ALL – Psalm 44:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 10:19
OT – Leviticus 22:17-23:44
NT – Mark 9:30-10:12
If you’re a mom or dad and don’t believe that children are disruptive, you need to start helping your spouse take care of your kids! Or else you need to reclaim your kids from the daycare center. Children are cute, but they definitely cut down on productivity—at least, on what most people consider to be productive.
Jesus says something about children. We usually read it to our Sunday school and children’s church workers, or perhaps at Christian teachers’ conferences. We almost never think about reading it to parents. But you, moms and dads, are probably the first people who ought to hear Jesus’ words, the first people who find applying them to be a challenge, the first people who have the opportunity to experience the promise Jesus leaves behind:
Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming my Father who sent me! – Mark 9:37, The Living Bible
Are your children welcome in your home—in their home? Do you view serving them as an opportunity to serve your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? I’m not talking about caving to every one of their childish demands; that would be foolish and inappropriate, and ultimately wouldn’t really serve your children beneficially. But listening to them, responding to them, caring for them, playing with them, interacting with them, teaching them?
Let’s welcome our own children into our lives, no matter how frustrating they sometimes are, rather than shutting them out. Let’s welcome them, our Jesus, and the Father Himself!
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Like Teacher, Like Disciple
ALL – Psalm 42:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 10:17
OT – Leviticus 19:1-20:21
NT – Mark 8:11-38
If you want to be a marine biologist, you don’t major in English. If you want to be an anthropologist, you don’t major in math. Students go where their chosen teachers lead.
Jesus knew where He was going, and He shared openly with His disciples what His journey would be:
Then he began to tell them about the terrible things he would suffer, and that he would be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the other Jewish leaders—and be killed, and that he would rise again three days afterwards. – Mark 8:31, The Living Bible
But Jesus’ journey wasn’t His alone. Since Jesus was the Teacher-Master, it was a journey for all His disciples, His followers, His students:
Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and listen, “If any of you wants to be my follower,” he told them, “you must put aside your own pleasures and shoulder your cross, and follow me closely. If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live. – Mark 8:34-35, The Living Bible
Jesus’ journey included suffering and death; the disciples would follow in His steps. Jesus’ journey included a resurrection; the disciples, too, would gain life as they followed Jesus. Students go where their teachers lead, and Jesus has led the way through death to eternal life in the New Heavens and the New Earth that He’s preparing for His disciples even now. Not only has He led the way; He is the Way. No disciple can walk that road without the provision of His life, His blood and death, His resurrection, His Spirit.
Students go where their chosen teachers lead. Have you chosen to accept Jesus’ call?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 10:17
OT – Leviticus 19:1-20:21
NT – Mark 8:11-38
If you want to be a marine biologist, you don’t major in English. If you want to be an anthropologist, you don’t major in math. Students go where their chosen teachers lead.
Jesus knew where He was going, and He shared openly with His disciples what His journey would be:
Then he began to tell them about the terrible things he would suffer, and that he would be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the other Jewish leaders—and be killed, and that he would rise again three days afterwards. – Mark 8:31, The Living Bible
But Jesus’ journey wasn’t His alone. Since Jesus was the Teacher-Master, it was a journey for all His disciples, His followers, His students:
Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and listen, “If any of you wants to be my follower,” he told them, “you must put aside your own pleasures and shoulder your cross, and follow me closely. If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live. – Mark 8:34-35, The Living Bible
Jesus’ journey included suffering and death; the disciples would follow in His steps. Jesus’ journey included a resurrection; the disciples, too, would gain life as they followed Jesus. Students go where their teachers lead, and Jesus has led the way through death to eternal life in the New Heavens and the New Earth that He’s preparing for His disciples even now. Not only has He led the way; He is the Way. No disciple can walk that road without the provision of His life, His blood and death, His resurrection, His Spirit.
Students go where their chosen teachers lead. Have you chosen to accept Jesus’ call?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: The Good News…Made Simple
The message, preached by Scott Smith on February 21st, 2010, covered John 3:16, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. Scott Smith pointed us to John 3:16 and showed us that we are equipped to share the good news with our neighbors, just from this one world-famous verse. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Don’t Waste Your Life
The message, preached on February 14th, 2010, covered 1 John 2:15-17, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. We live in a world of sin, death and decay. Yet so many of its pleasures are attractive, even to Christians. John urges believers not to love selfishly, the way the world loves, but to love the way the Father loves. The world is passing away, and loving the world is a waste of your life. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Repetition That Means Something
ALL – Psalm 41:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 10:15-16
OT – Leviticus 16:29-18:30
NT – Mark 7:24-8:10
Repetition can be dull. Boring. Tedious.
But sometimes we need our teachers to repeat the truth. We’re so prone to forget life’s most important lessons.
See if this scene sounds familiar:
“Are we supposed to find food for them here in the desert?” his disciples scoffed.
“How many loaves of bread do you have?” he asked.
“Seven,” they replied. – Mark 8:4-5, The Living Bible
The last time we read something like this, a crowd of 5000 men was listening to Jesus’ teaching. Jesus told His disciples to feed them, and the disciples were overwhelmed. So Jesus asked the disciples to bring him what food they could find. It turned out to be five small loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus took them, gave thanks to the Father, and fed the whole crowd with them.
This time there’s a crowd of 4000. Jesus tells His disciples that He doesn’t want to send the crowd away hungry because they’re too far out in the wilderness, and some of the people might have difficulty making it to the nearest town walking on an empty stomach. Again, the disciples protest, Jesus asks the disciples what they have, they give Him what they have (this time seven loaves and a few small fish), and He thanks the Father while providing food for the whole crowd. Seven large basketfuls of food were left over!
Why the repetition? Why did the disciples need it? It’s easy to mock them. After all, they saw the first miracle; you would think they could trust Jesus for a second.
But why do the gospels record both miracles for us? Why do we need the repetition?
I think there’s something fundamental we’re meant to believe—but don’t.
We’re so concerned with meeting our own needs. We’re so afraid that we don’t have food to spare. We don’t trust God to meet our own family’s needs, so we hoard what He’s provided, not sharing with others when they’re in need.
God is the Provider. He will meet your needs. And both of these miracles demonstrate not only that He’s willing, but that He’s able to meet not only our needs. In fact, with the little that we have, God is able and willing to meet many more needs than we trust Him to meet—not just ours and our family’s, but the needs of those all the people we encounter. He invites us—Jesus urges us—to stop clinging so tightly to our “little,” to give it to Him, and to watch Him provide for many more people than we thought He could.
What is overwhelming to us is easy for God. What are you withholding from others because of your fear that God won’t meet your needs?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 10:15-16
OT – Leviticus 16:29-18:30
NT – Mark 7:24-8:10
Repetition can be dull. Boring. Tedious.
But sometimes we need our teachers to repeat the truth. We’re so prone to forget life’s most important lessons.
See if this scene sounds familiar:
“Are we supposed to find food for them here in the desert?” his disciples scoffed.
“How many loaves of bread do you have?” he asked.
“Seven,” they replied. – Mark 8:4-5, The Living Bible
The last time we read something like this, a crowd of 5000 men was listening to Jesus’ teaching. Jesus told His disciples to feed them, and the disciples were overwhelmed. So Jesus asked the disciples to bring him what food they could find. It turned out to be five small loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus took them, gave thanks to the Father, and fed the whole crowd with them.
This time there’s a crowd of 4000. Jesus tells His disciples that He doesn’t want to send the crowd away hungry because they’re too far out in the wilderness, and some of the people might have difficulty making it to the nearest town walking on an empty stomach. Again, the disciples protest, Jesus asks the disciples what they have, they give Him what they have (this time seven loaves and a few small fish), and He thanks the Father while providing food for the whole crowd. Seven large basketfuls of food were left over!
Why the repetition? Why did the disciples need it? It’s easy to mock them. After all, they saw the first miracle; you would think they could trust Jesus for a second.
But why do the gospels record both miracles for us? Why do we need the repetition?
I think there’s something fundamental we’re meant to believe—but don’t.
We’re so concerned with meeting our own needs. We’re so afraid that we don’t have food to spare. We don’t trust God to meet our own family’s needs, so we hoard what He’s provided, not sharing with others when they’re in need.
