Who Is My Neighbor?

Luke 10:27-29 -   “It says,” he replied, “that you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor just as much as you love yourself.”  “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you shall live!”  The man wanted to justify his lack of love for some kinds of people,^[d] so he asked, “Which neighbors?”

 

A Man had asked Jesus how to get to Heaven….and he had replied with His own question. He asked the man what the laws of Moses had recorded God telling them already. It was a simple enough answer…but one of the hardest things to do.  Love God with every part of your being… and love others the same as yourself.

 

The man just couldn’t accept that Jesus meant all people…so he asked one more question…. Which one? Jesus replied with one the most familiar stories in the Bible….where a hated Samarian is given the hero role to prove the point that the neighbor we are supposed to love is the one that crosses our path…whether it be man… woman….black skin…yellow skin….president….homeless…rich…poor…crook….honest…obnoxious or sweet.  The simple truth that Jesus wanted all of us to grasp is that we are to love everyone the same way we love Him.

 

I am doing better lately…but I will admit that I still am more like the man who wanted Jesus to send me to the neighbors I liked instead of the neighbors that were difficult to deal with. It is easier to help those that appreciate and praise us for our help. But Jesus was saying that the heart that is transformed by His love doesn’t care what it gets in return…it does its good because the father instructed him too…because we love God…our heart is able to love all people the way he does.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I am to love everyone that You love.  Forgive me for the times that I made excuses for helping someone because I was in a hurry…or too busy….or thought they didn’t deserve it… or I was afraid …or just plain selfish. Help me to be more like the good Samaritan…and Jesus…ready to help anyone that comes to me for help….able to use the words that you hide in my heart every night and morning to comfort…or heal…or even save another soul to the Kingdom of God. Amen.

Fill Up With Power...Then Go Use It For God

Luke 9:34-37 -  But even as he was saying this, a bright cloud formed above them; and terror gripped them as it covered them.  And a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him.” Then, as the voice died away, Jesus was there alone with his disciples. They didn’t tell anyone what they had seen until long afterwards. The next day as they descended from the hill, a huge crowd met him,  and a man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, this boy here is my only son….

 

He had just met with God…Moses…and Elijah on a hillside. They talked about the hard task that His father had given Him to do. The experience was so overwhelming that it  transformed His countenance….changing His appearance for that moment from ordinary to glowing white…from the inside out. Peter wanted to stay there forever…and build shelters for them all.  But Jesus descended the hill with a new resolve to finish what God had sent Him there to do. The first thing he did was heal a young boy from demons that no one else had been able to cast out.

 

What  great reminder to live in the present...in the real world that God sent us to minister too.  We can worship Him any time we want …be infused with power and strength….let His love transform us from the inside out….but we should always remember that the strength he gives us is meant to help others.  We should always remember that God tells us to use His power to increase the Kingdom of God that Jesus established during His ministry on Earth.

 

I admit that I feel like Peter more that I follow Jesus’ example.  The tiredness of life...the pain from loss tempts me to want to stay in those moments of mountain top experience…when God feels so close we could reach out and touch Him. But those experiences are not meant to be permanent…just temporary charging stations along the journey that he has sent us on.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you require me to live in the present…to use the power and strength that You have provided to help me work for you in this moment of the day.  Forgive me for the times that I have wanted to stay in Your lap longer than You intended.  Help me to soak up just enough of your love to power me through each task You give me to do…returning as much as I need too for more.  Amen.

Go Everywhere With Jesus

Luke 8:1-3- Not long afterwards he began a tour of the cities and villages of Galilee to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God, and took his twelve disciples with him.  Some women went along, from whom he had cast out demons or whom he had healed; among them were Mary Magdalene (Jesus had cast out seven demons from her),  Joanna, Chuza’s wife (Chuza was King Herod’s business manager and was in charge of his palace and domestic affairs), Susanna, and many others who were contributing from their private means to the support of Jesus and his disciples.

 

Jesus did not stay in one place.  His ministry took Him many places and through many towns.  He took His twelve disciples with Him…and many others….touched and changed from within from healing or the casting out of demons… they followed Jesus completely of their own choosing.  Several of these were women.

 

Jesus ignored the culture of the day and allowed anyone that wanted to follow Him to get as close as they wanted.  He broke the cultural barrier of inequality for women by allowing them to follow Him as closely as His twelve disciples and even let them sit and listen to His teachings. He constantly said after he taught for … “all who had ears to listen.”

 

It’s a great reminder to me that God calls all of us to salvation….and God calls all of us to share that testimony with others. The great commission was not given just to men…but to all the disciples that followed him….men and women.  Never once can I find recorded that Jesus told anyone not to share what they had learned for Him with others.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you love all of us the same.  Forgive me for the times that I have not shared because I let a barrier of gender quiet my testimony.  Make me bold like these women who followed Jesus…who couldn’t help but share the love and grace that Jesus had given them with others.  Give me a heart that wants to follow Jesus even closer so that I can soak up even more of His word.  Amen.

Believe ALL Things Are Possible

Luke 7:6-9 - Jesus went with them; but just before arriving at the house, the captain sent some friends to say, “Sir, don’t inconvenience yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of any such honor or even to come and meet you. Just speak a word from where you are, and my servant boy will be healed! I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my men. I only need to say ‘Go!’ and they go; or ‘Come!’ and they come; and to my slave, ‘Do this or that,’ and he does it. So just say, ‘Be healed!’ and my servant will be well again!” Jesus was amazed. Turning to the crowd he said, “Never among all the Jews in Israel have I met a man with faith like this.”

 

Jesus met all kinds of people with all kinds of needs. All of them that were healed had faith…but Jesus said that this Roman…a gentile believer…had more faith than all of them. He paired his belief with great humility and believed that just the words from Jesus’ mouth would heal His servant.  Jesus was so touched by his faith that He told the crowds around Him it was the strongest faith He had ever seen.

