Today's Bible reading is the 20th chapter of the Book of Luke. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+20&version=NASB
Prompted by the parable that Jesus had spoken "against them", the scribes and chief priests desired to "lay hands on" Him but they feared the people. We read that they devised a scheme whereby men would be sent whose sole purpose would be to catch Jesus saying something that could be used against Him. Specifically, they would try to catch Him saying something that could result in His being delivered to the rule and authority of the governor. Back in Luke chapter 9 Jesus had foretold that He would be delivered into the hands of men. But this was not His time and the current efforts by men would be unsuccessful. It was a simple question that was posed to Jesus. "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" Although the question would not have its intended effect, Jesus' answer would provide a practical lesson for generation of believers. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's". God would again take the ill intended actions of men and turn it into something positive for His glory.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 19th chapter of the Book of Luke. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019&version=NASB
Yesterday's text, the 18th chapter of Luke, included the story of the "rich young ruler" who had came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. At the end of the interaction between the two, Jesus says, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The passage goes on to say that those who heard Him then asked, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus answers them saying, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."
In today's passage of scripture we have the famous story of Zaccheus, his climb up the sycamore tree and Jesus and salvation coming to his house. While reading the account I felt as if I was seeing the purposeful fulfillment of what Jesus had spoken in the previous chapter. Let me explain. One of the things that we read about Zaccheus, other than his small stature and his occupation as "a chief tax collector", is that "he was rich". What a wondrous story. Zaccheus was about to pass through the eye of a needle! For sure, this was "impossible with people" but not impossible for God. Unknown to Zaccheus, as he climbed up in that sycamore tree that day to look down and see who Jesus was, he would find himself looking upon God. And God would take him through the eye of the needle and into the kingdom of God. What a wonderful truth it is; "The things that are impossible with people are possible for God."
Yesterday's text, the 18th chapter of Luke, included the story of the "rich young ruler" who had came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. At the end of the interaction between the two, Jesus says, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The passage goes on to say that those who heard Him then asked, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus answers them saying, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."
In today's passage of scripture we have the famous story of Zaccheus, his climb up the sycamore tree and Jesus and salvation coming to his house. While reading the account I felt as if I was seeing the purposeful fulfillment of what Jesus had spoken in the previous chapter. Let me explain. One of the things that we read about Zaccheus, other than his small stature and his occupation as "a chief tax collector", is that "he was rich". What a wondrous story. Zaccheus was about to pass through the eye of a needle! For sure, this was "impossible with people" but not impossible for God. Unknown to Zaccheus, as he climbed up in that sycamore tree that day to look down and see who Jesus was, he would find himself looking upon God. And God would take him through the eye of the needle and into the kingdom of God. What a wonderful truth it is; "The things that are impossible with people are possible for God."
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 18th chapter of the Book of Luke. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18&version=NASB
In today's scripture reading there were a couple of passages that I wanted to make brief comments on. The first one is found in the first verse where Luke writes that Jesus was telling "a parable to show that at all times they need to pray and not lose heart." I need not go into the parable itself to praise God and be thankful that He wants us to know His desire for us to be people of prayer people who do not lose heart. As we grow in our faith and in our knowledge of the object of our faith, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (God), we will increasingly become people of prayer and people who do not lose heart. Nothing makes you more desirous of a greater prayer life than a more intimate relationship with Him. And the more we know Him, His ways, His love, His kindness, His grace, His mercy, etc.,
the more it is likely that we will be counted amongst those who do not lose heart.
Secondly, in today's text we also read the parable of the two men who enter the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The parable is well known and again, I won't go into its details. But I will point out one thing that struck me as I read the parable. The tax collector is quoted as having said, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner." He did not just see himself as "a sinner" but as "the sinner". I think this is a similar humbling before God that we see the Apostle Paul write of in 1 Timothy 1:15, when speaking of himself he said, "I am the foremost" of sinners. It is the right perspective any man or woman has when they see God with a right perspective.
In today's scripture reading there were a couple of passages that I wanted to make brief comments on. The first one is found in the first verse where Luke writes that Jesus was telling "a parable to show that at all times they need to pray and not lose heart." I need not go into the parable itself to praise God and be thankful that He wants us to know His desire for us to be people of prayer people who do not lose heart. As we grow in our faith and in our knowledge of the object of our faith, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (God), we will increasingly become people of prayer and people who do not lose heart. Nothing makes you more desirous of a greater prayer life than a more intimate relationship with Him. And the more we know Him, His ways, His love, His kindness, His grace, His mercy, etc.,
the more it is likely that we will be counted amongst those who do not lose heart.
