Tag: Psalm 143:10
Jesus must be the priority!
Scripture reading for March 30th: Joshua 1-4, Psalm 143, Luke 14
Luke 14:25-27, 33 “Now great crowds accompanied Him, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” . . . “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
Jesus laid down strict guidelines for those who wanted to follow Him and become a disciple. He was elaborating on the “narrow door” He had spoken of earlier. He told the crowd that they must ‘hate’ family members in comparison to loving Him in order to be His disciples. He told them that they must be willing to take up their cross and follow Him, even to death. They were to renounce their past life and follow Him with singular focus. In today’s reading in Joshua, we have the story of Rahab who welcomed the spies in Jericho. She was told to gather her family into her house and tie a scarlet cord. This would bring protection to all in the house. The ‘scarlet cord’ represented the marking of the blood in the Exodus account. Jesus’ blood and sacrifice on the cross was the “narrow door” for salvation for all!
Joshua 2:18, 21 “Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie the scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household.” . . .”And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.”
Prayer: Father, thank You for Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I believe in Him and abandon all human effort and schemes of salvation. I agree with Rahab of old and Mary, mother of Jesus, “According to your Words, so be it.” Lead me today by Your Spirit on the level ground of faith and teach me to do Your will.
Psalm 143:10“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”
Lead Me on Level Ground!
Scripture reading for March 30th: Joshua 1-4, Psalm 143, Luke 14
Key Scriptures: Luke 14:25-30 “Now great crowds accompanied Him, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.'”
Joshua 1:8-9 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Jesus taught that there were priorities that must be decided upon if a person chose to become His disciple. Family could not be first. Our own life in soul and body must be placed lower than following Jesus. There was a cross for each disciple that they must chose to bear. Successful discipleship would come by full surrender and obedience to God’s Word and Christ’s teaching.
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, I have set You and Your Word as my priority in my life. Help me to keep Your Word in my heart and on my lips as I walk with You to the promised land.
Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”
Christ lives in me!
Scripture reading for August 17th: Galatians 2
Key scriptures for over-comers: Galatians 2: 19-21 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
The false teachers in Galatia were well-meaning and sincere Jews who had some knowledge of Christ but tried to add keeping of the law to simple grace by faith. Sincerity is not a test of truth! The ‘law’ could only reveal sin, not correct the problem or eliminate it from the human soul. Through the ‘law’, we are convicted of sin and found guilty bringing about a sentence of death. Then the gospel of Jesus Christ tells us that Jesus died on the cross to take the death penalty for us and now gives us His life and righteousness through the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who believe. There is nothing we can do but say “Thank You, Jesus!”.
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers recognize their Lord living in them and lovingly allow His life to flow in them by the Holy Spirit. “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” (Psalm 143:10)