 

It is a reminder to me that God can do anything we believe He can do.  God is limited only by our faith in Him. This roman soldier believed in Jesus even when the religious leaders of the day tried to discount Him.  This gentile had more compassion for His servant than many Jews had for their own family.

 

I admit that I am more like the Jews than the roman soldier in this story…but I prayed a little different after reading this last night. My prayers had a new sense of urgency…of faith. I could feel the positive love of God melt away the negative vibes that satan is always trying to weigh me down with.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are capable of doing so much more than I ever ask. Forgive me for the times that I let my human flesh and minute brain limit wheat you can do for those I pray for. Help me to be more like this soldier…and believe that you can do anything… from any distance….just because you love and care for us. Amen

Happy Are Those That Trust God In All Things

Luke 6:20-23 -  Then he turned to his disciples and said, “What happiness there is for you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours!  What happiness there is for you who are now hungry, for you are going to be satisfied! What happiness there is for you who weep, for the time will come when you shall laugh with joy!  What happiness it is when others hate you and exclude you and insult you and smear your name because you are mine!  When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For you will have a great reward awaiting you in heaven. And you will be in good company—the ancient prophets were treated that way too!

 

Jesus had called all twelve of His disciples and began to teach them the truth of the Kingdom of God. One of the first things he taught them was that suffering is a good thing….for it helps you realize the power of God to make you content and happy in all things.  Dealing with tragedies and sorrows helps you see your need to rely on God…so that your reliance on Him in those times will produce blessings you never saw coming when things were good.

 

I admit that this is also one of the hardest concepts of loving God to accept….perhaps that is why he chose to start early helping the disciples understand it.  While we are in our greatest pain from financial need….or hunger….or sadness….or insult…or persecution…our minds are focused on the pain and suffering we feel.  It is when we call on God….and we allow God to help us be content in our seemingly bad circumstances …that we begin to focus more on God.  That is when we begin to see the purpose and good in what we are going through…that is what helps us get through the storm to the other side to see the rainbow…the blessing that comes from acceptance and obedience to God.

 

Father….thank you for the reminder that all things work to good for those that love you. Thank you for reminding me that happiness comes from accepting my pain in life and letting you use it to help others.  Forgive me for the times that I have sat to long in my pain…and prolonged the happiness that you had planned for me.  Help me to be content on all things and remember your promise that you have only good things planned for my future….so that I always see the hope and love that you gave to me through your son.  Amen.

If God says Go...Then Go

Luke 5:3-6 -  Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push out a little into the water, so that he could sit in the boat and speak to the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets and you will catch a lot of fish!”  “Sir,” Simon replied, “We worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, we’ll try again.” And this time their nets were so full that they began to tear!

 

Jesus had more than one reason to ask Simon…better known as Peter….to use his boat to preach from that day.  It was the second time that he had crossed paths with this man…and today Jesus would ask him to give up everything to follow Him and help him spread the Kingdom Of God. He that Peter needed just a bit more convincing before He asked Him to change his whole life…so He masterminded a catch of fish that would boggle this tired fisherman’s mind. He showed Peter what happens when we follow God’s directives and become obedient to everything he asks us to do.

 

What a great reminder not to let the failures of our lives dictate the choices we make for our future.  If peter had not followed Jesus’ directions…had not trusted Him to go out one more time for a catch of fish…he would have missed a great blessing. Perhaps even walking away from Christ in that moment because he just wasn’t sure that he was who he said He was. That great catch…that miracle that God produced for Jesus in that moment…was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back for Peter. If he doubted before the catch…he now believed with all his heart and soul and mind and strength.  It was just what he needed to leave a life of fishing and follow Jesus.

 

I admit that I am so like Peter ….and I have been that way more than once.  I am saddened when I think of all the blessings I may have missed because I failed to do what God asked me to…or was too busy to stop and listen to His directions in the first place.  God’s been doing a ton of miracles in my life lately…and I am overwhelmed with a feeling that He is sending me out on a mission for Him that will blow the proverbial socks off my feet! I am ready to lay down a 34 year career….sign the papers for a loan for a house back home in Tennessee…and I have no clue why he is sending me there…except to reconnect with my parents and sisters.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that when I follow your calling …you are waiting to show me great miracles and blessings that I could never conceive of with my human mind. Forgive me for all the times that I did not listen…or let fear hold me back from following you completely.  Help me to keep my ears and eyes and heart open and listening to everything you tell me to do in the days ahead…so I get everything exactly the way you wanted it in the first place.  Amen.

Scripture Tells Us What To Do And When To Do It

Luke 4:1-4 - Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan River, being urged by the Spirit out into the barren wastelands of Judea, where Satan tempted him for forty days. He ate nothing all that time and was very hungry.  Satan said, “If you are God’s Son, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” But Jesus replied, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘Other things in life are much more important than bread!’”

 

Jesus had just been baptized into His ministry on earth….His Father speaking His blessing and the Holy Spirit becoming a part of everything he would do from this moment on. Jesus was not led into a time of rest and easy living….but a time of fasting….reflection….and temptation. It was a time that He began to see the importance of the scripture he had studied.  It was a time that he discovered the strength and power He had and the right reasons to use it.

 

It is a reminder to me that becoming a follower of Christ does not guarantee an easy life.  It does mean that we inherit the power and strength of the Holy Spirit to teach… guide… strengthen… and comfort us. It is our responsibility to soak up as much scripture as Jesus did…so that God can use our moments of temptation to confirm our task on earth when he allows satan to tempt us.

 

Father….thank you for the reminder that you gave me the same dose of Holy Spirit when I became your child as you did Jesus. Forgive me for all the times that I forget that the Holy Spirit can give me power and strength and comfort when I need it most.  Help me to study even more…so that when I am tempted… the exact scripture I need to denounce satan’s tricks come to my heart and mind. Amen.

What Is Your Job For God?

