Category: Gospels
The Light of Men!
Scripture reading for October 16th: John 1, Psalm 56, Proverbs 20
John 1: 1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John, the beloved Apostle of Jesus Christ, begins his Gospel account focusing on Jesus Christ as the “Word.” The Genesis account of creation is the record of God’s creation through speaking His Word. Out of nothing, at His Word, the various elements of creation were formed. “All things were made through Him” is John’s proclamation! This includes life itself, the living creatures great and small as well as man made in God’s image and likeness. But death came on the scene through man’s disobedience and men were plunged into darkness. But God sent His Son to reveal God’s light and life in each human life: “His life was the Light of men.” Jesus Christ, born of a woman, but the Son of God, reveals grace and truth through the light of His perfectly obedient life. He gave His life to reveal the Father to all in darkness!
Psalm 56:12-13 “I must perform my vows to You, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. For You have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. In the light of His life, my inner darkness has been revealed and chased away by His glorious Light. You have delivered me from darkness, kept my feet from falling, and enabled me to walk before You in the Light of Life! Use me this day to testify to those still in darkness of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the Light of Life to all mankind!
Proverbs 20:24, 27 “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” . . .”The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.”
Witness instructions!
Scripture reading for July 31st: Luke 24, Psalm 1, Proverbs 27
Luke 24: 44-49 “Then He said to them, “These are My Words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their mind to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Your are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.””
The risen Jesus Christ met His disciples in their grief following His resurrection and encouraged them in many ways. He clarified His instructions to them by pointing them to the Scriptures of Israel and His fulfilment of all that was written of Him. He opened their minds to understand His suffering, death, and resurrection. His purpose was that they might preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in His Name to all nations and peoples. This would begin in Jerusalem. But they were not to go in haste, but to wait for the ‘Promise of the Father.’ The Holy Spirit would be poured out giving them power to be His witnesses! They would be empowered with His Spirit, understand His Word, and like Jesus, lay down their lives!
Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your wise counsel and Your Gift of the Holy Spirit to live in me and empower me to be the witness You desire. Thank You for understanding of Your Word and the privilege of sharing the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins through faith In Jesus Christ and His selfless sacrifice for our sins. Through the Spirit, fill me with Your wisdom to reach each person You send me to.
Proverbs 27:11 “Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad that I may answer him who reproaches me.”
Faithful to His last breath!
Scripture reading for July 28th: Luke 23, Psalm 150, Proverbs 26
Luke 23: 44-49 “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit!” And having said this He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all His acquaintances and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.”
God gives each of us the breath of life. Every breath we take is a gift to be cherished and used to praise the Lord and fulfil His Word and will. Jesus’ example of perfect faithfulness to His Father is recorded here in Scripture as He took His last breath. He placed His Spirit (Pnuema) (breath) and ultimate destiny in His Father’s hands. John’s Gospel records “It is finished,” as His last words before giving up His Spirit. Jesus totally obeyed His Father in perfect love and honor. This act of service and sacrifice brought a hardened Roman centurion to declare Jesus’ innocence! We can use our breath to declare God’s truth or to share lies and gossip and quarrel with others. We never know when our last breath is coming!
Psalm 150: 1-2, 6 “Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! . . .”Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Prayer: Father God, I ask You for mercy when I have not used my breaths wisely during my time on earth. Forgive me for gossip, quarreling, and lies. I give my breaths to You to use to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and declare Your praise and glory in prayer and worship. I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit each day that I might give every breath to You until I breath my last here on earth!
Proverbs 26:20 “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.”
Serve now, rule eternally
Scripture reading for July 27th: Luke 22, Psalm 149, Proverbs 25
Luke 22: 25-30 “And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the One Who serves. You are those who have stayed with Me in My trial, and I assign to you, as My Father assigned to Me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.””
God’s ways are different than man’s ways. The disciples were arguing about greatness when Jesus spoke plainly to them. They were to be servants here on earth, taking the lowest place, even in leadership positions. Jesus was their example, having just washed their feet! As they remained faithful to humbly serve God and others, they would receive great reward in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus promised them places at His table and thrones of judgment in the coming eternal kingdom. God truly does take pleasure in His people who prove their faith by humble service and sacrifice! To them eternal rulership and future glory is promised. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 149:4-5, 9 “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.” . . .“to execute on them the judgment written! This is the honor for all His godly ones. Praise the Lord!”
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for not always humbly serving my brothers and sisters here, especially those who consider me their enemy. Give me a servant’s heart through Your indwelling Holy Spirit. Help me to stay true to You and Your example of servanthood. I am in awe that You would promise me the honor of future rulership and greatness as a reward for faithful servanthood! Amen! Praise the Lord!
Proverbs 25:21-22 “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
The Glory of the Son of Man!
Scripture reading for July 26th: Luke 21, Psalm 148, Proverbs 24
Luke 21: 25-28 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Jesus was preparing His followers for the coming storm of adversity that would result in His crucifixion and resurrection. The disciples asked about when the end would come and what would be the sign of the end of the age. Jesus answered with various signs in the heavens and distress on earth caused by fear of what was coming through the shaking of the powers of heaven. The final sign would be the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and glory. These signs and events would be the time for disciples of Jesus to lift up their heads as their Redemption was close!
Psalm 148:11-13 “Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for His Name Alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving us instructions concerning the end of the age and Your Son’s return in power and glory. We praise You and honor You and Your Son as the exalted King of heaven and coming Bridegroom for Your people. Help me to stand strong in the coming days of adversity and the signs appearing in the heavens and the fear on earth. Use me to call others with Your Good News!