God is the Provider. He will meet your needs. And both of these miracles demonstrate not only that He’s willing, but that He’s able to meet not only our needs. In fact, with the little that we have, God is able and willing to meet many more needs than we trust Him to meet—not just ours and our family’s, but the needs of those all the people we encounter. He invites us—Jesus urges us—to stop clinging so tightly to our “little,” to give it to Him, and to watch Him provide for many more people than we thought He could.
What is overwhelming to us is easy for God. What are you withholding from others because of your fear that God won’t meet your needs?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Perfect Lawbreakers, Perfect Cover
ALL – Psalm 40:11-17
ALL – Proverbs 10:13-14
OT – Leviticus 15:1-16:28
NT – Mark 7:1-23
Criminals usually don’t want to get caught. Usually they try to cover their tracks, sometimes better than others. That’s why Bernie Madoff got away with his criminal activity for so long; everyone thought he was trying to help them earn money, when in fact his criminal concern was to take their money away. When you can look like the good guy even though you’re the bad guy, you’ve done a pretty good job covering your tracks.
We try to do that with God and with God’s people. We try to have things our way, but say things and do things in such a way that we look like we care about doing things God’s way. You will find no more righteous people than Jesus’ disciples; at the same time, you will find no more heinous sinners than those who have convinced the world that they are Jesus’ disciples. They’re called “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”
The problem is that we forget we can’t fool God. Jesus Christ encountered some Pharisees who had justified disobeying God’s commands by claiming to obey God in other, “more important” ways. And He saw right through them.
And so you break the law of God in order to protect your manmade tradition. And this is only one example. There are many, many others. – Mark 7:12-13, The Living Bible
Are there any patterns like this in your life—any ways that you claim to be obeying and serving God while actually manipulating things to your own benefit?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 10:13-14
OT – Leviticus 15:1-16:28
NT – Mark 7:1-23
Criminals usually don’t want to get caught. Usually they try to cover their tracks, sometimes better than others. That’s why Bernie Madoff got away with his criminal activity for so long; everyone thought he was trying to help them earn money, when in fact his criminal concern was to take their money away. When you can look like the good guy even though you’re the bad guy, you’ve done a pretty good job covering your tracks.
We try to do that with God and with God’s people. We try to have things our way, but say things and do things in such a way that we look like we care about doing things God’s way. You will find no more righteous people than Jesus’ disciples; at the same time, you will find no more heinous sinners than those who have convinced the world that they are Jesus’ disciples. They’re called “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”
The problem is that we forget we can’t fool God. Jesus Christ encountered some Pharisees who had justified disobeying God’s commands by claiming to obey God in other, “more important” ways. And He saw right through them.
And so you break the law of God in order to protect your manmade tradition. And this is only one example. There are many, many others. – Mark 7:12-13, The Living Bible
Are there any patterns like this in your life—any ways that you claim to be obeying and serving God while actually manipulating things to your own benefit?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
With What Shall I Fix It?
ALL – Psalm 40:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 10:11-12
OT – Leviticus 14:1-57
NT – Mark 6:30-56
One of my best excuses is, “I don’t know how.”
It covers just about everything I don’t want to do. After all, anything that I want to do, I make time to learn and to practice. So there are quite a few things I have almost no knowledge about.
Another great excuse is, “I don’t have anything to give.” What we mean, of course, is that the budget is tight and helping out would be a sacrifice. Sometimes the need is actually greater than we can meet by ourselves. But usually not. Usually it’s just that we would prefer not to give, so we say, “I don’t have anything to give.”
Jesus disciples faced that situation one day. A crowd of at least 5000 was in front of them, and Jesus came up with a crazy idea:
But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “It would take a fortune to buy food for all this crowd!”
“How much food do we have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back to report that there were five loaves of bread and two fish. – Mark 6:37-38
It’s at this point that we expect Jesus to say, “Oh, you’re right. You really don’t have enough. Oh well. Forget that plan.” But instead Jesus takes what the disciples have been able to drum up and uses it to feed the whole crowd.
When will we stop holding so tightly to the little we have instead of obeying Jesus and giving to meet the needs He calls us to meet? When will we learn that He doesn’t expect us to meet people’s needs on our own? When will we realize that Jesus can take care of the needs on His own? When will we see that Jesus’ goal is to change our hearts? When will we respond by trusting Him and generously joining Him in His acts of love?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 10:11-12
OT – Leviticus 14:1-57
NT – Mark 6:30-56
One of my best excuses is, “I don’t know how.”
It covers just about everything I don’t want to do. After all, anything that I want to do, I make time to learn and to practice. So there are quite a few things I have almost no knowledge about.
Another great excuse is, “I don’t have anything to give.” What we mean, of course, is that the budget is tight and helping out would be a sacrifice. Sometimes the need is actually greater than we can meet by ourselves. But usually not. Usually it’s just that we would prefer not to give, so we say, “I don’t have anything to give.”
Jesus disciples faced that situation one day. A crowd of at least 5000 was in front of them, and Jesus came up with a crazy idea:
But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “It would take a fortune to buy food for all this crowd!”
“How much food do we have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back to report that there were five loaves of bread and two fish. – Mark 6:37-38
It’s at this point that we expect Jesus to say, “Oh, you’re right. You really don’t have enough. Oh well. Forget that plan.” But instead Jesus takes what the disciples have been able to drum up and uses it to feed the whole crowd.
When will we stop holding so tightly to the little we have instead of obeying Jesus and giving to meet the needs He calls us to meet? When will we learn that He doesn’t expect us to meet people’s needs on our own? When will we realize that Jesus can take care of the needs on His own? When will we see that Jesus’ goal is to change our hearts? When will we respond by trusting Him and generously joining Him in His acts of love?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
More to Come Today…
ALL – Psalm 40:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 10:11-12
OT – Leviticus 14:1-57
NT – Mark 6:30-56
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 10:11-12
OT – Leviticus 14:1-57
NT – Mark 6:30-56
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
No Honor at Home
ALL – Psalm 39:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 10:10
OT – Leviticus 13:1-59
NT – Mark 6:1-29
Perhaps you have experienced this. Your sibling’s pretty normal. They’ve been pretty normal forever. You’re used to them. You usually don’t listen to a word they say. But then one day, they say something amazing. Or perhaps they do something amazing. Something you know you should admire and honor. But they’re your sibling. So you overlook what they’ve done. You shrug it off, ignore it, perhaps even mock your sibling a bit and say, “Oh, (s)he’s not really that great. I remember when…”
Why do we do that?
There weren’t any stories people could tell about Jesus that would actually paint Him as a “bad boy when He was young.” But perhaps He made a few mistakes in the process of trying to learn carpentry. Perhaps He messed up a few orders, perhaps He was clumsy at times, perhaps He was usually a bit dirty and wearing second- or third-hand clothing given to His family by other families whose boys outgrew the clothes of their youth. We don’t know all the reasons that people in Jesus’ hometown thought of Him as just a normal young man. But He certainly didn’t get much respect.
“He’s no better than we are,” they said. “He’s just a carpenter, Mary’s boy, and a brother of James and Joseph, Judas and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” And they were offended! – Mark 6:3, The Living Bible
When people think you’re normal, they don’t want you to act special. But Christian, you are special! You are a child of God. You have the eternal Word of God in your mouth and in your heart. You have the eternal Spirit of God living in You. And so you have something special to offer your neighbors, something that can make them special, too—something that has the power to bring them into the Family of God. You’re carrying a treasure around in you.
Just remember as you seek to share that treasure that’s in you… You don’t look like a treasure any more than Jesus did. For sure. Don’t expect people to treat you with tons of respect and appreciation. In fact, they might try to fight your claims to have the very words and Spirit of God in you. After all, you look like they do, you sound like they do, and they might even be able to outwork, outplay and out-think you. That’s ok. Just keep seeking to share that treasure. A prophet may have no honor in his hometown, but that doesn’t change the fact that, “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Cor. 4:7, NIV).
Oh, and one more thing. Let’s look at other believers as people full of God’s treasure instead of acting surprised when they come up with a good idea or an amazing insight into the Scriptures. Believers should recognize believers as people worth knowing and spending time with, people who have a close relationship with the Creator.