Luke 3:3-6 - Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned to God and away from their sins, in order to be forgiven. In the words of Isaiah the prophet, John was “a voice shouting from the barren wilderness, ‘Prepare a road for the Lord to travel on! Widen the pathway before him! Level the mountains! Fill up the valleys! Straighten the curves! Smooth out the ruts!  And then all mankind shall see the Savior sent from God.’”

 

John the Baptist had gone out into the wilderness to live as soon as He realized the mission God had had given him. He wanted to separate himself from any worldly influences…and spend as much time with God as possible. Perhaps he had read Isaiah’s prophecy as a young man and knew in his heart that he was the one to fulfill it. He lived off the land…and waited for a message from God to begin announcing the coming of the Messiah.

 

John’s preaching and teaching was unlike any others of that day. His delivery brought back memories of the prophets of old. He told people in plain words that they had it wrong…they needed to repent of their sins and turn back to God.  John introduced baptism to these new Christians…a way of symbolizing their death to sin…washing of all that sin away to rise in newness to Christ.

 

And John’s choice to preach the gospel and repentance of sin in baptism was confirmed the day Jesus ask him to baptize Him. He had no sin to repent of…but symbolized for all of us that the sin of the world would soon be buried with Him and He would rise to conquer death forever. God was so proud of His son that he sent the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove to light on Jesus’ shoulder…while he spoke words of comfort and strength to His son from the sky. God wasn’t just proud of His choice to be baptized….he was proud of His son for accepting the ministry and mission he had been sent to complete.

 

It is a reminder to me that I have been placed on this earth to fulfill some sort of mission for God too. I know that it involves missions…and writing…but the other details have not been revealed yet.  I have to be like John…making sure that I choose a place to live and a way to sustain my life so that I can listen to God’s message and know exactly what I need to do and when I need to start doing it.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder  that you have a job for me to do.  Forgive me for the times that I have let the world and its influences keep me from spending as much time as I can with you.  Help me to use my time more wisely and listen for the message you will send to me to tell me what to do…and when to start doing it. Help me to be less dependent on the world…and more dependent on you.  Amen.

Be About Your Father's Business

Luke 2:49-52 -   “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you realize that I would be here at the Temple, in my Father’s House?”  But they didn’t understand what he meant. Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them; and his mother stored away all these things in her heart.  So Jesus grew both tall and wise, and was loved by God and man.

 

They had gone to the Passover celebration in Jerusalem the year that Jesus was 12. They realized he had not returned with them the first night they stopped to camp for the night…and searched for 3 days more before they found Him in the Temple…soaking up all the discussions of scripture He could. He had obviously spent time with His Heavenly father discussing them too…for he was full of wisdom and insight for a boy His age.

 

His earthly parents had let the fact that Jesus was God’s son slip to the back of their memory…but Jesus was letting the fact that He was God’s son lead Him in a passionate search for all He could learn about His Heavenly Father. It wasn’t quite time for Jesus to fulfill His mission of salvation….so he returned home with His parents and grew in wisdom and physical stature for the twenty-one years God would continue to prepare Him for the purpose He was sent to Earth in the first place.

 

I admit that I am more like Mary and Joseph in this story than Jesus.  I tend to forget that I was not put in this world to make myself happy and content…but rather to fulfill some task or purpose that God predestined for me to help Him with. Just read Romans 8:28-30 …. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

 

I need to be more like Jesus in this story….studying….sitting with the ones He gave wisdom to before me…learning all that I can so that the ministry He sent me here to do can be full and rich and make the biggest impact for his kingdom as it can.

 

Father….thank you for the reminder that I am to be about my Father’s business.  Forgive me for the times that I have let the earthly pressures of life distract me from learning as much about you as I should.  Give me a heart like Jesus had at 12..that realized fully who he was…an knew that He needed to study and know the Bible for all it would give Him in support when He was 33. Amen.

Read And Study...To Reassure And Confirm

Luke 1:1-4 - Dear friend who loves God: Several biographies of Christ have already been written using as their source material the reports circulating among us from the early disciples and other eyewitnesses.  However, it occurred to me that it would be well to recheck all these accounts from first to last and after thorough investigation to pass this summary on to you, to reassure you of the truth of all you were taught.

 

Luke…a doctor who became a believer and companion to Paul after Jesus ascended to Heaven….combined all the research he did to convince himself that the story of God’s son was true.  He begins with some very important words that all of us should let sink deep in our spirit…and call us to passionate study ourselves….to reassure ourselves of the reason we believe in God…..his son Jesus….and the Holy Spirit that moves among still today.

 

Luke was able to meet and talk with several of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ family…and many others that experienced the miracles and healings Jesus did in His lifetime. He laid down the science book that helped him become doctor…and adopted a more spiritual view of the work of Jesus among His followers. He was on a quest for the truth…and became one of the 4 gospel writers in the process.

 

I have learned over the last 5 years just how important it is to read and study the Bible for myself. It confirms and reassures me of the things that God needs me to do and believe….as well as exposing misconceptions I may have picked up along my own Christian journey.  I don’t believe things simply because a great preacher…or someone I love says it is so.  I believe it because I can find it in God’s Holy word….the Bible.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to study and find out what the Bible says for myself. Forgive me for the many times I have just taken someone else’s words for fact…without researching it for myself. Thank you for instilling in me a passion to read your word…and write down the insights that you lay on my heart each morning. Help me to never take for granted the time it helps me spend with you each day. Amen.

Belief Is Personal

Mark 16:9-13 - It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus came back to life, and the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene—the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She found the disciples wet-eyed with grief and exclaimed that she had seen Jesus, and he was alive! But they didn’t believe her!  Later that day he appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn’t recognize him at first because he had changed his appearance.  When they finally realized who he was, they rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the others, but no one believed them.

 

The three days following Jesus’ crucifixion were agonizing for His believers. They cowered in hiding…to afraid to venture into public venues….too deep in grief to remember His final words that God would raise Him from the dead to a glory none had ever known before.  Nothing short of personal visit from Him would bring them the joy that these others felt when they realized Jesus was alive.