Secondly, in today's text we also read the parable of the two men who enter the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The parable is well known and again, I won't go into its details. But I will point out one thing that struck me as I read the parable. The tax collector is quoted as having said, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner." He did not just see himself as "a sinner" but as "the sinner". I think this is a similar humbling before God that we see the Apostle Paul write of in 1 Timothy 1:15, when speaking of himself he said, "I am the foremost" of sinners. It is the right perspective any man or woman has when they see God with a right perspective.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 17th chapter of the Book of Luke. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2017&version=NASB
In today's scripture reading we have the story of the ten lepers who were cleansed by Jesus. As Jesus was traveling between Samaria and Galilee He met "ten leprous men who stood at a distance" from Him raising their voices and saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" It appears that they are standing at a distance because of their leprous condition which necessitates their voices being raised for Jesus to hear their plea. Hearing and responding to them, Jesus tells the ten to go and show themselves to the priests and as they are going they are each cleansed of their leprosy. When one of the ten sees that he has been healed, he returns to Jesus. With no need to stand at a distance any longer, the man glorifies God by falling at the feet of Jesus and thanking Him. As the account continues we see Jesus asking the following rhetorical question: "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine - where are they?" May we be like the one and not the nine. It is always good for us to "fall on our face" at the feet of Jesus and give Him thanks. Today and each day we have much to be thankful for. No, I have never been cleansed of leprosy but I have been cleansed of the penalty and power of sin. It is said that leprosy can cause severe damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes of a man. But it cannot reach to nor damage the soul and spirit of a man. Sin is a "leprosy" of the worst kind. It effects the body and the soul and spirit of a man. Without being cleansed it will take its toll on any man. I too once "stood at a distance" from the Lord but I have been cleansed in His blood and brought near where I may fall at His feet.
In today's scripture reading we have the story of the ten lepers who were cleansed by Jesus. As Jesus was traveling between Samaria and Galilee He met "ten leprous men who stood at a distance" from Him raising their voices and saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" It appears that they are standing at a distance because of their leprous condition which necessitates their voices being raised for Jesus to hear their plea. Hearing and responding to them, Jesus tells the ten to go and show themselves to the priests and as they are going they are each cleansed of their leprosy. When one of the ten sees that he has been healed, he returns to Jesus. With no need to stand at a distance any longer, the man glorifies God by falling at the feet of Jesus and thanking Him. As the account continues we see Jesus asking the following rhetorical question: "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine - where are they?" May we be like the one and not the nine. It is always good for us to "fall on our face" at the feet of Jesus and give Him thanks. Today and each day we have much to be thankful for. No, I have never been cleansed of leprosy but I have been cleansed of the penalty and power of sin. It is said that leprosy can cause severe damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes of a man. But it cannot reach to nor damage the soul and spirit of a man. Sin is a "leprosy" of the worst kind. It effects the body and the soul and spirit of a man. Without being cleansed it will take its toll on any man. I too once "stood at a distance" from the Lord but I have been cleansed in His blood and brought near where I may fall at His feet.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 16th chapter of the Book of Luke. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2016&version=NASB
God purposed to use the scribes and Pharisees in many different instances during Jesus' life and ministry in teaching many lessons. When I consider this I can't help but rejoice in the truth of God's word that tells us that "all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable". We cannot deny the profitability of scripture; even the many negative things we see written about the scribes and Pharisees. In the 15th verse of today's passage Luke records Jesus as having spoken to the Pharisees, saying to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." In the flesh men are prone to justify themselves in the sight of other men. The Pharisees could justify themselves in the eyes of other men by engaging in certain religious practices. Heart and motive would be unknown to other men. Unfortunately we have no immunity from doing the same sort of thing in our day. In the Apostle Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church he spoke of those who measured or compared themselves by themselves and said that by doing so they were without understanding. We may be able to "justify ourselves in the sight of men" but God still knows the heart. We are not the standard by which we ought to measure or compare ourselves. Christ is the standard to which we have been admonished to fix our eyes on. By God's grace and through faith and the Spirit's work in our lives we can be privileged to have Christ live in us! For this we give Him the glory.