How have you misjudged God’s people and avoided giving them the honor they deserve?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 10:10
OT – Leviticus 13:1-59
NT – Mark 6:1-29
Perhaps you have experienced this. Your sibling’s pretty normal. They’ve been pretty normal forever. You’re used to them. You usually don’t listen to a word they say. But then one day, they say something amazing. Or perhaps they do something amazing. Something you know you should admire and honor. But they’re your sibling. So you overlook what they’ve done. You shrug it off, ignore it, perhaps even mock your sibling a bit and say, “Oh, (s)he’s not really that great. I remember when…”
Why do we do that?
There weren’t any stories people could tell about Jesus that would actually paint Him as a “bad boy when He was young.” But perhaps He made a few mistakes in the process of trying to learn carpentry. Perhaps He messed up a few orders, perhaps He was clumsy at times, perhaps He was usually a bit dirty and wearing second- or third-hand clothing given to His family by other families whose boys outgrew the clothes of their youth. We don’t know all the reasons that people in Jesus’ hometown thought of Him as just a normal young man. But He certainly didn’t get much respect.
“He’s no better than we are,” they said. “He’s just a carpenter, Mary’s boy, and a brother of James and Joseph, Judas and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” And they were offended! – Mark 6:3, The Living Bible
When people think you’re normal, they don’t want you to act special. But Christian, you are special! You are a child of God. You have the eternal Word of God in your mouth and in your heart. You have the eternal Spirit of God living in You. And so you have something special to offer your neighbors, something that can make them special, too—something that has the power to bring them into the Family of God. You’re carrying a treasure around in you.
Just remember as you seek to share that treasure that’s in you… You don’t look like a treasure any more than Jesus did. For sure. Don’t expect people to treat you with tons of respect and appreciation. In fact, they might try to fight your claims to have the very words and Spirit of God in you. After all, you look like they do, you sound like they do, and they might even be able to outwork, outplay and out-think you. That’s ok. Just keep seeking to share that treasure. A prophet may have no honor in his hometown, but that doesn’t change the fact that, “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Cor. 4:7, NIV).
Oh, and one more thing. Let’s look at other believers as people full of God’s treasure instead of acting surprised when they come up with a good idea or an amazing insight into the Scriptures. Believers should recognize believers as people worth knowing and spending time with, people who have a close relationship with the Creator.
How have you misjudged God’s people and avoided giving them the honor they deserve?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Hardness
ALL – Psalm 37:12-29
ALL – Proverbs 10:5
OT – Leviticus 7:28-9:6
NT – Mark 3:31-4:25
Growing up, I lived in an area where there weren’t many sidewalks, but everyone walked. If they walked across a field, for a while they would be going through fairly tall grass. But over time, as people used the same pathway repeatedly, something happened. The grass under their feet bruised and began to wilt. As it died, the ground under their feet grew harder and harder. Eventually, despite that ground being surrounded by field plants of every kind, despite seeds falling on the pathway frequently, seeds could not take root in that pathway. It was too hard.
The hard pathway, where some of the seed fell, represents the hard hearts of some of those who hear God’s message; Satan comes at once to make them try to forget it. – Mark 4:15, The Living Bible
God’s Word is like a seed. It is intended to produce growth and fruit in our lives. But some of us have developed habits of sinfulness. We justify our sins; whether the sins stay in our hearts, barely leak out our lips, or burst through our behaviors, we justify them and keep on sinning. We walk the path of sin day after day, and we harden our hearts to the fruitful influence of God’s Word. We leave ourselves barren, devoid of obedience, righteousness and peace.
Don’t get used to disobeying God. Don’t get used to turning off the voice of the conscience He’s given you, or your heart will be hardened even to the voice of God. As you hear His voice, don’t just think about it: obey!
What sin has God brought to mind as you read this? Don’t delay. Respond immediately with faith, repentance and obedience. Don’t harden your heart today.
How can we help one another keep our hearts tilled and soft to God’s Word?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 10:5
OT – Leviticus 7:28-9:6
NT – Mark 3:31-4:25
Growing up, I lived in an area where there weren’t many sidewalks, but everyone walked. If they walked across a field, for a while they would be going through fairly tall grass. But over time, as people used the same pathway repeatedly, something happened. The grass under their feet bruised and began to wilt. As it died, the ground under their feet grew harder and harder. Eventually, despite that ground being surrounded by field plants of every kind, despite seeds falling on the pathway frequently, seeds could not take root in that pathway. It was too hard.
The hard pathway, where some of the seed fell, represents the hard hearts of some of those who hear God’s message; Satan comes at once to make them try to forget it. – Mark 4:15, The Living Bible
God’s Word is like a seed. It is intended to produce growth and fruit in our lives. But some of us have developed habits of sinfulness. We justify our sins; whether the sins stay in our hearts, barely leak out our lips, or burst through our behaviors, we justify them and keep on sinning. We walk the path of sin day after day, and we harden our hearts to the fruitful influence of God’s Word. We leave ourselves barren, devoid of obedience, righteousness and peace.
Don’t get used to disobeying God. Don’t get used to turning off the voice of the conscience He’s given you, or your heart will be hardened even to the voice of God. As you hear His voice, don’t just think about it: obey!
What sin has God brought to mind as you read this? Don’t delay. Respond immediately with faith, repentance and obedience. Don’t harden your heart today.
How can we help one another keep our hearts tilled and soft to God’s Word?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Unforgiveable
ALL – Psalm 37:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 10:3-4
OT – Leviticus 6:1-7:27
NT – Mark 3:7-30
There may be times when we don’t really care whether we receive forgiveness or not. We may justify our behavior or words and not even seek forgiveness. But when we get to the point where we want to be forgiven—well, then we pretty much expect forgiveness. I mean, we shouldn’t. But we do. We expect forgiveness. And the idea that anything might not be forgiven is horrifying. Horrifying, but not unimaginable.
What we cannot imagine is that we might be unforgiveable.
I solemnly declare that any sin of man can be forgiven, even blasphemy against me; but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin. – Jesus (Mark 3:28-29, The Living Bible).
The unimaginable. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable.
What’s blasphemy, by the way?
• Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. (Exodus 22:28, NIV) – Here it has to do with the violence with which we speak against God.
• But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the Lord, and that person must be cut off from his people. (Numbers 15:30, NIV) – Here it has to do with the defiance of one’s sins.
So what’s blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? It’s either speaking of the Holy Spirit or acting toward Him in a way that declares your hatred and disdain for Him.
Some blasphemy may be done ignorantly, without any genuine belief that one is actually blaspheming God. Paul says that he blasphemed in this way, and says, “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief” (1 Tim. 1:13, NIV). It may be that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, if done in ignorance and unbelief, can still receive mercy.
But this isn’t one of those situations when I would suggest testing your luck.
How can we encourage one another to obey and speak well of the Holy Spirit?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 10:3-4
OT – Leviticus 6:1-7:27
NT – Mark 3:7-30
There may be times when we don’t really care whether we receive forgiveness or not. We may justify our behavior or words and not even seek forgiveness. But when we get to the point where we want to be forgiven—well, then we pretty much expect forgiveness. I mean, we shouldn’t. But we do. We expect forgiveness. And the idea that anything might not be forgiven is horrifying. Horrifying, but not unimaginable.
What we cannot imagine is that we might be unforgiveable.
I solemnly declare that any sin of man can be forgiven, even blasphemy against me; but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin. – Jesus (Mark 3:28-29, The Living Bible).
The unimaginable. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable.
What’s blasphemy, by the way?
• Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. (Exodus 22:28, NIV) – Here it has to do with the violence with which we speak against God.
• But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the Lord, and that person must be cut off from his people. (Numbers 15:30, NIV) – Here it has to do with the defiance of one’s sins.
So what’s blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? It’s either speaking of the Holy Spirit or acting toward Him in a way that declares your hatred and disdain for Him.
Some blasphemy may be done ignorantly, without any genuine belief that one is actually blaspheming God. Paul says that he blasphemed in this way, and says, “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief” (1 Tim. 1:13, NIV). It may be that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, if done in ignorance and unbelief, can still receive mercy.
But this isn’t one of those situations when I would suggest testing your luck.
How can we encourage one another to obey and speak well of the Holy Spirit?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
New is Usually Different
ALL – Psalm 36:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 10:1-2
OT – Leviticus 4:1-5:19
NT – Mark 2:13-3:6
The unexpected can be annoying—perhaps even offensive.