 

It is still that way today….each of us must encounter Jesus…See God through His eyes of mercy and grace….and let the Holy Spirit fill us with a joy that no other belief can give you.  Even as we begin to accept the last words he gave us to spread His story…some will choose to reject the Savior and never believe what he did to give them everlasting life.

 

It is a reminder to me to do only what God has asked me to do. It is my responsibly to share His story…I cannot make the decision for them. I can share what God has done for me….and then pray for the Holy Spirit to convict them of their need to have God in their lives. It is my responsibility to model for them the closest relationship I can with my God…so that God can use the things they see in my life to help them believe in Him.

 

It was back in Mark 10:22 we are told that even Jesus had to watch sadly as a man walked away from his personal encounter with Jesus…unwilling to give up the idol of money in his life to follow Him. I just bet Jesus whispered a silent prayer to His father to keep working on that man’s stubborn heart. Then he stepped out of that moment and ministered to the others around Him who had not had their opportunity to know Him in a personal way.

 

Jesus won’t return until ALL people have had a chance to make that choice. Matthew 24:14 says…. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”  That makes it pretty clear to me that my job is to help spread that gospel…by every means that God makes available to me.

 

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that each one of us is given at least one chance to know you in a personal way. Forgive me for the times that I have forsaken my responsibility in sharing the joy of Your love and resurrection with others.  Help me to see clearly every opportunity you place in my pathway to share what You have done for me…so we will be closer to the day when ALL people have had an opportunity to know and be changed by your love.  Amen.

God Can Help Us Gather Courage...For Anything He Asks Us To Do

Mark 15:42-45 -  This all happened the day before the Sabbath. Late that afternoon Joseph from Arimathea, an honored member of the Jewish Supreme Court (who personally was eagerly expecting the arrival of God’s Kingdom), gathered his courage and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.  Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead so he called for the Roman officer in charge and asked him. The officer confirmed the fact, and Pilate told Joseph he could have the body.

 

Jesus had spent the last 24 hours of His life suffering untold physical pain….mental abuse and aguish….and temporary separation from His father.  The human body that had enabled Him to become the last sacrifice ever needed for sin now hung physically dead…so close to the traditional Jewish Sabbath that the timeline for burial was short. It was the courage of one of the religious leaders…Joseph of Arimathea…that gave an answer to how to get Jesus buried before breaking any of the Jewish laws.

 

I can only imagine the hardship and persecution this man encountered when the rest of the leaders who had plotted to kill Jesus learned that he had taken such a strong stance in support of Jesus.  But Joseph did not think of what would happen to him…he took courage….and even tenderly wrapped Jesus with a burial cloth before they sealed Him in the fresh grave meant for Joseph’s own family.

 

I admit that I needed a fresh reminder of the courage that is available to me when things seem the hardest.  I am the first to cave in to the pressure around me…shutting my mouth in defeat…or walking away form a blessing because I know I lack the strength and courage on my own. I need to be more like Joseph…stepping up to the hard things…..because I know that I know that I know that God is with me and will give me the strength and help I need to do all things…just like Philippians 4:13 tells us.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you have already prepared a container of all the courage and strength that I will ever need to complete anything you ask me to do. Forgive me for succumbing so many times to peer pressure and plain old fear. Help me to be like Joseph…who gathered His courage and strength to go against the politically correct …most popular beliefs….and do what you make known to me in my spirit…no matter what the repercussions might be after. Amen.

The Body Is Weak...So Turn To God In Prayer

Mark 14:32-34 - And now they came to an olive grove called the Garden of Gethsemane, and he instructed his disciples, “Sit here, while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to be filled with horror and deepest distress. And he said to them, “My soul is crushed by sorrow to the point of death; stay here and watch with me.”

 

Jesus knew the only way he could get through the next few hours was by close communication with His Father. He was hours away from the beginning of the hardest task God has asked any man to complete for Him…His soul burned with sorrow and was so distressed he even asked if there was some other way for God to save the world.

 

Jesus knew the disciples had totally misunderstood His purpose …and corporate prayer was of no use to Him…so he withdrew from them a short distance and prayed in private. The disciples fell asleep on Jesus …but not before they overheard a few of the words He used to talk with God.

 

There are times in our lives when no one else can pray for us what we need to pray about.  There are times when we need to get alone and pour out our deepest fears to God. He alone understood Jesus’ need for support and strength in this hour…everyone else was waiting for Jesus to take an earthly throne. How lonely and misunderstood He must have felt in these moments.

 

I …of course ….am guilty as I reflect this morning. I share the disciple’s human weakness for sleep and often fall asleep in my prayers at night…not to mention that I sometimes press the snooze alarm way too many times before I push myself out of bed to write some mornings. I am so comforted to know the next part of the story that tells me that Jesus loved the disciples anyway…even though they had failed Him in this moment…and were about to abandon Him completely for a time.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that alone time with you is sometimes the only way togain enough strength and power to complete the task you need us to do. Forgive me for the times that I have fallen asleep in my task for you…and have been less than exuberant in waking to join you in reflection each morning.  Help me to be so thankful of your love for me that I am able to focus better during my prayers and morning time with you…looking forward to these times I can gain strength and insight form your word for my day ahead. Amen.

Live In The Present

Mark 13::3-4 - And as he sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives across the valley from Jerusalem, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got alone with him and asked him, “Just when is all this going to happen to the Temple? Will there be some warning ahead of time?”

 

Jesus had told the disciples about a time in the future that the Temple would be completely destroyed. They were baffled and confused and wanted to know if there would be a warning …a sign of when it would happen.  Jesus simply told them that there would be subtle signs that would signal the beginning of the end…but in reality everyone should watch and prepare for the future as if it could be the very next moment of their lives.

