon on the mount with a statement to do and not to just hear.

- James 1:22-25 -



8:1-17 The Man with Leprosy, The Faith of the Centurion, Jesus Heals Many

We are healed by His touch - v. 3,15

We are healed by His word - v. 3,13,16



8:18-22 The Cost of Following Jesus

The man here is not asking to attend a funeral, but to wait until his father dies and afterward he will follow Jesus. In many ways it still happens today, after I get a good job, after I get married, when I'm done with school . . . . . But this buildup of self sufficiency leaves no room for submission to the authority of Christ as Lord over one's life.



8:23-27 Jesus Calms the Storm

When our faith is weak God will often meet us where we are to reaffirm that He is in control thus strengthening us in Him.



8:28-34 The Healing of Two Demon-possessed Men

Demons are under the authority of Jesus. Demons counterfeit that which God does, instead of truth they give lies, instead of offering life they bring death, as the Spirit of God comes into man, demons copy this by possession.

Day 2: Matthew 5-6

Ah yes! The Sermon on the Mount! Considered the greatest sermon ever preached, by Christians and by secular teachers, philosophers, and historians. But what does it teach us? Many will take this teaching and make it one of the greatest works passages in all of scripture. A way to earn your right in heaven. Or as a way to please God in some way and He'll stamp on you His approval.

I think the key to understanding the Sermon on the Mount and where grace fits in is found in these two verses:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 5:3

" For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20

First, what does it mean to be "poor in spirit"? Here are some scriptures to help us get a better understanding of what Jesus is saying.

Isaiah 57:12 "I will declare your righteousness and your works, For they will NOT profit you. "

Isaiah 64:6-7 "But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities."

Romans 3:10-11 "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, no not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.'"


The great C.H. Spurgeon has said,

"The fact which he has ascertained is an old truth, for the man always was spiritually poor. From his birth he was a pauper, and at his best estate he is only a mendicant. "Naked, and poor, and miserable" is a fair summary of man's condition by nature. He lies covered with sores at the gate of mercy, having nothing of his own but sin, unable to dig and unwilling to beg, and therefore perishing in a penury of the direst kind.
This truth is also universal, for all men are by nature thus poor. In a clan or family, there will usually be at least one person of substance, and in the poorest nation there will be some few possessors of wealth; but, alas for our humanity! its whole store of excellence is spent, and its riches are utterly gone. Among us all, there remains no remnant of good; the oil is spent from the curse, the meal is exhausted from the barrel, and a famine is upon us, direr than that which desolated Samaria of old. We owe ten thousand talents, and have nothing wherewith to pay; even so much as a single penny of goodness we cannot find in all the treasuries of the nations."

Mankind is spiritually bankrupt, dead, depraved and perishing. We have nothing to offer. The very best we have, according to Isaiah, is nothing but filthy rags after a woman's monthly cycle. Sorry for the visual, but it's an awesome picuture of who we are compared to God's holiness.

Now we have a problem. Jesus said that there is no way we can enter the kingdom of heaven unless our righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees. I can't imagine what went the minds of those hearing this from Jesus. To many, the Pharisees were the prime example of righteousness. But here comes Jesus telling us we need to 1 up them - or more! Is there hope?

We naturally have to answer the question, "If my own righteousness is NOTHING how in the world am I to have a righteousness good enough to see the kingdom of heaven?"

Good question. Let's look at some more scripture:

Romans 3:22-26 "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

1Cor 1:30: "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification and redemption"

2Cor 5:21: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."


The answer to the question is Jesus. The righteousness we need to possess to see the kingdom of heaven is found in Jesus and in Him only - by faith. The rigtheousness God demands cannot be performed, worked for or even sought after. It is impossible! The righteousness we need was perfected by Jesus and only received by faith in Him.

The Apostle Paul put it this way in Philippians 3:9, "and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith"

I think once we grasp these truths we begin to see that the Sermon on the Mount can only be lived by Christ in us. Philippians 1:11 says "being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory of and praise of God."

It is impossible to do so apart from Jesus!

Day 1: Matthew 1-4

While there are several things in the first four chapters of Matthew's gospel that have challenged me over the years, this morning I was particularly struck by Matthew 4:4. This verse is one of Jesus' responses to the tempter, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Simply put, there's nothing else that satisfies my soul like the Word of God. That's why I'm so encouraged to be embarking on this blogging journey with all of you. While I have had great success in sprinting through God's Word, I often finding myself struggling with the marathon. There is this continuing irony that I wrestle with in that I love digging into God's Word, but far too often I allow other things to squeeze that time out of my life. So instead of having time to dig, I simply grab some crumbs off the surface.

This morning the challenge for myself is to see this thing through, 90 days of consistency. Bread is food for the natural man, but the Word of God is food for the spiritual man. When I neglect spending time with the Lord in His Word, I end up embodying the very thing Paul said of some first century believers in 1 Corinthians 3:3, "Are you not acting like mere men?" I don't want to live like mere men do. I don't want to lead, to serve, to parent, or even play softball like mere men do. And the only way for that to happen is to daily surrender to the Lord, spending time with Him, and allowing His truth to renew my mind and form my character in His image.

What has God spoken to your heart through His Word today?

Introduction

Welcome to the BSU's New Testament in 90 days blog! The reason we're doing this is very simple: during the summer most of us have changed routines and may not have the same people around us to encourage and challenge us in our walk with the Lord. Therefore, we thought it would be great to commit together to reading through the New Testament this summer!

Each day one of our seven contributing writers* will share some of their thoughts on the passage for the day. Afterward, everyone is encouraged to add their own comments - either concerning the original post, their own experience with the day's reading, or even interaction with another commenter.

* Our seven writers are myself and Tyler Walker from the BSU, pastors Paul McKim and Tate Walker from Laura Street, pastors Jim Pearce and Wes Mayfield from First Baptist Maryville and pastor Brent Baxley from Grant City Baptist.

Given the nature of squeezing the entire New Testament into 90 days, there will be several chapters to cover each day. It would be beyond the scope of a blog to try and comment on everything said in that many verses, so we encourage you to just focus in on one or two things God has spoken to you as you've encountered Him in His word.

Congratulations on joining us on this journey, I'm excited to have a plan and have others along with me! I pray it will be a blessing to each one of us and that God will use this blog to change our lives and conform us more and more into the likeness of Jesus.

Reading Plan