But when Jesus came, He didn’t apologize for His unexpected new ways. In fact, He defended them. When the Pharisees implied that His disciples ought to be fasting along with theirs and John’s (the Baptist), Jesus said,
It is like patching an old garment with unshrunk cloth! What happens? The patch pulls away and leaves the hole worse than before. You know better than to put new wine into old wineskins. They would burst. The wine would be spilled out and the wineskins ruined. New wine needs fresh wineskins. – Mark 2:21-22
The old and the new often don’t work well together. Everything about Jesus was new, and new is usually different. Jesus was surprising. Jesus was unconventional. Jesus was different. Why? Because Jesus was new and brought a new reality with Him from heaven.
As Christians, we have to be careful how we apply this lesson. We want to be new like Jesus—there’s no question about that. But to some people, “new like Jesus” means that we must shake up the traditional ways of the church at every opportunity. “New like Jesus” can be used to justify people’s whims to be different, unconventional, even slightly rebellious against church practices and traditions. That’s not what being new like Jesus is about. We must remember that Jesus lived 2,000 years ago. For Christians, there is much about following Jesus that should be tradition by now. Why? Because we can never become newer than Jesus. He is the Father’s final word.
On the other hand, our behavior and teachings will always be new to the world around us, because people perpetually follow the world’s tradition of sinning against God. That is the tradition we must aim most passionately to break as we stand with Jesus in the newness of the covenant He sealed with His blood. We are not to differ from Jesus’ followers, but from the world and its patterns. New is usually different. Let’s aim to be different in Jesus’ way—not from Jesus and His followers, but from those who oppose Him.
What is new in your life because Jesus lives in you?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 10:1-2
OT – Leviticus 4:1-5:19
NT – Mark 2:13-3:6
The unexpected can be annoying—perhaps even offensive.
But when Jesus came, He didn’t apologize for His unexpected new ways. In fact, He defended them. When the Pharisees implied that His disciples ought to be fasting along with theirs and John’s (the Baptist), Jesus said,
It is like patching an old garment with unshrunk cloth! What happens? The patch pulls away and leaves the hole worse than before. You know better than to put new wine into old wineskins. They would burst. The wine would be spilled out and the wineskins ruined. New wine needs fresh wineskins. – Mark 2:21-22
The old and the new often don’t work well together. Everything about Jesus was new, and new is usually different. Jesus was surprising. Jesus was unconventional. Jesus was different. Why? Because Jesus was new and brought a new reality with Him from heaven.
As Christians, we have to be careful how we apply this lesson. We want to be new like Jesus—there’s no question about that. But to some people, “new like Jesus” means that we must shake up the traditional ways of the church at every opportunity. “New like Jesus” can be used to justify people’s whims to be different, unconventional, even slightly rebellious against church practices and traditions. That’s not what being new like Jesus is about. We must remember that Jesus lived 2,000 years ago. For Christians, there is much about following Jesus that should be tradition by now. Why? Because we can never become newer than Jesus. He is the Father’s final word.
On the other hand, our behavior and teachings will always be new to the world around us, because people perpetually follow the world’s tradition of sinning against God. That is the tradition we must aim most passionately to break as we stand with Jesus in the newness of the covenant He sealed with His blood. We are not to differ from Jesus’ followers, but from the world and its patterns. New is usually different. Let’s aim to be different in Jesus’ way—not from Jesus and His followers, but from those who oppose Him.
What is new in your life because Jesus lives in you?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I’ll Pray Later
ALL – Psalm 35:17-28
ALL – Proverbs 9:13-18
OT – Leviticus 1:1-3:17
NT – Mark 1:29-2:12
Since being appointed as pastor, I have been made more aware than ever before that any spiritual accomplishment is possible only by God’s grace. Even when everything is going well, I am completely overwhelmed and need God’s help and guidance and strength daily.
And yet, just like many others, I sometimes struggle to “find time” for prayer. I’m more aware of my need for time to give my Father my burdens than ever, and yet distractions and pressing deadlines still sometimes manage to convince me to “pray later.”
Jesus did not lack for pressures. And yet Jesus spent time with His Father. After a day full of ministry, healing the sick and casting out demons:
The next morning he was up long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray. – Mark 1:35, The Living Bible
I’m not saying that everyone needs to get up long before daybreak. But seriously, we need time to pray to our God. Find some time in each day. Cherish it. And pour your heart out to God.
What do you need to put in God’s hands today?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 9:13-18
OT – Leviticus 1:1-3:17
NT – Mark 1:29-2:12
Since being appointed as pastor, I have been made more aware than ever before that any spiritual accomplishment is possible only by God’s grace. Even when everything is going well, I am completely overwhelmed and need God’s help and guidance and strength daily.
And yet, just like many others, I sometimes struggle to “find time” for prayer. I’m more aware of my need for time to give my Father my burdens than ever, and yet distractions and pressing deadlines still sometimes manage to convince me to “pray later.”
Jesus did not lack for pressures. And yet Jesus spent time with His Father. After a day full of ministry, healing the sick and casting out demons:
The next morning he was up long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray. – Mark 1:35, The Living Bible
I’m not saying that everyone needs to get up long before daybreak. But seriously, we need time to pray to our God. Find some time in each day. Cherish it. And pour your heart out to God.
What do you need to put in God’s hands today?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Monday, February 15, 2010
February 15, 2010
ALL – Psalm 35:1-16
ALL – Proverbs 9:11-12
OT – Exodus 39:1-40:38
NT – Mark 1:1-28
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 9:11-12
OT – Exodus 39:1-40:38
NT – Mark 1:1-28
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
February 14, 2010
ALL – Psalm 34:11-22
ALL – Proverbs 9:9-10
OT – Exodus 37:1-38:31
NT – Matthew 28:1-20
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 9:9-10
OT – Exodus 37:1-38:31
NT – Matthew 28:1-20
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Let’s Stop the Resurrection
ALL – Psalm 34:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 9:7-8
OT – Exodus 35:10-36:38
NT – Matthew 27:32-66
People. What are we thinking? Sometimes our plans can be so…futile.
We think we’re smart. We think we’re tough. We think we can tackle anything, anyone. And then we find out we’ve bitten off more than we can chew. Like when the chief priests and Pharisees tried to prevent the Creator of the world from rising from the dead.
[T]he chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate, and told him, “Sir, that liar once said, ‘After three days I will come back to life again.’ So we request an order from you sealing the tomb until the third day, to prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens we’ll be worse off than we were at first.” – Matthew 27:62-64
So, how’d that go for you guys?
People never learn. Even now, people are trying to deny, disprove, and overcome Jesus. How’s that going for you?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 9:7-8
OT – Exodus 35:10-36:38
NT – Matthew 27:32-66
People. What are we thinking? Sometimes our plans can be so…futile.
We think we’re smart. We think we’re tough. We think we can tackle anything, anyone. And then we find out we’ve bitten off more than we can chew. Like when the chief priests and Pharisees tried to prevent the Creator of the world from rising from the dead.
[T]he chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate, and told him, “Sir, that liar once said, ‘After three days I will come back to life again.’ So we request an order from you sealing the tomb until the third day, to prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens we’ll be worse off than we were at first.” – Matthew 27:62-64
So, how’d that go for you guys?
People never learn. Even now, people are trying to deny, disprove, and overcome Jesus. How’s that going for you?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Remember, You’re Believers
The message, preached on February 7th, 2010, covered 1 John 2:12-14, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. John took a moment in his letter to emphasize that he knew he was writing to believers—world-overcomers. Why would it be so important for the readers to know that John saw them this way? Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Our Sins Against God, Transparent to the World
ALL – Psalm 33:12-22
ALL – Proverbs 9:1-6
OT – Exodus 34:1-35:9
NT – Matthew 27:15-31
Have you ever really wanted something to go your way? And then you figured out a way to make it seem as though what you wanted was really in other people’s best interests? So you went out and got your way, and thought you made it look like it was for someone else and not for you?
Guess what. You may have fooled some people, but you didn’t fool everyone. Someone saw through you.
The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead. They thought that they could make it look like they were being good Roman citizens and get the Roman government to kill Him by accusing Jesus of being a traitor to the Roman empire, a rebel who was trying to become king. They succeeded in getting Jesus killed, but they didn’t succeed in fooling the Roman governor, Pilate. He knew exactly what was going on, and he didn’t like it.
