Hope on Judgment Day

Today’s Reading:

• Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-17; Matthew 11:1-19; Luke 7:18-35; Matthew 11:20-30; Luke 7:36-50

Verse(s) to Ponder:

• Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show remorse. I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.” Matthew 11:20-22, New Living Translation

Thoughts:

Is God unfair?

Some people are born into Christian communities and hear God’s Word from a young age; others are born into communities that worship false gods. When Judgment Day comes, will God punish the people who had little to no chance to hear about Him just because of their circumstances?

All around the world, some people get to experience God’s miracles and some see visions sent from heaven; others feel like they would like to believe in God, but because they have never experienced this kind of evidence, they aren’t convinced that any of the stories about miracles and visions are true. No one they know has ever seen anything truly miraculous. When Judgment Day comes, will God judge the people who never saw a miracle on the same standards as those who did, as though they had the same opportunity to understand His wonderful nature?

No. Not according to what Jesus says in Matthew 11:20-22.

Jesus performed a number of miracles in some places, and yet many of the people who experienced His miracles did not renounce their sins and turn to God. I can’t even comprehend why they would not have responded to Jesus after seeing His miracles, but they didn’t (which is a sobering reminder that our hearts are more rebellious than we would like to admit, and that even those of us who claim that we would believe in Jesus if He would only give us more evidence may be deceiving ourselves). And Jesus compares them to others, essentially saying that they have been given an advantage and have done nothing with it.

But what about all the places where Jesus performed no miracles? Jesus says that they will be better off on Judgment Day. How much better off? I don’t know for sure. But this gives me a lot of hope for people who respond to whatever evidence God has placed in their lives and follow Jesus to the extent that they know about Him. Why does this give me hope for them? It gives me hope for them because Jesus didn’t have to perform miracles in other places to know how they would have responded. Jesus knows people’s hearts well enough for His knowledge of our hearts’ responses and their “would have responded if” responses to be taken into account on Judgment Day.

So how does this change anything for me? Actions-wise, it doesn’t. I need to be a faithful witness, no matter what. I can’t just sit back and avoid witnessing “because I know that Jesus is fair and trust that He knows who would have believed in Him if they had heard.” Too many passages in His Word remind us that our responsibility to introduce people to Jesus is a serious responsibility with serious consequences for the people around us. But on the other hand, I can walk through life with hope for the people who seem to be the most disadvantaged when it comes to opportunities to know Jesus. Jesus knows their circumstances, and He knows their hearts, and on Judgment Day, it’s going to make a difference for them.

And I can trust Him to do what’s right. I love hope.

Note: I have obviously been less than consistent about posting devotional thoughts for a while now, so I’m not going to claim that I’ll be consistent for the next few months, or that the blog will be centered around a certain theme (it was supposed to deal with faith-stretching verses this year). I just hope that these thoughts are still an encouragement to you, whenever they come your way.

Why Creationism? Why Not Evolution?

Today’s Reading:
• Genesis 1:1-3:24

Faith-Stretching Verse(s):

• The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. – Gen. 1:12, NLT
• So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. – Gen. 1:21, NLT
• God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. – Gen. 1:25, NLT
  

Thoughts:
In Hebrews (I’m jumping ahead, I know) we’re told that it’s by faith that we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command so that what is seen was not made out of visible matter. That was true around 2,000 years ago when Hebrews was written and it’s still true today; creationism has always been a faith-based understanding of our origins.

But I’ve always loved science, especially biology. And one of the questions that scientists seek to answer is the question of where all us living beings came from—the question of origins. Modern science has some pretty amazing tools at its disposal, tools that help us to observe our world in more detail than ever before and, we hope, to therefore to understand it better. And modern science has been largely developed around the theory of evolution—the theory that life as we know it developed and mutated over millions of years from life as it once was, that organisms which exist today have not existed since the earth’s formation.

So why would a science-loving, reason-based, intellectual (at least intellectual wannabe) like me believe that the world’s life forms were created rather than that they evolved?

Faith. Reasonable faith. Genesis, like all Scripture, claims to be authored by God. Written through men (in this case, Moses, for instance), but authored by God. And one of the counter-evolution notions in the verses above (besides the idea that God made the things mentioned) is the notion that God created plants and animals to reproduce themselves rather than to produce new types of creatures.

It’s a claim that seems trustworthy. For one thing, I see exactly this sort of thing going on today. I see pine trees bearing pine cones which lead to more pine trees, guppies reproducing guppies, rabbits reproducing rabbits, etc. Are there variations within these species? Yes. Mutations? Yes. Microevolution? Yes. It’s observable. But microevolution does not oppose the Bible’s account of creation; it fits this biblical teaching that species reproduce themselves.

‘What about the fossil records?’ someone might ask. After all, there used to be other species alive, species similar to today’s species, but that no longer exist today. Didn’t today’s life forms come from at least some of these now-extinct species? Similarities make it seem possible. The fossil records supposedly support the theory of evolution.

