39 And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
Read More
They missed it...Jesus laid down his own life. He had demonstrated multiple times that when they wanted to catch him they could not (see John 8:59, 10:39 & Luke 4:30). Jesus told his disciples many times he was going to lay down his life and more importantly take it up again. John 10:17-18
What is is that we miss the point on? Lord, open our eyes so that we may see who you are and how you want to change me!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Matthew 26- Failure Amidst Certainty
31 Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’
...
33 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter *said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.
...
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and *said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Read More
In the book of John, Peter is the first one to declare who Jesus truly is. He is the spokesman, the one who claims his allegiance within hours of shunning all association with Jesus. How susceptible we are as humans to believe perfectly, and yet walk out the door and fail miserably. It takes only an instant to give in to self glorification and forget who God is. We are all in the same boat...
Lord, allow me to live by Your Word, and help me to remember how close to failure we are without you.
...
33 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter *said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.
...
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and *said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Read More
In the book of John, Peter is the first one to declare who Jesus truly is. He is the spokesman, the one who claims his allegiance within hours of shunning all association with Jesus. How susceptible we are as humans to believe perfectly, and yet walk out the door and fail miserably. It takes only an instant to give in to self glorification and forget who God is. We are all in the same boat...
Lord, allow me to live by Your Word, and help me to remember how close to failure we are without you.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Mattew 25- According to Our Ability
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Read More
God has entrusted each of us with talents, gifts, skills, passions and lives...He does not give us the same ones, because we have been given different roles. However, He expects the same results! Did you notice that? Both of the good servants doubled what they had been given. God provides us purposefully with what we can handle and expects us to use it to our fullest potential, not be paralyzed with fear. His expectations are clear...and Paul reminds us of that in I Cor 10: 31-33~
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.
Read More
God has entrusted each of us with talents, gifts, skills, passions and lives...He does not give us the same ones, because we have been given different roles. However, He expects the same results! Did you notice that? Both of the good servants doubled what they had been given. God provides us purposefully with what we can handle and expects us to use it to our fullest potential, not be paralyzed with fear. His expectations are clear...and Paul reminds us of that in I Cor 10: 31-33~
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Matthew 24- Heed the Calling
37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Read More
Noah was told that God would bring judgment on the earth in 120 years. He spent that time calling the people of the earth to repentance, to no avail. The people ignored the calling. So as he continued to call the people he built an ark, for somewhere between 50-75 years...yet people still ignored him. Jesus will return in much the same way, people being called but ignoring the truth presented to them.
Lord, help us to be faithful in our calling of the lost! You will draw them, but we are here to share who you are & what you want from us. A relationship with you! Give us faith to continue even as we are ignored...and pray for the lost.
Read More
Noah was told that God would bring judgment on the earth in 120 years. He spent that time calling the people of the earth to repentance, to no avail. The people ignored the calling. So as he continued to call the people he built an ark, for somewhere between 50-75 years...yet people still ignored him. Jesus will return in much the same way, people being called but ignoring the truth presented to them.
Lord, help us to be faithful in our calling of the lost! You will draw them, but we are here to share who you are & what you want from us. A relationship with you! Give us faith to continue even as we are ignored...and pray for the lost.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Matthew 23- The INSIDE is what Matters to God
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Read More
What a scathing proclamation about the Pharisees! But, is is true of us as well? Do we care more about what people see than what is going on in our hearts? Our minds? Although it is important how we represent Christ to those around us, Jesus tells us that if we allow the Holy Spirit to cleans us on the inside our outward appearance will be clean and pure as well.
Lord help me to care more about what you see than what the world sees!
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Read More
What a scathing proclamation about the Pharisees! But, is is true of us as well? Do we care more about what people see than what is going on in our hearts? Our minds? Although it is important how we represent Christ to those around us, Jesus tells us that if we allow the Holy Spirit to cleans us on the inside our outward appearance will be clean and pure as well.
Lord help me to care more about what you see than what the world sees!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Revelation 4- Eternal Worship Today
8 And the four living creatures, each one of them ...day and night they do not cease to say,
“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Read More
God is worthy to receive glory, honor and worship eternally at all times, not just in Heaven. What an amazing glimpse of Heaven we see in Revelation... It reminds me however, that this is what should be taking place in my heart at all times. Even though I am still walking on this sin filled earth, God is no different, He should be constantly worshiped in all that we do.
Lord help me to be praising you inside and out, in all that I do today! What an amazing God we serve....
“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Read More
God is worthy to receive glory, honor and worship eternally at all times, not just in Heaven. What an amazing glimpse of Heaven we see in Revelation... It reminds me however, that this is what should be taking place in my heart at all times. Even though I am still walking on this sin filled earth, God is no different, He should be constantly worshiped in all that we do.
Lord help me to be praising you inside and out, in all that I do today! What an amazing God we serve....
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Revelation 3- A Proper View
17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Read More
Lord help me to have a proper view of who You created me to be...Help me to see who I am in comparison to what You have done in me and how You have transformed me. Give me a passion to seek after You. Allow me to know Your will and turn my heart toward that alone. Thank You for love...and discipline.
18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Read More
Lord help me to have a proper view of who You created me to be...Help me to see who I am in comparison to what You have done in me and how You have transformed me. Give me a passion to seek after You. Allow me to know Your will and turn my heart toward that alone. Thank You for love...and discipline.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)