As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning he asked them, “Which shall I release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus your Messiah?” For he knew very well that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy because of his popularity with the people. – Matthew 27:17-18
His wife called Jesus a good man, too.
Pilate’s wife sent him this message: “Leave that good man alone; for I had a terrible nightmare concerning him last night.” – Matthew 27:19
And when the crowd asked for Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus, Pilate encouraged them to rethink their choice:
“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What has he done wrong?” – Matthew 27:23
Even as he caved to the crowd’s pressure, Pilate was trying to place the blame on them, knowing this was an injustice:
[H]e sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this good man. The responsibility is yours!” – Matthew 27:24
He’d seen through them. He knew they didn’t mind the responsibility for Jesus’ death. And they didn’t deny it:
“His blood be on us and on our children.” – Matthew 27:25
Secret sins aren’t so secret. We need to be real about our sins. Not proud of them. But real about them, and ready to see how sinful we are. We confess our sins rather than pretending to be good even as we go about our sinful ways. And in confessing our sins, we find that the very Jesus who went to the cross, the King of creation, is the Jesus who provides for our forgiveness. May we all find His grace and stop pretending to be doing good deeds as we sin.
What sins have you seen others committing while pretending to be good (please, no names or identifying details—just stories to show everyone how transparent we can be)?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 9:1-6
OT – Exodus 34:1-35:9
NT – Matthew 27:15-31
Have you ever really wanted something to go your way? And then you figured out a way to make it seem as though what you wanted was really in other people’s best interests? So you went out and got your way, and thought you made it look like it was for someone else and not for you?
Guess what. You may have fooled some people, but you didn’t fool everyone. Someone saw through you.
The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead. They thought that they could make it look like they were being good Roman citizens and get the Roman government to kill Him by accusing Jesus of being a traitor to the Roman empire, a rebel who was trying to become king. They succeeded in getting Jesus killed, but they didn’t succeed in fooling the Roman governor, Pilate. He knew exactly what was going on, and he didn’t like it.
As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning he asked them, “Which shall I release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus your Messiah?” For he knew very well that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy because of his popularity with the people. – Matthew 27:17-18
His wife called Jesus a good man, too.
Pilate’s wife sent him this message: “Leave that good man alone; for I had a terrible nightmare concerning him last night.” – Matthew 27:19
And when the crowd asked for Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus, Pilate encouraged them to rethink their choice:
“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What has he done wrong?” – Matthew 27:23
Even as he caved to the crowd’s pressure, Pilate was trying to place the blame on them, knowing this was an injustice:
[H]e sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this good man. The responsibility is yours!” – Matthew 27:24
He’d seen through them. He knew they didn’t mind the responsibility for Jesus’ death. And they didn’t deny it:
“His blood be on us and on our children.” – Matthew 27:25
Secret sins aren’t so secret. We need to be real about our sins. Not proud of them. But real about them, and ready to see how sinful we are. We confess our sins rather than pretending to be good even as we go about our sinful ways. And in confessing our sins, we find that the very Jesus who went to the cross, the King of creation, is the Jesus who provides for our forgiveness. May we all find His grace and stop pretending to be doing good deeds as we sin.
What sins have you seen others committing while pretending to be good (please, no names or identifying details—just stories to show everyone how transparent we can be)?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Don’t Bring Your Sin to Me
ALL – Psalm 33:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 8:33-36
OT – Exodus 32:1-33:23
NT – Matthew 22:69-27:14
A smoker who’s trying to quit doesn’t get much help from smokers. An alcoholic who’s trying to quit doesn’t get much help from drinkers. An fornicator who’s trying to quit won’t get much sympathy from fornicators. Misery loves company. So does shame. So does sin.
Judas had betrayed Jesus and was filled with remorse when he realized what he’d done. He went back to the people who had paid him to hand Jesus over to them – the chief priests and other Jewish leaders.
“I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”
“That’s your problem,” they retorted. – Matthew 27:4, The Living Bible
Are you struggling with temptations and sin? Go to people who will share your convictions for support. Go to people who will point you toward Jesus, toward the cross, toward the Spirit, toward righteousness and forgiveness and grace. Don’t do what Judas did and seek help from people who are proud of their sin.
Then he threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself. – Matthew 27:5, The Living Bible
Where do you turn when you recognize your sins? To Jesus and the people who are following Him—to those who can help to free you from the noose around your neck? Or to those who oppose Him—to those who will hand you a rope and let you die?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 8:33-36
OT – Exodus 32:1-33:23
NT – Matthew 22:69-27:14
A smoker who’s trying to quit doesn’t get much help from smokers. An alcoholic who’s trying to quit doesn’t get much help from drinkers. An fornicator who’s trying to quit won’t get much sympathy from fornicators. Misery loves company. So does shame. So does sin.
Judas had betrayed Jesus and was filled with remorse when he realized what he’d done. He went back to the people who had paid him to hand Jesus over to them – the chief priests and other Jewish leaders.
“I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”
“That’s your problem,” they retorted. – Matthew 27:4, The Living Bible
Are you struggling with temptations and sin? Go to people who will share your convictions for support. Go to people who will point you toward Jesus, toward the cross, toward the Spirit, toward righteousness and forgiveness and grace. Don’t do what Judas did and seek help from people who are proud of their sin.
Then he threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself. – Matthew 27:5, The Living Bible
Where do you turn when you recognize your sins? To Jesus and the people who are following Him—to those who can help to free you from the noose around your neck? Or to those who oppose Him—to those who will hand you a rope and let you die?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Jesus Christ Gave Himself for You
ALL – Psalm 31:19-24
ALL – Proverbs 8:14-26
OT – Exodus 29:1-30:10
NT – Matthew 26:14-46
I have three of the most wonderful kids in the world, and I would suffer just about anything to keep them safe, even (especially!) if they were putting their own lives in danger. But I’m not so gung-ho to protect adults who are risking their necks. They should know better! I believe I would try to help someone in real trouble, even if I didn’t know them. But I would be very careful to protect myself in the process. I think so, anyways.
Jesus came into a world full of people whose sins were leading them to the brink of death. People who should have known better—many of them, at least. And instead of protecting Himself, Jesus gave Himself to save us all, all who will trust in Him. Deliberately. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus was intent on saving us:
As they were eating, Jesus took a small loaf of bread and blessed it and broke it apart and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take it and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it and gave it to them and said, “Each one drink from it, for this is my blood, sealing the New Covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of multitudes. Mark my words—I will not drink this wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” – Matthew 26:26-29
He gave Himself to save sinners. You and I are sinners. Have you received His salvation yet? If not, please do. If so, please walk in Jesus’ salvation.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 8:14-26
OT – Exodus 29:1-30:10
NT – Matthew 26:14-46
I have three of the most wonderful kids in the world, and I would suffer just about anything to keep them safe, even (especially!) if they were putting their own lives in danger. But I’m not so gung-ho to protect adults who are risking their necks. They should know better! I believe I would try to help someone in real trouble, even if I didn’t know them. But I would be very careful to protect myself in the process. I think so, anyways.
Jesus came into a world full of people whose sins were leading them to the brink of death. People who should have known better—many of them, at least. And instead of protecting Himself, Jesus gave Himself to save us all, all who will trust in Him. Deliberately. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus was intent on saving us:
As they were eating, Jesus took a small loaf of bread and blessed it and broke it apart and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take it and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it and gave it to them and said, “Each one drink from it, for this is my blood, sealing the New Covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of multitudes. Mark my words—I will not drink this wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” – Matthew 26:26-29
He gave Himself to save sinners. You and I are sinners. Have you received His salvation yet? If not, please do. If so, please walk in Jesus’ salvation.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Monday, February 8, 2010
February 8, 2010
ALL – Psalm 31:9-18
ALL – Proverbs 8:12-13
OT - Exodus 28:1-43
NT – Matthew 25:31-26:13
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 8:12-13
OT - Exodus 28:1-43
NT – Matthew 25:31-26:13
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
A Servant Who’s Not Serving
ALL – Psalm 31:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 8:1-11
OT – Exodus 26:1-27:21
NT – Matthew 25:1-30
You remember that line from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast song, “Be Our Guest”? “Life is so unnerving for a servant who’s not serving…” It’s a good line, except that Lumiere painted poor Cogsworth as the unfaithful servant, when he was actually the one seeking to obey their master, the Beast. Servants are not just meant to serve everyone; they’re supposed to serve their own masters.