 

Jesus knew that if we could predict the date…we might be tempted to put off the task he has given us to do until it was close at hand. The signs he listed for them have truly all come to pass…except for one. We have seen earthquakes…wars….famine…persecution …somewhere in the world…but I believe strongly in my heart that everyone has not had an opportunity to hear the gospel of Christ.

 

My Life Application Bible had a note that stuck in my spirit.  It said that these words of Jesus were meant to help the disciples understand the importance of living in the present. He wanted them to be able to wake every morning thinking that sharing the truth of the gospel was their number one priority. He did not want them trying to calculate the exact date he would return…but to live each moment as if it was their last. He was telling them that the life he was asking them to live was not going to be easy…but he was going to be with them every step of the difficulties they would face.

 

Jesus is speaking to everyone who accepts Him as their savior and is obedient to His call to servanthood. He is telling us that one of the people that has not heard His story may cross our paths…TODAY! That thought should raise my attentiveness to the needs of those I encounter each moment of my day.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you will come again in all your glory to claim back the earth and rid evil forever. Forgive me for the times that I have used the excuse …that you surely won’t come today …to be lazy and selfish for one more day. Help me to keep the thought that no one knows the exact moment to help me remember that it could be as I type the next word….to live more in the present….so I will work all the more diligently to tell everyone that crosses my path about the great things you have done for me.  Amen.

Taxes Are A Necessary Part Of Life

Mark 12:15-17 - Jesus saw their trick and said, “Show me a coin and I’ll tell you.” When they handed it to him he asked, “Whose picture and title is this on the coin?” They replied, “The emperor’s.”  “All right,” he said, “if it is his, give it to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God!” And they scratched their heads in bafflement at his reply.

 

The religious leaders were desperate to trap Jesus with a question that they thought was unanswerable. Their goal was to cause the people to lose respect for him…or to catch Him contradicting the scriptures.  But Jesus knew His Bible so well that He always had an answer that baffled the leaders…and sent them away to rethink their next move.

 

Jesus introduced a thought to the people that gave them a reason to be loyal to God and to the government at the same time. Taxes.... were invented by man to cover the expenses of the leaders in government. Since man had insisted on having a king to rule them…they were a necessary part of life. Jesus added to His explanation that God was due our loyalty too. He needed to be given all that belonged to Him.

 

I marvel sometimes at how God sways my thoughts each day to choose a topic to write about. These chapters in the gospels have at least 5 or more topics embedded in them each day. But today …when I searched the gateway ap I use to copy and paste my scripture…this passage from Romans 13:6-7 popped up as the verses of the day. It says… “ Pay your taxes too, for these same two reasons. For government workers need to be paid so that they can keep on doing God’s work, serving you. Pay everyone whatever he ought to have: pay your taxes and import duties gladly, obey those over you, and give honor and respect to all those to whom it is due.”

 

What a double clear message I have received that supporting the government of the country I was placed in to live my life is both a privilege and a duty. America is not perfect…but it is the land of the free…the home of the brave…and the place I am allowed to worship God in the way that I think my Bible leads me each day. My taxes are paid for the year…but if you haven’t you still have time to get them sent in.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you established governments for a reason. Forgive me for the times that I have justified ignoring its rules and regulations because man has let the original purpose of government to degrade and become corrupt.  Give me a heart that prays for the recovery of the institution you meant to bring about a simple earthly justice…and pay my taxes each year with gratitude that you gave allowed me to live in America.  Amen.

Realize the Full Power Of God In Your Life

Mark 11:22-25 -  In reply Jesus said to the disciples, “If you only have faith in God—this is the absolute truth—you can say to this Mount of Olives, ‘Rise up and fall into the Mediterranean,’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and have no doubt!  Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you have it; it’s yours! But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too.”

 

Jesus had cursed a fig tree the day before…perhaps just because He knew they would pass it the next day and question Him about it. The disciples had looked at it in amazement…seeing it was withered and dead in such a short time.  Jesus seized the moment to remind them of the power they all held in their hearts and minds to do anything they needed to do.

 

If you have read the Bible through at least once…you have heard the three requirements that are needed to have this power in our commands before.  We must believe…we must not doubt…and we must not harbor any thoughts of bitterness or malice against others.  Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” And then in Ephesians 4:31 says… “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”

 

I admit that needed the reminder this morning…for it is definitely one of the truths of God that is easier said than done. Belief without doubt is not one of the things that I have mastered yet….and even though I have tasted the sweet peace that is found in giving forgiveness…I realize daily that there is still someone that I harbor resentment …or jealously…or some bitterness in my heart. Perhaps that is half the battle…to realize that I still need to ask God to help me identify all the things that keep me from experiencing His full power in my life.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to daily search for the things that block my heart from total reliance and belief in you. Forgive me for the thoughts that I still have that are bitter or jealous or disbelieving in the promises I know your word has recorded for me.  Help me to take all the things you help me to uncover immediately to the altar and release them to your care and power…so that I may realize the full power of your Holy Spirit in my life. Amen.

Trust Like A Child

Mark 10:13-16 -  Once when some mothers were bringing their children to Jesus to bless them, the disciples shooed them away, telling them not to bother him.  But when Jesus saw what was happening he was very much displeased with his disciples and said to them, “Let the children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as they. Don’t send them away! I tell you as seriously as I know how that anyone who refuses to come to God as a little child will never be allowed into his Kingdom.” Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and he blessed them.

 

Jesus as on His way to Jerusalem to complete the task He had been given by His Father.  These mothers just wanted a blessing for their children….but the disciples tried to send them away. Jesus was upset with them for turning these precious children away and seized the opportunity to remind His disciples that they needed to learn to trust Him the way these little children trusted their parents. Then He let them crawl up in His lap and blessed every one of them.

 

I admit that trust is one of those things that my adult mind struggles with on a daily basis. Some days I am strong and feel God’s presence in the waiting periods of life….but others I am as weak as anyone else…..seeds of doubt trying to take root in my human mind that thinks it has seen way too much disappointment in her 56 years.

