BibleTrekToday.com

Year: 2015

  • Confronting death with faith!

    Scripture reading for March 13th:  Luke 8

    When you have a child that is sick and near death, desperate measures are called for!  Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue who had a daughter that was near death.  He made haste to find Jesus and knelt before Him, pleading for assistance!  Jesus willingly accompanied him to bring what was needed.

    Jesus was at the height of His ministry and many people were crowding around Him as he traveled.  “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.  She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.”  (Luke 8:44)  Jesus asked who had touched Him because He felt power go out from Him.  The woman came and knelt at His feet, telling why she had touched Him.  Jesus declared to her that her faith had healed her!

    In the meantime, servants came from Jairus’ home telling him not to bother the Master any more, his daughter was dead!  Jesus spoke to him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”  (Luke 8:50)  Faith is a necessary ingredient to receive healing from the Lord.  Fear comes to take us away from trusting in Jesus.  Many people only trust what they see or hear as truth.  With Jesus, we must believe His Word and receive what He promises!

    On arrival, many were wailing and mourning the child’s death.  Jesus told them to stop for the child was not dead, but sleeping.  They laughed at Him.  “But He took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!”  Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.”  (Luke 8:54-55)  Jesus confronted death with faith and brought healing in an impossible situation!  Don’t be afraid, only believe!

  • Canceled debts!

    Scripture reading for March 12th:  Luke 7

    “Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so He went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.  When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears.  Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”  (Luke 7:36-38)  This astounding act of love and kindness by this woman aroused questions in Simon, the Pharisee whom  Jesus was eating with.  He had trouble understanding why Jesus would allow this sinful woman to even touch Him.

    Jesus told Simon a story about two men who owed a money-lender some money.  One owed a small amount and the other a large sum of money.  Neither of them could pay so the banker canceled both the debts.  Jesus asked Simon which of these would love the banker more?   “Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”  (Luke 7:43)  Jesus commended Simon for his answer.

    Jesus went on to instruct Simon about the woman and Simon’s own lack of love for Him.  This woman loved Jesus and showed it by here lavish actions.  Simon had not even offered to wash Jesus’ feet!  Those who have been forgiven much, love much!  Those forgiven little, love little! (Luke 7:47)  Jesus then told the woman her sins were forgiven!

    Simon’s lack of love stemmed from his lack of understanding of his own indebtedness.  Many times we are caught in the same trap.  We think that God should be pleased just to have us invite Him to our table.  Let’s lavish our love on Him!

  • Love your enemy!

    Scripture reading for March 11th:  Luke 6

    Jesus loved to teach the people the ways of the kingdom of God.  He came to preach the ‘good news’ of the kingdom but part of it sounded strange to those who heard Him.  God’s ways and the way of His people would be markedly different than the way of those in the world!

    “But I tell you who hear Me:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone strikes you on the cheek, turn to him the other also.  If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.  Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  Do to others as you would have them do to you.”  (Luke 6:27-31)  First, we must ‘hear Jesus’.   Listening is not just with our ears, but with our hearts.  We must always be ready to make adjustments in our thinking!

    Jesus asked His followers to love their enemies and to do good to those who would mistreat them.  This was a hard teaching then and now as well. God wants none to perish, but all to come to repentance.  It is not God’s judgment that leads people to repentance, but His goodness and kindness!  (Romans 2:4)  This kindness must not be in word only, but also in deed.  God wants us to reflect His kindness to those who hate us in order to reach them!

    Kingdom people hear Jesus’ instruction and allow God to use them to reach their enemies!  Take time today to show kindness to someone who has mistreated you or hates you!  Do unto them what you would want done to you!

  • “I am willing!”

    Scripture reading for March 10th:  Luke 5

    Jesus had announced His ministry of preaching Good News and releasing the prisoners and the oppressed in His home town of Nazareth.  (Luke 4:18-19)  The people there refused to receive the message and even sought to kill Him.  But Jesus was not deterred and began to minister in other towns in the region.  He called disciples and invited them to join Him in preaching and healing the oppressed and sick.

    “While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.  When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, you can make me clean.”  Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man.  “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”  And immediately the leprosy left him.”  (Luke 5:12-13)  Jesus made good on the announcement of His ministry and astounded people as well.  Lepers were considered ‘unclean’ and under God’s curse.  Religious people would not touch them!  This hurting man came humbly to Jesus with a plea for mercy.  He wasn’t sure that Jesus was willing to help Him, but asked in faith that Jesus had the ability.  Jesus honored his request and touched him.  The leprosy departed immediately!

    We learn from this incident, that Jesus is willing to help anyone in any situation.  When approached humbly, Jesus responds positively!  He has ‘good news’ for all of us!  He cares about us and our ‘uncleanness!’    He is able and willing to bring healing and deliverance!  Take your burden by faith to Jesus today for a quick response!

  • “If You are the Son of God,”

    Scripture reading for March 9th:  Luke 4

    “Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where for forty days He was tempted by the devil.  He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them He was hungry.  The devil said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’”  (Luke 4:1-4)   Jesus had heard the Father declare that He was His Son, whom He loved.  (Luke 3:22)  Now His faith in His Father was tested by the Spirit leading Him.  Forty days without food brought an extreme hunger and the devil tried to  entice Jesus to use His power for personal fulfillment.   Jesus turned to God’s Word (Deuteronomy 8:3) and blocked this temptation!

    Next, the devil took Jesus to a high place and offered Him all the kingdoms of this world if He would worship him.  Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:13, “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”   The devil is a liar and usurper of God’s rightful place and has offered material gain and power to Adam and his descendants.  Jesus refused his offer as we must as well!