Proverbs 24:10 “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”
Religious Pride and hypocrisy
Scripture reading for July 25th: Luke 20, Psalm 147, Proverbs 23
Luke 20: 45-47 “And in the hearing of all the people He said to His disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.””
Jesus publicly warned His people and the religious leaders of the dangers of putting on a religious show. The fear of man is a snare that the scribes were caught up in. To feed their own egos, they dressed up and took human honors. To fill their coffers, they devoured widows houses and merchandised their prayers. Jesus said that these would receive the greater condemnation. These people had greater knowledge of God’s truth and had rejected fear of the Lord and true care for the hurting and needy who were seeking help from God’s people and priests. Jesus, Son of God, although all powerful, built up Jerusalem through helping the brokenhearted and healing the oppressed. This is true wisdom and a timely warning!
Psalm 147:2-5 “The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of stars; He gives all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.”
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for falling under a fear of man and neglecting true care for those in need and seeking Your kingdom. Through Your Holy Spirit, keep me focused on Your kingdom and Your will, building up Your kingdom through going into the world and making disciples who will multiply ministry. I will keep my focus on Jesus as the highest example of wisdom and understanding.
Proverbs 23:17-18 “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”
Discerning God in our midst
Scripture reading for July 24th: Luke 19, Psalm 146, Proverbs 22
Luke 19:41-44 “And, when He drew near and saw the city, He wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had know on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on a donkey to shouts of joy and worship, he stopped to weep over the people there. He knew that their shouts of worship would turn into calls for His murder. He knew that sin and pride had hidden the Truth He had taught and modeled to them. He was now going to offer His own life and blood to save them. He cared for each one with His Father’s heart of love and compassion. But each person has a free will and must choose the things that make for peace with God. Each are given a time of visitation revealing Jesus as Lord, Messiah, and King. They have the choice of salvation through repentance and faith or eternal destruction and ruin through unbelief.
Psalm 146:9-10 “The Lord watches over the sojourners; He upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your caring heart for those that are hurting and lost, rich or poor, as You have made them all. Thank You for giving me faith to know the time of my visitation and make peace with You through the blood of Your Son. Use me to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, Messiah, Lord, and King with others in need of a Holy visitation. Watch over me and guide me to my eternal home.
Proverbs 22:1-2 “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is maker of them all.”
Persistent faith required!
Scripture reading for July 21st: Luke 18, Psalm 145, Proverbs 21
Luke 18: 1-8 “And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?””
God always honors faith. Faith puts its hope in God’s ability to do what He has promised or spoken. Jesus, in teaching His followers about faith and prayer, used this example of an unjust judge who neither feared God or respected man. This worldly judge finally gave in to the widow who was persistently coming to him for justice. He did this to get her complaint out of his sight. God is never unjust or callous toward those who call on Him. We must be persistent in faith and patient to wait for His sure answer. In the meantime, we must also be about His business of helping the poor and needy as we have opportunity.
Psalm 145:18-19 “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are never unjust or uncaring towards us when we call out to you. Help me to be persistent and always come in faith when I call to You. Help me to be attentive to those You put in my path who need Your help that I can provide. I will continue to call out to You for my family each day knowing You are near to me and hear my cry and will save them and provide for them.
Proverbs 21:13 “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”
The sudden return of Jesus!
Scripture reading for July 20th: Luke 17, Psalm 144, Proverbs 20
Luke 17: 22-27 “And He said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many thigs and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”
Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus told them that the kingdom of God was coming in ways that normal observation could not reveal. It was an inside job, known only to those humble enough to repent and turn to Jesus, the Son of Man. Jesus pointed out to His disciples that there would be those trying to say that the kingdom was ‘here’ or ‘there’, but not to believe them. The return of Jesus Christ would bring the fullness of God’s kingdom to earth. This would happen suddenly, like a lightning bolt that lit up the sky from east to west! It would happen like the days of Noah, when normal life was proceeding and suddenly the flood came and destroyed all not on the Ark!
Psalm 144:5-7 “Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows and rout them! Stretch out Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, for the hand of foreigners, . .”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this instruction on the coming of Jesus Christ! I desire to see the fullness of the kingdom in the return of my Lord! I would pray with the psalmist, ‘O Lord, Bow Your heavens and come down!’ I long to see justice done on earth, as in heaven. I know that You desire to show mercy. Use me today to share the message of mercy You sent in Jesus Christ. Come, Lord Jesus!
Proverbs 20:22 “Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you.”
Impossible to serve two masters!
Scripture reading for July 19th: Luke 16, Psalm 143, Proverbs 19
Luke 16: 10-13 “”One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.””
Jesus had just told a parable about a dishonest manager who was shrewd to use his position to win friends to care for him after he was removed from management. Jesus explained that to be dishonest in even a little–the managing of another’s money, was to be dishonest in much. Dishonesty is part of our inner life and a lack of faithfulness with this world’s goods will bar us from stewardship of that which is truly of eternal value. Serving God requires truth and integrity in our inner man. Apart from our humble repentance and God’s grace, we end up serving the flesh and the devil who uses our flesh. We must sell out to serving God and invite Him to lead us on the level ground of faith on a day by day basis.
Psalm 143:9-10 “Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to You for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your Good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this simple instruction on honesty. Forgive me when I have not been a wise or honest steward of that which belongs to You. Giving You the tithe is an act of stewardship and integrity. Continue to help me and guide me on the level ground of faith. Thank You for promising to provide for all my needs if I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness and faithfully serve You alone.
Proverbs 19:1 “Better is a poor person who walks in integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.”