 

One of the things that keeps me from falling completely off the trust wagon is to thank God for the many blessings that see around me each day. When I focus on all that God has done for me …I see that the good things far outweigh the bad…and begin to see some purpose in the few disappointments God has allowed.  Then I remember that He promised to give me hope for my future…even though I can’t always see what that future will be.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you installed in me all the faith I needed when I was a little child. Forgive me for letting the pain of this world plant seeds of doubt.  Help me to trust you again like a little child…fully and completely….with no worries about the future.  Amen.

Always Ask For More Faith

Mark 9:21-24 -  “How long has he been this way?” Jesus asked the father.  And he replied, “Since he was very small, and the demon often makes him fall into the fire or into water to kill him. Oh, have mercy on us and do something if you can.”  “If I can?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if you have faith.” The father instantly replied, “I do have faith; oh, help me to have more!”

 

Jesus had just gotten off the boat that carried Him…. Peter…John and James from the glorious transfiguration experience on the mountain….when they were confronted by a father with a child possessed by a demon.  The disciples that had not gone with Him up the mountain had tried to cast it out with no success. But the father did not give up…he went straight to Jesus and ask if He would do anything to help.  He knew Jesus had the power...but wasn’t sure if Jesus’ compassion would stretch to their undeserving gentile hearts.

 

Jesus already knew that the boy could be completely freed of the demon that had plagued him since he was a small child.  Jesus wanted to make sure that the man knew the power came from his faith in God…and that that faith could do anything if he believed. He wanted this man to vocalize for everyone that had gathered in the crowd around them that he…this gentile looking at the Messiah of the Jews… did believe in the power He had to become the Messiah for all people…not just the Jews.

 

The powerful words this father spoke to Jesus are one of the most powerful statements any Christian can ever speak.  They should be the first admission we all utter when we open our eyes each morning. I know that I believe…but also know that I have trusted Him at different levels in different seasons of my life. I should always be able to admit that my faith can be strengthened even more.

 

When we ask God to increase our faith it is the first step in experiencing the peace that John wrote about in John 14:27….  “I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.”  It is that peace that will carry us through the hardest tasks he gives us to do.  It’s that peace that keeps us from worrying about the future He promised us in Jeremiah 29:11.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I can always have more faith than I think I am capable of possessing at any one time. Forgive me for the times that I let my faith even decrease because I let seeds of worry and doubt cloud the vision you were trying to give me of the blessings you had planned for my future. Help me to always consider that you are willing to give me immeasurably more than I ask for.   Amen.

 

Gods Ways Are Not Of This Earth

Mark 8: 32-35 - And he spake that saying openly.   And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.  But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan:  for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it;  but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 

 

Jesus had been teaching….healing… and turning the questions of the religious leaders into proof of their hypocrisy.  He stopped one evening to spend time with his disciples and decided to ask them who they thought He was….even though He could already feel the answer in His heart. Most of the disciples told Him who other people thought He was…a prophet…Elias…even John The Baptist…but Peter boldly proclaimed Him to be the Christ…the long awaited Messiah.

 

As boldly and as confidently as Peter was in Jesus’ identity…he missed the mark greatly in the purpose for Him being on Earth. Peter let his human flesh decide wrongly that Jesus was going to be an Earthly king…death and sacrifice on the cross was not an option for his Lord…and he boldly declared to Jesus that He should not talk of death when they were so close to Him ushering in an earthly kingdom that would in his mind put an end to all suffering and oppression by any opponent.  But Jesus quickly rebuked Peter for his earthly plan…and repeated His plan of losing His life to save all mankind.

 

It is a great reminder to me that my way is usually clouded with earthly opinions….limited to what my human brain can conceive. It is also a great reminder of the selfishness I fight daily to put out of my life…so that God can turn me into as effective a servant as Jesus was while he walked the earth. Why should I expect that my cross will be enjoyable when Jesus’ cross was so painful and agonizing?

 

When I admit that my vision of what God can do with my life is limited to my human thoughts….God will open up a vision of the amazing things He can do with me when I place ALL my being into His hands. Yes…I know that is very hard to do.  Some days I might accomplish it for a millisecond…then quickly realize how very weak I am and fall once again to rely on just me. Perhaps it is that realization that I am weaker than I think that will eventually give me the power to overcome my human thoughts…and believe in a wider vision of the plan God has for my life. 

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that your ways are not my ways. Forgive me for the times I hold so dearly to my own selfish desires and misinterpret the plans you have for me. Give me the confidence in you to see beyond my human limitations….to see the full plan you have for me to help you spread the truth of your love for others. Amen.

Thoughts Do Pollute The Soul

Mark  7:20-23 -  And then he added, “It is the thought-life that pollutes. For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts of lust, theft, murder, adultery,  wanting what belongs to others, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, and all other folly.  All these vile things come from within; they are what pollute you and make you unfit for God.”

 

Jesus had been approached by some of the religious leaders that wanted to trap him.  They didn’t get what they bargained for in Jesus’ answer to their questions. Instead of evidence to use for Jesus’ death…Jesus heaped fuel on His accusations of them being hypocrites….chiding them for adding so many extra rules to the laws that Moses was given. 

 

Jesus explained it even deeper when He was alone with the disciples later.  He spoke of how evil gets a foot hold into our lives with our thoughts. Paul wrote in Galatians 5:16-18…. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law.” 

 

It is a reminder to me to guard my thoughts and try to live by the Spirit He gave me when He saved me at all times. One thought that is against His will multiply into enough to keep me from it if I let that one thought pollute what I know by scripture to be right. I must constantly fight against the will of the flesh if I am to do what God requires and keep my eyes only on Him. And the best way to win the battle is to make sure I always have God’s best interest in mind when I make a choice.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that my thoughts need to be as pure as my life.  Forgive me for the times I have allowed my spirit to be polluted by coveting….selfishness….and greed.  Help me to strengthen the Spirit that you gave me to fight for me by studying and praying even more. Amen.

