ALL – Psalm 118:1-18
ALL – Proverbs 28:2
OT – Ezekiel 39:1-40:27
NT – James 2:18-3:18
Interesting passage for the day: Fool! When will you ever learn that “believing” is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith. – James 2:8, The Living Bible
Thought: What is belief? Our relationship with Jesus depends on it, so we had better understand a little bit about what it means, right?
Is belief something we do when there’s a story we know is totally false, but we want to have a little fun and play make believe?
Is belief a choice we make about which God we think will take the best care of us and serve our interests the best?
Is belief a set of religious principles we believe are true, a religious formula that will always keep us safe just like the mathematical formula 2 + 2 will always give us the answer we expect?
Is belief something that we can contain in a book or a paper, an official statement that lists the core truths of the universe, but that is only meant to be discovered and doesn’t require any change in our lives? Is belief about a list of principles that govern our lives whether we know it or not, like the fact that the earth revolves around the sun and the moon around the earth?
Not according to James. James doesn’t deny that truth exists, and that it is important to acknowledge and know the truth. What James denies, though, is that believing the truth is a passive activity. Belief doesn’t sit in a recliner looking up at a plaque of creeds on the wall. Belief depends on the truth enough to risk everything on it, like a skydiver depending on a parachute. Belief submits to the truth, like a lion tamer submits to the principles that keep the lions from ripping him to shreds. Belief obeys the call and command of the truth. Belief follows the truth. As Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Belief goes wherever truth leads, because belief can find life nowhere else.
Anything less is not really belief.
Question: How much do you need your beliefs? If what you claim you believe were suddenly proved entirely false, would your life be changed at all, or would it continue pretty much as it is right now?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Showing posts with label dependence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dependence. Show all posts
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Willing Spirit, Weak Body
ALL – Psalm 52:1-9
ALL – Proverbs 11:1-3
OT – Numbers 11:24-13:33
NT – Mark 14:22-52
Good intentions fall short. As much as I would like to do a full day’s work, two hours of devotions, one hour of fitness training, four hours of family time, three hours of reading and an hour of cleaning the house into every day, I just can’t. I run out of energy. Out of time. I just run out.
Peter had made a promise to Jesus. He would never deny Him, even if it meant death (Mark 14:31). Wonderful intentions.
But then Jesus took Simon Peter and two other disciples with Him for a time of prayer. And how did that go?
“Simon!” he said. “Asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Watch with me and pray lest the Tempter overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak.” – Mark 14:37-38, The Living Bible
Who else hears in these words a hint of a warning about what it is that will lead Peter to deny Jesus in just a few hours? Jesus knows our hearts. But Jesus also knows our limits. He knows just how weak we are. And unfortunately, we’re very, very weak. That’s why we need Jesus to sustain us, to make us righteous, to give us strength.
Are you depending on Jesus today?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 11:1-3
OT – Numbers 11:24-13:33
NT – Mark 14:22-52
Good intentions fall short. As much as I would like to do a full day’s work, two hours of devotions, one hour of fitness training, four hours of family time, three hours of reading and an hour of cleaning the house into every day, I just can’t. I run out of energy. Out of time. I just run out.
Peter had made a promise to Jesus. He would never deny Him, even if it meant death (Mark 14:31). Wonderful intentions.
But then Jesus took Simon Peter and two other disciples with Him for a time of prayer. And how did that go?
“Simon!” he said. “Asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Watch with me and pray lest the Tempter overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak.” – Mark 14:37-38, The Living Bible
Who else hears in these words a hint of a warning about what it is that will lead Peter to deny Jesus in just a few hours? Jesus knows our hearts. But Jesus also knows our limits. He knows just how weak we are. And unfortunately, we’re very, very weak. That’s why we need Jesus to sustain us, to make us righteous, to give us strength.
Are you depending on Jesus today?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
God’s Work
Amos 6-9; Psalm 132; Proverbs 29:24-25
“I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. – Amos 9:14-15
Only God can set up peoples and nations and have it go well.
How have you had to learn to depend on Him?
“I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. – Amos 9:14-15
Only God can set up peoples and nations and have it go well.
How have you had to learn to depend on Him?
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