Category: Gospels
Declare not Deny!
Scripture reading for April 30th: 1st Kings 11-13, John 18
Key Scriptures: John 18:25-27 “Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.”
Jesus had predicted the denial and falling away of all His disciples. He had also predicted the betrayal by one, Judas. Even those who walked with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard His teaching and knew Him turned away during Jesus’ final hours. How we need His grace!
1st Kings 11:3-4 “He (Solomon)had 700 wives and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for praying for me. Help me to declare You, not deny You, before men and maintain a fully committed heart, like the heart of Jesus, David’s Son and the Son of God. Amen.
The Spirit of Truth and Wisdom
Scripture reading for April 26th: 1st Kings 4-6, John 16
Key Scriptures: John 16:12-14 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me (Jesus), for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.”
Jesus explained to His disciples that He would teach them much more about Himself and in fact guide them into all truth. This would come when the Holy Spirit was poured out on them after His resurrection to the Father. This would be the Father’s gift. Each person would have access by the Holy Spirit to God’s wisdom.
1st Kings 4:29-30 Solomon asked God for wisdom —“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You that You know all things. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and wisdom that I might live fully in Your will and advance Your kingdom. Amen.
Let the Word Abide!
Scripture reading for April 25th: 2nd Samuel 24, 1st Kings 1-3, John 15
Key Scriptures: John 15:5-7 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
1st Kings 2:2-3 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and keeping His statutes, His commandments, His rules, and His testimonies, as is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the nourishing sap of Your Holy Word. I choose to stay closely attached, abiding in You and Your Word that You might bring forth fruit from my life. Amen.
The Spirit Speaks!
Scripture reading for April 24th: 2nd Samuel 21-23, John 14
Key Scriptures: 2nd Samuel 23:1-4 “Now these are the last words of David: . . . . The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me; His word is on my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.”
King David’s last words are in the form of a song. In this introduction, God is called the “God of Israel” and the “Rock of Israel.” David declared that he ruled in the “fear of God” and allowed the “Spirit of the Lord” to speak His word through him. God was like a bright light, like the sun shining forth. and like rain causing the earth to bring forth vegetation.
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You revealed Your Father to us. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and let Your word and life shine in me. Water my life with the rain from Heaven! Amen.
A friend’s betrayal!
Scripture reading for April 23rd: 2nd Samuel 17-20, John 13
Key Scriptures: John 13:14-18 “If I then, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate My bread has lifted his heel against me.'”
At the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of each of His disciples to set an example for them of servant leadership. He warned them that one of them would betray Him, as Scripture declared. They each began to examine themselves as to their motives and hearts. One would betray and take his own life.
2nd Samuel 17:23 “When Ahithophel (betrayer of King David) saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his fathers.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to examine my heart today and repent of anything that would betray You. May I follow Your example of serving and washing the feet of other followers. Amen.
Keeping God’s Word!
Scripture reading for April 20th: 2nd Samuel 14-16, John 12
Key Scriptures: John 12:46-48 “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
Jesus made it clear to His followers that He had a mission of salvation. He came as the Light of the world, bringing revelation of the will and word of God. The word of God that He spoke would save those that believed and bring judgment on those who rejected Him and His word.
2nd Samuel 15:21 “But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the light of revelation. I believe Your word! Help me to cling to You and follow Your leading today. Amen.
Love message!
Scripture reading for April 19th: 2nd Samuel 10-13, John 11
Key Scriptures: John 11:25-27 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God who is coming into the world.””
Jesus had come to the grave of His friend, Lazarus, who had been dead for four days. Martha, Lazarus’ sister, had ran to meet Jesus with a quiet faith, trusting that whatever Jesus would ask from His Father, God would do. Jesus revealed Himself to her (and us) as the “resurrection and the life.” Mary confessed her faith in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. Saving faith was released!
2nd Samuel 12:24-25 “Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your love and revelation of who You are: “The Resurrection and the Life.” I receive your revelation and love message today by faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God. Amen.
The Good Shepherd
Scripture reading for April 18th: 2nd Samuel 7-9, John 10
Key Scriptures: John 10:9-11 “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
Jesus claimed a title that was in the history of His family line going back to King David. As David was a shepherd who was willing to lay down his life for his sheep against the lion and bear, so Jesus declared His intention of laying down His life for all the lost sheep of mankind.
2nd Samuel 7:8-9 “Now, therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of Hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over My people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make your name great . . .”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for shepherding me today. Deliver me today from my enemies and lead me to green pastures. Amen.
The Lord of “Break-through”
Scripture reading for April 17th: 2nd Samuel 3-6, John 9
Key Scriptures: 2nd Samuel 5:19-20 “And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.””
King David was victorious when he inquired of the Lord and carefully obeyed His instructions. David also gave God the credit for the victory. He proclaimed this victory as the “Lord breaking through my enemies like a breaking flood.”
John 9:24-25 “So for the second time they (the Pharisees) called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man (Jesus) is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for breaking through against all Your enemies and bringing light to a darkened world. Enable me to walk in Your light today and reflect it to this dark world. Amen.
The Light of the World
Scripture reading for April 16th: 1st Samuel 31, 2nd Samuel 1-2, John 8
Key Scriptures: John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:28-29 “So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but speak just as the father taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”
2nd Samuel 2:1, 4 “After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.”. . . . “And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for revealing Your Son as the Light of the world! Direct me today as I seek to sincerely follow the path You have laid out for me. Amen.