Jesus Knew They Were In Trouble

Mark 6:47-52 -  During the night, as the disciples in their boat were out in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land, he saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning he walked out to them on the water. He started past them, but when they saw something walking along beside them, they screamed in terror, thinking it was a ghost, for they all saw him. But he spoke to them at once. “It’s all right,” he said. “It is I! Don’t be afraid.”  Then he climbed into the boat and the wind stopped! They just sat there, unable to take it in! For they still didn’t realize who he was, even after the miracle the evening before! For they didn’t want to believe!

 

Jesus needed some time to talk with His Father…..some serious alone time where He could speak frankly and soak up the courage and strength he would need for the days ahead.   So He sent the disciples on ahead in the boat to cross back over to Bethsaida and went up the hill alone and prayed. As focused as he was on his prayer…He knew immediately that the disciples were struggling.  And when He knew that they could not handle the winds on their own…He walked out to them on the water.

 

I love the way Mark focuses on the attention Jesus paid to His followers…not the miracle of walking on the water itself.  It is a great reminder to me that God knows exactly what is happening in my life at any one given time.  He watches patiently to see if we have learned enough from previous lessons to handle a situation…and appears just when we need Him to rescue us from our failure. 

 

David knew the omnipresence of God.  He wrote in Psalm 147:5… “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” 1 John 3:19-20 says…. “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” Those verses speak to my heart that God is always watching out for me…and since His promise is to prosper me and give me hope for the future He has planned…He always has my best interest in mind.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you see everything…and know when it is time to step in and help me. Forgive me for the times that I doubt your promises and think that you are not showing up. Help me to trust in you completely…without any borders….and wait for that moment that you will walk out on the water to save me.  Amen.

Tell Them What Wonderful Things God Has Done For You

Mark 5:18-20 -  So he got back into the boat. The man who had been possessed by the demons begged Jesus to let him go along.  But Jesus said no. “Go home to your friends,” he told him, “and tell them what wonderful things God has done for you; and how merciful he has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and they were awestruck by his story.

 

Jesus had transformed this man possessed by many demons. When he encountered Jesus he was a mad man who terrorized the town…who roamed the graveyard of the town…so strong he could break any shackle the town tried to secure him with.  After Jesus cast out the demons within him he became a calm man who sat at Jesus feet…fully sane and begging to go with Jesus everywhere he went. 

 

The town was frightened by the whole process…perhaps because of the huge herd of swine that had been destroyed in the process. So Jesus made ready to go back across the lake…making sure to  tell the man clearly that he needed to stay…to go home and testify to his friends. He needed to share the story of what Jesus had done for him….of his mercy and love. And the man did exactly that….awing those that listened in the ten towns he was given to testify.

 

It is a reminder that we all have a story to share.  Some are as dramatic and life changing as this man…others are simple conversions that span our lives from childhood.  Some of us that already knew Jesus deepened our faith and trust in times of great need. Others have spent their whole lives trusting and holding His hand daily to build respect and love for all people everywhere.

 

Jesus calls some of us to go to other places with Him.  These missionaries go throughout the world and preach and teach the gospel to fulfill the promise of God that everyone would hear before His return. But most of us he simply calls to share the story of what he did for us with our friends and family …right where we live. We wrongly assume that someone else has told the person we encounter each day about God…and sometimes even drive people away from God’s love when we let our anger over a situation wrongly model the love we profess to have for all.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I am called to share the story of what you have done for me everywhere I go.  Forgive me for the times that I have kept the wonder of your life changing love to myself…assuming that someone else will share you with those I encounter each day.  Help me to look beyond the person I meet and see the heart of those that need you the most. Give me a new boldness to share the story of what you have done for me with all the people you allow me to meet.  Amen.

God Controls Everything....So Why Do I Lack Faith?

Mark 4:38-40 - Jesus was asleep at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they wakened him, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to drown?”  Then he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Quiet down!” And the wind fell, and there was a great calm! And he asked them, “Why were you so fearful? Don’t you even yet have confidence in me?”

 

They were crossing the Sea of Galilee when a great storm arose and threatened to overturn the small vessel. Jesus was sleeping peacefully in the back of the boat….not worried at all about the high wind that caused the disciples so much fear. They woke Jesus and shouted their fears at Him…and He immediately rebuked the wind and told the sea to be still.  Then he asked them why they lacked faith in Him.

 

I have heard this story many times…. It is always a great reminder that I tend to underestimate the power that God has to control any situation in my life. I am so like these 12 men who followed Christ everywhere He went for three years ….and didn’t have a clue what power He had at His fingertips.

 

The commentary in my Life Application Bible said we have 2 choices.  We can panic like the disciples and let feelings that God doesn’t care fester and grow in our hearts.  Or we can resist fear…using the faith that God has tried to teach our hearts to trust that He will calm the storms in our lives in His timing.

 

This morning I am so very thankful that Jesus resisted the fear of separation from His Father for three days to rise victorious from the grave. I can’t begin to imagine the pain and loneliness that Jesus must have experienced while God’s great plan was being completed.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that all things are in your control. Forgive me for the times when I have acted like the disciples and shouted at you that you must not care about me because of my lack of faith.  Teach me to trust in you like Jesus did…so I will be able to use the power that he did to overcome fear and be victorious over even death. Amen.

He Started With Twelve

Mark 3:13-19 - Afterwards he went up into the hills and summoned certain ones he chose, inviting them to come and join him there; and they did. Then he selected twelve of them to be his regular companions and to go out to preach and to cast out demons. These are the names of the twelve he chose: Simon (he renamed him “Peter”), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus called them “Sons of Thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (the son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (a member of a political party advocating violent overthrow of the Roman government), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

 

As Jesus traveled from place to place he noticed the hearts of 12 men who would obey Him and be His closest students. He taught them everything His father had revealed to Him that they could use to heal to preach and to cast out the demons that were numerous in that day. 