Jesus told a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven in which a man went away to another country, leaving three servants and giving each of them some money to invest for him while he was away. Now this was a really good master. He knew his servants well, and he did not give any of them more than they could handle.
Two of the servants did as their master told them. They invested the money and gained a return. They served him. For their faithful service, the master rewarded each of them with greater privileges and responsibilities.
But one of them did not obey. He did not invest the money at all, not even in an interest-paying bank account. He was too scared about what his master might think or do (Matthew 25:24-25).
The NIV concludes, “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Matthew 25:29).
This verse seems confusing. All three servants still had money to give to their master, even if the third one had only the original money. What does a person need to “have” to be given more? What is it that will make a person lose everything if he “doesn’t have” it?
The answer isn’t “money,” though you might possibly argue that at least “a gain” is necessary. But how do you measure gain in the spiritual realm of the Kingdom of Heaven? Not with money!
What did the first two servants have that the third servant didn’t have? They had faithful, responsible service. The monetary gain simply showed that they had been hard at work, serving as their master commanded them to do. Servants are meant to serve. And since this parable says that the master gave each servant a task that fit his abilities, we can assume that faithful service to our King Jesus will result in the kind of gain He desires. Jesus knows our capabilities and entrusts us with service we can do. It’s not up to us to compare our abilities to others. It’s not up to us to worry about whether our service will give Jesus the return He’s looking for. It’s up to us to serve. If we don’t…?
For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have an abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him. – Matthew 25:29, The Living Bible
Jesus’ faithful servants receive a reward. Servants who don’t serve lose everything. What’s holding you back?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 8:1-11
OT – Exodus 26:1-27:21
NT – Matthew 25:1-30
You remember that line from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast song, “Be Our Guest”? “Life is so unnerving for a servant who’s not serving…” It’s a good line, except that Lumiere painted poor Cogsworth as the unfaithful servant, when he was actually the one seeking to obey their master, the Beast. Servants are not just meant to serve everyone; they’re supposed to serve their own masters.
Jesus told a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven in which a man went away to another country, leaving three servants and giving each of them some money to invest for him while he was away. Now this was a really good master. He knew his servants well, and he did not give any of them more than they could handle.
Two of the servants did as their master told them. They invested the money and gained a return. They served him. For their faithful service, the master rewarded each of them with greater privileges and responsibilities.
But one of them did not obey. He did not invest the money at all, not even in an interest-paying bank account. He was too scared about what his master might think or do (Matthew 25:24-25).
The NIV concludes, “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Matthew 25:29).
This verse seems confusing. All three servants still had money to give to their master, even if the third one had only the original money. What does a person need to “have” to be given more? What is it that will make a person lose everything if he “doesn’t have” it?
The answer isn’t “money,” though you might possibly argue that at least “a gain” is necessary. But how do you measure gain in the spiritual realm of the Kingdom of Heaven? Not with money!
What did the first two servants have that the third servant didn’t have? They had faithful, responsible service. The monetary gain simply showed that they had been hard at work, serving as their master commanded them to do. Servants are meant to serve. And since this parable says that the master gave each servant a task that fit his abilities, we can assume that faithful service to our King Jesus will result in the kind of gain He desires. Jesus knows our capabilities and entrusts us with service we can do. It’s not up to us to compare our abilities to others. It’s not up to us to worry about whether our service will give Jesus the return He’s looking for. It’s up to us to serve. If we don’t…?
For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have an abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him. – Matthew 25:29, The Living Bible
Jesus’ faithful servants receive a reward. Servants who don’t serve lose everything. What’s holding you back?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Walking in the Light Means Loving Brothers
The message, preached on January 31st, 2010, covered 1 John 2:7-11, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. The command to love one another takes on a new impetus when we realize that the Kingdom of the God of love is already dawning. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Maybe Morning, Maybe Noon…
ALL – Psalm 30:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 7:24-27
OT – Exodus 23:14-25:40
NT – Matthew 24:29-51
Have you ever watched the road expectantly, waiting for a special relative or friend to come? I remember once, when I was in the second grade and attending boarding school, that I was looking forward to a visit from my mom. For some reason, I thought she was coming on Monday. My little eyes couldn’t stop watching the road that day, waiting for her to step out of a car and into my arms. I didn’t know when she would arrive, but I expected to see her sometime that day.
She didn’t come.
To make a long story short, she didn’t come until Wednesday (which had been the plan all along, but I had for some reason misunderstood). My heart was still hoping she would get there soon. I was still looking for her. So when I stepped out of my dorm for breakfast and she greeted me on the path, you can imagine what a happy second grade boy I was at that moment, wrapped in my mother’s joyful hug!
As Christians, we’re expecting a visit. We’re looking forward to seeing Jesus. And even though we know He’s coming, we don’t know exactly when. Jesus described what it would be like this way:
The world will be at ease—banquets and parties and weddings—just as it was in Noah’s time before the sudden coming of the flood; people wouldn’t believe what was going to happen until the flood actually arrived and took them all away. So shall my coming be. – Matthew 24:37-39, The Living Bible
Let’s keep our eyes on the skies as we go about the daily work our King has given us to do. Let’s be faithful, ready for our King!
How do you make sure to keep your focus on Jesus’ return?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 7:24-27
OT – Exodus 23:14-25:40
NT – Matthew 24:29-51
Have you ever watched the road expectantly, waiting for a special relative or friend to come? I remember once, when I was in the second grade and attending boarding school, that I was looking forward to a visit from my mom. For some reason, I thought she was coming on Monday. My little eyes couldn’t stop watching the road that day, waiting for her to step out of a car and into my arms. I didn’t know when she would arrive, but I expected to see her sometime that day.
She didn’t come.
To make a long story short, she didn’t come until Wednesday (which had been the plan all along, but I had for some reason misunderstood). My heart was still hoping she would get there soon. I was still looking for her. So when I stepped out of my dorm for breakfast and she greeted me on the path, you can imagine what a happy second grade boy I was at that moment, wrapped in my mother’s joyful hug!
As Christians, we’re expecting a visit. We’re looking forward to seeing Jesus. And even though we know He’s coming, we don’t know exactly when. Jesus described what it would be like this way:
The world will be at ease—banquets and parties and weddings—just as it was in Noah’s time before the sudden coming of the flood; people wouldn’t believe what was going to happen until the flood actually arrived and took them all away. So shall my coming be. – Matthew 24:37-39, The Living Bible
Let’s keep our eyes on the skies as we go about the daily work our King has given us to do. Let’s be faithful, ready for our King!
How do you make sure to keep your focus on Jesus’ return?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
You’ll Know
ALL – Psalm 29:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 7:6-23
OT – Exodus 21:22-23:13
NT – Matthew 24:1-28
When people ask how they’ll know they’re marrying the right person, what to look for, all those things, the common response these days is simply, “You’ll know.” You’ll know you’re in love. You’ll know (s)he’s a match. You’ll know you want to be together forever. You’ll know. You’ll just have that feeling, you know?
It’s amazing how many people believe that they can pick a spouse out of a hat based on their feelings. Thousands of potential husbands and wives are out there, and rather than counseling young folks to choose spouses with character qualities they will appreciate for a lifetime, we tell them to choose a spouse that makes them “feel” good—whatever that means.
We kind of do the same thing with religion. We tell people they’ll know when they’re on the right path, but rather than giving them anything substantial to base their knowing on, we let them choose what feels best to them (not all of us, but in general, that’s what even our evangelical Christian culture does – just look at what’s offered in the Christian bookstores!). You enjoy Joel Osteen? Great! T. D. Jakes? Great! The Shack? Great! Whatever you like, whatever makes you feel like you’re following God, go for it! If you feel like you’re on the right path, then you must be!
How stupid can we be?
Jesus Christ is a real person. The true God. And there’s only one of Him. There’s only one Bible, only one Spirit, only one Father, only one Way, one Truth, one Life. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is actually pointing people to Jesus. So it’s ridiculous that we tell people to find Jesus in their own way. What feels right may be totally wrong. We can’t afford to be wrong. We need Jesus.
