Tag: family
Hearing and doing God’s Word
Scripture reading for March 20th: Deuteronomy 10-14, Psalm 5, Luke 8
Key Scriptures: Luke 8:19-21 “Then His mother and His brothers came to Him, but they could not reach Him because of the crowd. And He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.” But He answered them, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it.””
God’s Word is to be listened to, heard, and obeyed. Jesus was teaching the people that if they wanted to be closely related to Him and God the Father, they must hear and obey God’s Word. He was not disrespecting His mother and brothers, but using their relationship to Him to call others closer.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep His commandments and statutes, . .”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, I love Your Word and seek to hear and obey. I am thankful that Jesus Christ perfectly heard and obeyed and now has sent the Holy Spirit to empower me. I long to see the Father’s face. Spread Your protection over me and give me favor!
Psalm 5:11-12 “Let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your Name may exult in You. for You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover him with favor as with a shield.”
Relationship with Jesus!
Scripture reading for January 16th: Genesis 39-42, Matthew 12
Key Scriptures: Matthew 12:46-50 “While He was still speaking to the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, asking to speak with Him. But He replied to the man who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Jesus used a visit by His own family to illustrate a point to His disciples. They were in Christ’s family because they had responded to His call and followed Jesus and learned from Him His will and ways. Joseph in Genesis followed God to do His will and his brothers came before him!
Genesis 42:6-7 “Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to know You and walk with you in intimate relationship. I want Your will to come first in my life! Thank You for the new birth and adoption into Your family! Amen!
Jesus brings spiritual conflict!
Scripture reading for January 12th: Genesis 32-35, Matthew 10
Key Scriptures: Matthew 10:34-38 “”Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.””
Jesus was talking to His disciples after He had sent them out two by two to the land of Israel. He warned them of the spiritual conflict they and future generations of believers would face. Our love for Jesus must surpass all other relationships! Conflict is inevitable! God will protect and bless His own!
Genesis 32:9-11 “And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that You have shown to Your servant. . . . .Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But You said, ‘I will surely do you good . . .'”
Prayer: Lord, we are weak when it comes to facing opposition, especially from our own family. May we be encouraged and made bold through Your Word and example. Protect our family by Your blood. Amen