    The last temptation of Jesus during this forty days involved jumping off the temple and saving Himself.  The devil wanted Jesus to do something spectacular that would use His power to impress people.  Jesus would have none of it, and quoted Deuteronomy 6:16, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

    Jesus was the Son of God and lived by God’s Word here on earth.  He perfectly obeyed the Father and followed the Spirit in doing God’s will.  With the Holy Spirit, we can boldly live by God’s word!

     

  • Boring genealogy?

    Scripture reading for March 6th:  Luke 3

    When most people read the Bible, they are confused by the lists of names, many that are unfamiliar and hard to pronounce.  These lists are often skipped to get to the ‘good stuff’!  But our Father cares about names and keeps records.  Individuals are important and  God knows each person by name!  God also honors His Word given to past individuals.  He never lies, but is a God of truth!

    “Now Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry.  He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, . . .The son of David, the son of Jesse, . . . the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,. . . the son of Shem, the son of Noah, . . . the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”  (Luke 3:23, 31-32, 34, 38)  Luke explained that it appeared that Jesus was the son of Joseph.  This is what some people thought, however, Jesus had been conceived by miraculous means and was really the Son of God!  (Luke 1:31-32) (Luke 3:22)  Joseph, however, was a descendant of David and that would make Jesus legally eligible to take the throne of David!  Jesus was also in the line of Abraham, and heir of the promises that through his Seed, all nations would be blessed!  (Genesis 12:3)  Jesus was also a son of Noah and his righteous son Shem.  In fact, Luke traced the righteous line all the way back to Adam and the promised “Seed of Woman” who would crush the head of the Serpent! (Genesis 3:15)

    Genealogies are never boring in God’s Word!  They tell a story of God’s plans and His faithfulness to keep His Word.  Through faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, we are in His story too!

  • Simeon’s prophesy!

    Scripture reading for March 5th:  Luke 2

    The baby Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day according to the Law.  After the time of Mary’s purification, Joseph and Mary took Him to the temple to dedicate Him to the Lord as the law commanded for the first-born son.  (Exodus 13:2, 12)  Everything was done according to the Law of the Lord because Jesus would need to fulfill all the Law in order to fulfill His mission to save mankind.

    When they arrived at the temple, a man called Simeon was waiting at the temple.  He had been praying and watching for the coming Messiah for many years.  The Holy Spirit moved upon him to speak a word of prophesy over Jesus and Mary.  “Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.”  (Luke 2:28-32)

    This amazing prophesy confirmed to Joseph and Mary the meaning of the name “Jesus”! (“The Lord Saves”)   Jesus would save all people, Jew and Gentile, from their sins and bring glory to His people Israel.  Jesus was the ‘consolation of Israel’!  God revealed this truth to a praying prophet and confirmed His Word to His servants.

    Simeon’s final word concerned Mary.   “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts if many hearts will be revealed.  And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”  (Luke 2:33-35)  Simeon spoke of the conflict surrounding the child and how that would affect Mary.  Those words surely came to pass!

  • Jesus is alive!

    Scripture reading for March 3rd:  Mark 16

    When the women came to the tomb on the first day of the week, they expected to anoint the body of Jesus with spices.  They found the tomb open and saw a young man dressed in white robes sitting where the body had been laid.  “Don’t be alarmed,” he said.  “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has risen!   He is not here.  See the place where they laid Him.  But go and tell the disciples and Peter.  “He is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”  (Mark 16:6-7)    The women did as they were told, but the disciples did not believe them.  Jesus appeared to two others as well, but the rest again refused to believe.

    It may seem surprising that those who had been with Jesus had a hard time with the resurrection.   Jesus had plainly told His disciples what would happen.  (Mark 10:33-34)  But they had also witnessed the crucifixion and were humans of Adam’s line themselves.  Jesus met them where they were, and rebuked them for their unbelief as He had done on other occasions.  He then sent them out to share the good news with the whole world!

    The resurrection of Jesus Christ marked a turning point in the history of mankind.  In Adam, all men and women were born in sin and had the curse of death.  There was nothing that they could do to save themselves.  But God sent His Son, born of a woman, to come and live among men.  He demonstrated the love and mercy of God by forgiving sins and healing sickness and disease.  But the greatest miracle, was His defeat of the curse of sin and the resulting penalty of death on the cross and resurrection from the dead!

  • The King of the Jews!

    Scripture reading for March 2nd:  Mark 15

    After an early-morning mock trial by the Jewish Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders handed Jesus over to Pilate for the Roman trial.  Pilate asked Jesus, “Are You  the king of the Jews?”  “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.”  (Mark 15:2)  The Jewish leaders made many other charges, but Jesus remained silent.  Pilate was amazed that He did not speak out in defense, but admitted that He was king of the Jews!

    It was Pilate’s custom to release a prisoner condemned to death to the crowd that had gathered.  He wanted to release Jesus and thought that the crowd would oblige him.  However, the chief priests stirred the crowd to ask for Barabbas, a man imprisoned with murderers. After flogging,  Jesus was handed over to be crucified.

    The Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus also mocked Him by putting a purple robe on Him and a crown of thorns.  “And they began to call out to Him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”  (Mark 15:18)  In doing this, they placed on Jesus the symbol of the curse of sin and death brought on by Adam’s disobedience.  Jesus would bear the penalty of this curse as He hung on the cross for the sins of Adam’s offspring.  In His sinless body, He was made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God.  (2nd Corinthians 5:21)

    Jesus was placed on the cross about nine in the morning.  A written charge was nailed to the cross: “The King of the Jews.”  (Mark 15:25) At noon, darkness came over the land for three hours.  He cried out in a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  (Mark 15:34)  “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last.  The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”  (Mark 15:37-38)