God purposed to use the scribes and Pharisees in many different instances during Jesus' life and ministry in teaching many lessons. When I consider this I can't help but rejoice in the truth of God's word that tells us that "all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable". We cannot deny the profitability of scripture; even the many negative things we see written about the scribes and Pharisees. In the 15th verse of today's passage Luke records Jesus as having spoken to the Pharisees, saying to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." In the flesh men are prone to justify themselves in the sight of other men. The Pharisees could justify themselves in the eyes of other men by engaging in certain religious practices. Heart and motive would be unknown to other men. Unfortunately we have no immunity from doing the same sort of thing in our day. In the Apostle Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church he spoke of those who measured or compared themselves by themselves and said that by doing so they were without understanding. We may be able to "justify ourselves in the sight of men" but God still knows the heart. We are not the standard by which we ought to measure or compare ourselves. Christ is the standard to which we have been admonished to fix our eyes on. By God's grace and through faith and the Spirit's work in our lives we can be privileged to have Christ live in us! For this we give Him the glory.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 15th chapter of the Book of Luke. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015&version=NASB
They said it while "grumbling" but had no idea that I would sit here one day and write that I so appreciate the truth of what they said. As "the tax collectors and the sinners" were coming near to Jesus to listen to Him, the scribes and the Pharisees both were saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." Indeed, what grand news this was! A tax collector I have never been but a sinner I have been my entire life. Yes Pharisees and scribes, He receives sinners. He draws them. He gives them faith to believe. He forgives them. He clothes them in His righteousness. He makes them part of His body, the church. He is not ashamed to call the one who has been born again His brethren. He has prepared a place for them in His presence and promises to one day return for them. Such love and mercy is not to be grumbled about but praised with thankful hearts. This man receives sinners, praise God!
They said it while "grumbling" but had no idea that I would sit here one day and write that I so appreciate the truth of what they said. As "the tax collectors and the sinners" were coming near to Jesus to listen to Him, the scribes and the Pharisees both were saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." Indeed, what grand news this was! A tax collector I have never been but a sinner I have been my entire life. Yes Pharisees and scribes, He receives sinners. He draws them. He gives them faith to believe. He forgives them. He clothes them in His righteousness. He makes them part of His body, the church. He is not ashamed to call the one who has been born again His brethren. He has prepared a place for them in His presence and promises to one day return for them. Such love and mercy is not to be grumbled about but praised with thankful hearts. This man receives sinners, praise God!
Friday, March 21, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 14th chapter of the Book of Luke. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+14&version=NASB
In verses 16 through 24 of today's chapter we read what is ofter referred to as the parable of the dinner. When the "dinner hour" arrived, we see that the one giving the dinner sends out his slave to tell the invited guests to come "for everything is ready now". The fist one responds by saying, "I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.". The text tells us that "they all alike began to make excuses" for not coming to the dinner. The parable includes three different excuses that were given by invited guests for not being able to come to the dinner. The "excuses" mentioned each appear to have had some sense of legitimacy to the ones giving them. One had bought a piece of land and needed to go look at it. Another had bought five yoke of oxen and was going to try them out. And the other had married a wife and could not come. The parable reminds me of the many excuses that we give for not being faithful in the assembling together with other believers or for not being about the ministry that our gracious Lord has provided for us. Selfishly we can say in our hearts or with our mouths, "please consider me excused" and consider our reasons for not doing that which the Lord would have us do as legitimate. Don't get me wrong, there are clearly times when it is God's will that we not do a particular thing because He would have us do another at that particular time. But may we be discerning and not fall into a pattern where we are oftentimes considering ourselves excused from what the Lord would have us do so that we might be about our own business and not His.
In verses 16 through 24 of today's chapter we read what is ofter referred to as the parable of the dinner. When the "dinner hour" arrived, we see that the one giving the dinner sends out his slave to tell the invited guests to come "for everything is ready now". The fist one responds by saying, "I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.". The text tells us that "they all alike began to make excuses" for not coming to the dinner. The parable includes three different excuses that were given by invited guests for not being able to come to the dinner. The "excuses" mentioned each appear to have had some sense of legitimacy to the ones giving them. One had bought a piece of land and needed to go look at it. Another had bought five yoke of oxen and was going to try them out. And the other had married a wife and could not come. The parable reminds me of the many excuses that we give for not being faithful in the assembling together with other believers or for not being about the ministry that our gracious Lord has provided for us. Selfishly we can say in our hearts or with our mouths, "please consider me excused" and consider our reasons for not doing that which the Lord would have us do as legitimate. Don't get me wrong, there are clearly times when it is God's will that we not do a particular thing because He would have us do another at that particular time. But may we be discerning and not fall into a pattern where we are oftentimes considering ourselves excused from what the Lord would have us do so that we might be about our own business and not His.
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