As Jesus’ return draws near, this feeling-based approach to encountering Him is setting people up for a big disappointment. We tend to drift wherever the most feelings are, wherever rumors tell us that Jesus is being experienced the most deeply. Jesus warns that people will do that very thing when they think He’s come back:
So if someone tells you the Messiah has returned and is out in the desert, don’t bother to go and look. Or, that he is hiding at a certain place, don’t believe it! For as the lightning flashes across the sky from east to west, so shall my coming be, when I, the Messiah, return. And wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather. – Matthew 24:26-28, The Living Bible
Don’t just go where people feel like they’re experiencing Jesus. What they’ve really found is a carcass, and they’re gathering like vultures. Go to Jesus’ Word, to Jesus’ Spirit, to Jesus’ cross, to Jesus’ Father. The real Jesus isn’t a matter of feelings, but of reality. And when He comes again, His real coming will be really obvious. You’ll know He’s here… and it won’t be based in feelings. He’ll just be that obvious.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 7:6-23
OT – Exodus 21:22-23:13
NT – Matthew 24:1-28
When people ask how they’ll know they’re marrying the right person, what to look for, all those things, the common response these days is simply, “You’ll know.” You’ll know you’re in love. You’ll know (s)he’s a match. You’ll know you want to be together forever. You’ll know. You’ll just have that feeling, you know?
It’s amazing how many people believe that they can pick a spouse out of a hat based on their feelings. Thousands of potential husbands and wives are out there, and rather than counseling young folks to choose spouses with character qualities they will appreciate for a lifetime, we tell them to choose a spouse that makes them “feel” good—whatever that means.
We kind of do the same thing with religion. We tell people they’ll know when they’re on the right path, but rather than giving them anything substantial to base their knowing on, we let them choose what feels best to them (not all of us, but in general, that’s what even our evangelical Christian culture does – just look at what’s offered in the Christian bookstores!). You enjoy Joel Osteen? Great! T. D. Jakes? Great! The Shack? Great! Whatever you like, whatever makes you feel like you’re following God, go for it! If you feel like you’re on the right path, then you must be!
How stupid can we be?
Jesus Christ is a real person. The true God. And there’s only one of Him. There’s only one Bible, only one Spirit, only one Father, only one Way, one Truth, one Life. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is actually pointing people to Jesus. So it’s ridiculous that we tell people to find Jesus in their own way. What feels right may be totally wrong. We can’t afford to be wrong. We need Jesus.
As Jesus’ return draws near, this feeling-based approach to encountering Him is setting people up for a big disappointment. We tend to drift wherever the most feelings are, wherever rumors tell us that Jesus is being experienced the most deeply. Jesus warns that people will do that very thing when they think He’s come back:
So if someone tells you the Messiah has returned and is out in the desert, don’t bother to go and look. Or, that he is hiding at a certain place, don’t believe it! For as the lightning flashes across the sky from east to west, so shall my coming be, when I, the Messiah, return. And wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather. – Matthew 24:26-28, The Living Bible
Don’t just go where people feel like they’re experiencing Jesus. What they’ve really found is a carcass, and they’re gathering like vultures. Go to Jesus’ Word, to Jesus’ Spirit, to Jesus’ cross, to Jesus’ Father. The real Jesus isn’t a matter of feelings, but of reality. And when He comes again, His real coming will be really obvious. You’ll know He’s here… and it won’t be based in feelings. He’ll just be that obvious.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
February 5, 2010
ALL – Psalm 29:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 7:6-23
OT – Exodus 21:22-23:13
NT – Matthew 24:1-28
Be on the lookout for some devotional thoughts later on in the day. It’s my day off, so they might even come out earlier than usual.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 7:6-23
OT – Exodus 21:22-23:13
NT – Matthew 24:1-28
Be on the lookout for some devotional thoughts later on in the day. It’s my day off, so they might even come out earlier than usual.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
February 4, 2010
ALL – Psalm 28:1-9
ALL – Proverbs 7:1-5
OT – Exodus 19:16-21:21
NT – Matthew 23:13-39
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 7:1-5
OT – Exodus 19:16-21:21
NT – Matthew 23:13-39
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
First Things
ALL – Psalm 27:7-14
ALL – Proverbs 6:27-35
OT – Exodus 17:8-19:15
NT – Matthew 22:34-23:12
What is the first principle by which you live your life? No fear? Just do it? Carpe Diem? Many of us try to find a theme for our lives, a goal towards which we drive ourselves, by which we motivate ourselves, according to which we make our decisions and guide our actions. This We’ll Defend. Paratus et Potens. Above All. Semper Fideles. First Things are cohesive, clarifying, purposeful, powerful.
What is your all-important first principle, the First Thing in your life?
If you’re a Christian, the answer should be simple: Love God.
Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’ ” – Matthew 22:37-39
So, brothers and sisters, how are we doing? Can we calibrate ourselves, by God’s grace, to the first principle Jesus taught us—and to the second, too?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 6:27-35
OT – Exodus 17:8-19:15
NT – Matthew 22:34-23:12
What is the first principle by which you live your life? No fear? Just do it? Carpe Diem? Many of us try to find a theme for our lives, a goal towards which we drive ourselves, by which we motivate ourselves, according to which we make our decisions and guide our actions. This We’ll Defend. Paratus et Potens. Above All. Semper Fideles. First Things are cohesive, clarifying, purposeful, powerful.
What is your all-important first principle, the First Thing in your life?
If you’re a Christian, the answer should be simple: Love God.
Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’ ” – Matthew 22:37-39
So, brothers and sisters, how are we doing? Can we calibrate ourselves, by God’s grace, to the first principle Jesus taught us—and to the second, too?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Should Have Paid Attention
ALL – Psalm 27:1-6
ALL – Proverbs 6:20-26
OT – Exodus 15:19-17:7
NT – Matthew 22:1-33
Have you ever been around people who want so badly to be right that they ignore evidence, no matter how good it is? I suppose various evolutionists like Richard Dawkins would accuse me of ignoring solid evidence so that I can maintain my belief in God. But then, I would accuse them of the converse—they ignore solid evidence so that they can maintain their belief in evolution.
Anyways… Are we in agreement that sometimes people ignore evidence just to maintain their point of view?
That’s what the Sadducees were doing. They didn’t believe in the resurrection, so they made up a ridiculous (though possible) story to prove their belief that the resurrection was not a reality. The premise of their story was that, if there were a resurrection, people who were married in this life would automatically be married in the next life. A possibly valid assumption, I suppose, but a big assumption to base an argument on.
So in their story, a man gets married and dies without having children. In that culture, his brother would marry the widow and have children for him. So brother number 2 marries her. But then he dies without having kids. So brother number 3 marries her. And then 4, 5, 6 and 7. All of them die. Finally she dies. (Matthew 22:23-27).
At this point in the story, I’m personally just thinking, “That’s terrible, but what’s this have to do with anything?” Just wait for it—the punchline’s coming.
So whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For she was the wife of all seven of them! – Matthew 22:28, The Living Bible
Ahhhh, blindness. Deliberate ignorance. The bliss. The stupidity. It’s amazing.
Here’s Jesus’ response:
Your error is caused by your ignorance of the Scriptures and of God’s power! – Matthew 22:29, The Living Bible
Ignorance of the Scriptures. Ignorance of God’s power. The Sadducees had only been able to come up with this creative “proof” that the resurrection was a ridiculous concept because they had ignored God’s words in the Scriptures. They had assumed that marriage in this life meant marriage in the next and had ignored any teachings in God’s Word that pointed to the resurrection. Further, they had ignored God’s power. They had assumed that resurrection was too difficult a task for God, and perhaps that sorting out crazy situations like the one in their story was too difficult a task for God, too!
Listen. God is capable of doing whatever He says He’ll do. So it’s not up to us to try and figure out what God can and can’t do. We’re to respect His power enough to trust that He can do pretty much anything. And if we don’t ignore His power, then the only question left is, “What does God say He’ll do?” The answer to that question is found in the Scriptures—His Word. So we had better not ignore the Scriptures, either.
Otherwise, we’ll find ourselves making the same stupid kinds of arguments the Sadducees made—arguments that become irrelevant as soon as the Scriptures and God’s power are brought into the picture.