 

The twelve men were as different as night and day…simple fisherman…to hated tax collector…to educated doctor.  He chose twelve…perhaps a number that represented the twelve existing tribes of Jews….to provide continuity …or transition the people God chose to the opening of His love to all people.  Perhaps that is all the men Jesus could find that He knew would follow Him to the end.

 

The men He chose are just like us today.  They were not chosen for their great faith…for their great gift of preaching…or for any other talent.  He chose them because of the willingness to follow their heart …and obey the one they perceived to be the Messiah.  Jesus filled them with scripture…and insights to His father.   Jesus taught them how to pray and heal…He taught them how to love and have compassion…He taught them how to serve others.

 

These men…they were ordinary people …just like me and you. And like many of us that choose to follow God….they didn’t get the full weight of the job they had been chosen to do at first either.  But after Jesus’ resurrection and transfiguration…they too were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to go out into the entire world and make enough disciples to change the face of the Christian church.

 

It is a great reminder to me….just one more ordinary person…that God has great plans for those that He saves. He will fill us with the same Holy Spirit….teach us how to love and serve others….give us the same power to heal and cast out demons….and make disciples of others that we see each day.  God can build my faith as strong as Peter’s and John the Baptist’s and every other Bible great I read about each night. I just have to make sure that my heart stays pure…that I follow only Him and block out as much of the evil in the world as I can.

 

Father….thank you for the reminder that once I accept your love into my heart and repent of my sins…your sacrifice of blood washes away the pieces of the world that keeps me from being your obedient servant. Forgive me for the times that I have doubted the power I could have in my life because I let too much of the world seep into the heart Good was preparing to work only for Him. Help me to listen to the soft still voice inside of me so that you can help me overcome the temptations that bombard my spirit each day. Amen.

Love All People...They Aren't Always What They Seem

Mark 2:14-15 - As he was walking up the beach he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at his tax collection booth. “Come with me,” Jesus told him. “Come be my disciple.” And Levi jumped to his feet and went along. That night Levi invited his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners to be his dinner guests so that they could meet Jesus and his disciples. (There were many men of this type among the crowds that followed him.)

 

Jesus loved all people….and this story proves it.  Not only did Jesus call Levi…..better known as the Matthew who wrote the first gospel…to be a disciple.  He ate at his home that night with all of Mathew’s unsaved friends. Jesus saw the potential to love and follow Him in all the people gathered there.

 

This story hits home with me for I used to have the attitude of the hypocrites that criticized Jesus for his dinner dates.  I used to wonder how anyone could work in ministries at the jail…or even thank God for not calling me to such tasks. But one summer I was privileged to work with the local homeless shelter…and I began to see the hurt and helplessness of people who had hit hard times.  Whether it was from their own dong…or just a consequence of their own behavior…they still needed a shoulder to cry on…and a hand to help them back up from the state they were in. It opened my eyes to the needs of all people…not just the ones I like…or the ones that dress in a way that I deem acceptable.

 

Even more recently I was taught that people are not what they seem from outside appearances. I used a woman’s appearance to judge her personality. We will call her Mary….because I haven’t cleared using her story in my blog.   I let the many tattoos on her person and the casual way she dressed send my brain a message that she was rough and tough…ready to take on the world at a second’s notice. I would have never known the truth if I had not become her friend…for she is such a sweet kind person…very timid in personality…who allowed satan to tell her she was weak for years. It is so cool to see God work on her…bringing her out of her shyness…showing her that she has always had a source of strength in Him…healing her from the inside out of all the things that have caused her pain.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that all people are important to you.  You love us all and want the very best for us. Forgive me once again for letting the world keep me from loving all people the same.  Help me to make more friends like Mary…and get to know them for who Jesus can make them into…not shun them or criticize them for who they look like on the outside. Amen.

Many Versions Do Not Make It Easier To Understand

Mark 1:21-22 -  Jesus and his companions now arrived at the town of Capernaum and on Saturday morning went into the Jewish place of worship—the synagogue—where he preached.  The congregation was surprised at his sermon because he spoke as an authority and didn’t try to prove his points by quoting others—quite unlike what they were used to hearing!(TLB)

 

Mark begins his book with the preaching of John the Baptist…the messenger Isiah prophesied would prepare the hearts of man for the Messiah. Jesus was baptized and began His ministry by healing…casting out demons….and teaching in the synagogue whenever He had the chance. They were always amazed by His teaching because He quoted the scriptures that had been collected up to that time….not any other man who had interpreted them before.

 

Jesus had a confidence that we should all have if we have spent time studying the Bible….and asking God to reveal the meaning and insights he placed there for us. He didn’t need to quote the most popular Rabbi of the day.  His father had revealed it directly to Him in the many times He spent with him in prayer and meditation.

 

It is area reminder to me to spend as much time as I can reading and meditating on His word. But more important than just reading the many words on the page…I need to ask God every time I open His book to reveal to me what each word means for my life. I need to ask Him for the confidence Jesus used when He taught others so that I never mislead anyone from what God originally intended.

 

One other thought….be careful if you choose just one translation when you are studying. They are all different paraphrases of the original Greek and Hebrew texts. Even the King James Bible was not translated exactly from the original scrolls. I am so thankful that God has made so easily available many different ways to research the words that God ordained and spirit breathed into those writers….so that I can meditate on His words…not the words of the men who translated it into English for us.

 

Father…thank you for allowing the scriptures you knew would help us live a Christian life to be collected and printed in my own language.  Forgive me when I use just one version of the Bible for my study…because I like the way it is worded.  Help me to be a diligent student…asking always for your guidance and help in interpreting what I read. Provide for me the discernment to know when to research a passage farther than just the commentaries I have on hand. Place a passion in me to research as much as I need to understand it fully…and not give up because I am tired or think I already know. Amen.