What teachings do you find hard to believe? And why? Could you be ignoring God’s power and Word?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 6:20-26
OT – Exodus 15:19-17:7
NT – Matthew 22:1-33
Have you ever been around people who want so badly to be right that they ignore evidence, no matter how good it is? I suppose various evolutionists like Richard Dawkins would accuse me of ignoring solid evidence so that I can maintain my belief in God. But then, I would accuse them of the converse—they ignore solid evidence so that they can maintain their belief in evolution.
Anyways… Are we in agreement that sometimes people ignore evidence just to maintain their point of view?
That’s what the Sadducees were doing. They didn’t believe in the resurrection, so they made up a ridiculous (though possible) story to prove their belief that the resurrection was not a reality. The premise of their story was that, if there were a resurrection, people who were married in this life would automatically be married in the next life. A possibly valid assumption, I suppose, but a big assumption to base an argument on.
So in their story, a man gets married and dies without having children. In that culture, his brother would marry the widow and have children for him. So brother number 2 marries her. But then he dies without having kids. So brother number 3 marries her. And then 4, 5, 6 and 7. All of them die. Finally she dies. (Matthew 22:23-27).
At this point in the story, I’m personally just thinking, “That’s terrible, but what’s this have to do with anything?” Just wait for it—the punchline’s coming.
So whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For she was the wife of all seven of them! – Matthew 22:28, The Living Bible
Ahhhh, blindness. Deliberate ignorance. The bliss. The stupidity. It’s amazing.
Here’s Jesus’ response:
Your error is caused by your ignorance of the Scriptures and of God’s power! – Matthew 22:29, The Living Bible
Ignorance of the Scriptures. Ignorance of God’s power. The Sadducees had only been able to come up with this creative “proof” that the resurrection was a ridiculous concept because they had ignored God’s words in the Scriptures. They had assumed that marriage in this life meant marriage in the next and had ignored any teachings in God’s Word that pointed to the resurrection. Further, they had ignored God’s power. They had assumed that resurrection was too difficult a task for God, and perhaps that sorting out crazy situations like the one in their story was too difficult a task for God, too!
Listen. God is capable of doing whatever He says He’ll do. So it’s not up to us to try and figure out what God can and can’t do. We’re to respect His power enough to trust that He can do pretty much anything. And if we don’t ignore His power, then the only question left is, “What does God say He’ll do?” The answer to that question is found in the Scriptures—His Word. So we had better not ignore the Scriptures, either.
Otherwise, we’ll find ourselves making the same stupid kinds of arguments the Sadducees made—arguments that become irrelevant as soon as the Scriptures and God’s power are brought into the picture.
What teachings do you find hard to believe? And why? Could you be ignoring God’s power and Word?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Monday, February 1, 2010
When God’s People Rebel
ALL – Psalm 26:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 6:16-19
OT – Exodus 13:17-15:18
NT – Matthew 21:23-46
The good news is wonderful! When we first learn that Jesus, the King and Creator of the world, would rather forgive and restore us than kill us for our sins, we’re ecstatic! We can’t praise and obey Him enough! But then as time goes on, the wonderful grace of Jesus becomes the familiar grace of Jesus. We enjoy so much of God’s grace over time that we sometimes forget how gracious it is. And as we grow familiar with Jesus’ grace, we begin to feel comfortable. And then we begin to desire comfort and to seek it out, because it’s so enjoyable. We begin to set aside the work God’s given us to do, which is not always comfortable. We become lazy in His service. And sometimes, we even get to the point where we rebel against any suggestions Jesus sends us via His Word and via His messengers that we ought to be working. We cling to our comfort and safety, forgetting that the safety and comfort we’ve been given is designed to give us the freedom to serve our King. We replace service with laziness and self-enjoyment, and we use Jesus’ grace as our excuse, attacking anyone who asks us to serve God wholeheartedly.
Jesus told a parable about when God’s people try to keep all of God’s blessings for themselves, rather than giving God the return He wants. In the parable, some farmers (God’s people) rent land, from which they are able to grow enough crops for themselves and for their landlord (God). But when the landlord sends servants (prophets, priests, pastors, apostles) to collect the landlord’s share of the crops, the farmers rebel. They abuse the servants, even killing some of them. The landlord tries again, with the same results. Finally, the landlord sends his own son (Jesus), hoping that the farmers will at least respect his son. But the farmers kill the landlord’s son, thinking that they will now be able to keep the land and all its blessings for themselves. In other words, God’s people rebel, seeking to use God’s grace (the land) only for their self-enjoyment and not for God. They try to take the kingdom away from the King.
The Jews listening to this story were horrified. When Jesus asked them what the landlord would do, they were quick to say:
He will put the wicked men to a horrible death, and lease the vineyard to others who will pay him promptly. – Matthew 21:41, The Living Bible
Jesus confirmed what they said. At that point, of course, He was talking about them. The Jews were not serving God. Instead, their leaders were trying to take control of the whole Jewish religion for their own benefit. And Jesus was warning them that God would punish their wickedness and give God’s kingdom to people who would “pay him promptly.”
But now we are the people of God—not only Jews, but also Gentiles, all who believe in Jesus Christ. We are the ones who are expected to “pay him promptly.” We should not become self-contented and self-satisfied, assuming that because we have received God’s grace we are spend His blessings only on ourselves. We are still called to serve Jesus with all our hearts, souls, minds, strength—to give God His portion of the crops. We would do well to err on the side of being over-generous toward God, rather than toward ourselves.
Why are we holding back? Why are we risking our destruction?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 6:16-19
OT – Exodus 13:17-15:18
NT – Matthew 21:23-46
The good news is wonderful! When we first learn that Jesus, the King and Creator of the world, would rather forgive and restore us than kill us for our sins, we’re ecstatic! We can’t praise and obey Him enough! But then as time goes on, the wonderful grace of Jesus becomes the familiar grace of Jesus. We enjoy so much of God’s grace over time that we sometimes forget how gracious it is. And as we grow familiar with Jesus’ grace, we begin to feel comfortable. And then we begin to desire comfort and to seek it out, because it’s so enjoyable. We begin to set aside the work God’s given us to do, which is not always comfortable. We become lazy in His service. And sometimes, we even get to the point where we rebel against any suggestions Jesus sends us via His Word and via His messengers that we ought to be working. We cling to our comfort and safety, forgetting that the safety and comfort we’ve been given is designed to give us the freedom to serve our King. We replace service with laziness and self-enjoyment, and we use Jesus’ grace as our excuse, attacking anyone who asks us to serve God wholeheartedly.
Jesus told a parable about when God’s people try to keep all of God’s blessings for themselves, rather than giving God the return He wants. In the parable, some farmers (God’s people) rent land, from which they are able to grow enough crops for themselves and for their landlord (God). But when the landlord sends servants (prophets, priests, pastors, apostles) to collect the landlord’s share of the crops, the farmers rebel. They abuse the servants, even killing some of them. The landlord tries again, with the same results. Finally, the landlord sends his own son (Jesus), hoping that the farmers will at least respect his son. But the farmers kill the landlord’s son, thinking that they will now be able to keep the land and all its blessings for themselves. In other words, God’s people rebel, seeking to use God’s grace (the land) only for their self-enjoyment and not for God. They try to take the kingdom away from the King.
The Jews listening to this story were horrified. When Jesus asked them what the landlord would do, they were quick to say:
He will put the wicked men to a horrible death, and lease the vineyard to others who will pay him promptly. – Matthew 21:41, The Living Bible
Jesus confirmed what they said. At that point, of course, He was talking about them. The Jews were not serving God. Instead, their leaders were trying to take control of the whole Jewish religion for their own benefit. And Jesus was warning them that God would punish their wickedness and give God’s kingdom to people who would “pay him promptly.”
But now we are the people of God—not only Jews, but also Gentiles, all who believe in Jesus Christ. We are the ones who are expected to “pay him promptly.” We should not become self-contented and self-satisfied, assuming that because we have received God’s grace we are spend His blessings only on ourselves. We are still called to serve Jesus with all our hearts, souls, minds, strength—to give God His portion of the crops. We would do well to err on the side of being over-generous toward God, rather than toward ourselves.
Why are we holding back? Why are we risking our destruction?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
January 31, 2010
ALL – Psalm 25:16-22
ALL – Proverbs 6:12-15
OT – Exodus 12:14-13:16
NT – Matthew 20:29-21:22
ALL – Proverbs 6:12-15
OT – Exodus 12:14-13:16
NT – Matthew 20:29-21:22
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