Fossils are observable. But they also need to be interpreted. And they do not require an interpretation that favors evolutionary theory. They can be interpreted to support creationism. For instance, as a creationist I happen to agree that there used to be many species alive that are not alive today. Extinction is still occurring. According to http://www.petermaas.nl/extinct/lists/mostrecent.htm (today, Jan. 1, 2011) at least six species have become extinct since the year 2000. And yet no one claims that any new species have arisen from any of these recently extinguished gene pools. Their similarities to other creatures are documented and can be used to speculate on what their evolutionary history could have looked like. But the fact is that none of them can be proved to have come from any other species. To come to this conclusion requires an interpretation of the observable data. And interpretations can be wrong.

So we have two interpretations of the data that I think are worth considering. One interpretation says that life has evolved over time and that current species arose from prior species. This interpretation agrees that species generally reproduce themselves; it simply argues that, over time, mutations and variations can and do lead to new species. And the other interpretation says that the reason we observe species reproducing themselves is because that is precisely how God created the world to work.

Which one’s right? Which one’s wrong? Do I go with the interpretations of mortal men like me who have previously unimaginable capacities to observe life’s structures and whose interpretations have the support and trust (faith) of most of the scientific community? Or do I go with the interpretations that are scorned by most of the scientific community but that claim to come from God? Either way, I have to trust someone.

Here’s why I choose creationism: I trust God. God exists. I know that I can’t prove to everyone that He exists, but I am personally convinced that He does (and possibly at some point this year, I’ll talk a bit about my reasons for this). The God who exists has an advantage over every single one of today’s scientists—and not just today’s, but history’s. He observed what we can’t observe. Science begins with observation. So if I’m going to choose to trust in a scientific theory, and one scientist’s theory is based on fewer observations than the other’s, I’m going to trust the scientist who has observed more so long as his theory can still fit with the data.

In this case, that scientist is God. What He teaches about creation (not that the Bible was written to be a scientific manual) fits today’s observable data just as well as the evolutionary theory, or better. It simply offers a different interpretation. But that interpretation is based on God’s own observations and experience of history.

So I follow the theory of creationism because it fits the data I can observe today while evolution seems to oppose it (teaching species arising from other species) and because it follows the interpretation of the One who has experienced and observed more than any human scientist. It seems reasonable to me to trust Him. How about you?

Betrayal

ALL – Psalm 121:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 28:27-28
OT – Daniel 9:1-10:21
NT – 1 John 2:18-3:6

Interesting passage for the day: And now, my little children, stay in happy fellowship with the Lord so that when he comes you will be sure that all is well, and will not have to be ashamed and shrink back from meeting him. – 1 John 2:28, The Living Bible

Thought: Every one of us will have a garden of Eden moment. You know what I’m talking about. After Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, God came back.

And all of us will have a moment when we meet our God face to face, just like Adam and Eve did. It will be the moment of truth. We will either be able to greet our Lord Jesus happily, or we will feel a need to hide, as Adam did.

That’s why John encouraged these believers to stay “in happy fellowship with the Lord.” It’s not like Jesus was physically present with them right then. Otherwise John wouldn’t have said that they needed this fellowship “so that when he comes you will be sure all is well.” No, staying in fellowship means something much deeper than just physically being within sight of Jesus. Staying in fellowship means living like someone who values Jesus and wants to please Him.

That’s what went wrong with Adam and Eve. When God was out of sight, they neglected to live like a relationship with Him was more important than anything else, no matter how desireable. They didn’t lose their fellowship with God when they could no longer see Him. Adam and Eve lost their fellowship with God when they betrayed His trust.

Let’s not betray Jesus’ trust. That way, when we see Him face to be face, we’ll be ready.

Question: What kinds of things tempt you to betray Jesus’ trust? Are they really worth the loss of fellowship with Jesus? How can you pursue fellowship with Him and seek to please Him, rather than following desires that lead you astray?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Fulfilled Bones

ALL – Psalm 111:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 27:15-16
OT – Ezekiel 27:1-28:26
NT – Hebrews 11:17-31

Interesting passage for the day: And it was by faith that Joseph, as he neared the end of his life, confidently spoke of God bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt; and he was so sure of it that he made them promise to carry his bones with them when they left! – Hebrews 11:22, The Living Bible

Thought: “If you’re not going to fulfill your promise while I’m alive, what’s the use?”

Most of us have a hard time waiting for people to fulfill their promises. We have a hard time waiting a week or a month, let alone any longer time frames. If we’re hoping to get a new iPod for Christmas, but Christmas is still three months away, sometimes we’re so impatient that we’ll go ahead and buy what we’re hoping for even if someone promises to get it for us and takes away our fear that we won’t get it.

Joseph trusted in God’s promise to give Abraham’s descendants the land He had promised to them. For that promise to be fulfilled, the Hebrews had to leave Egypt—so in Joseph’s mind, the day was coming. They would leave Egypt. And even though he would be dead, Joseph still wanted to be part of it. He wanted to “see” God’s promise fulfilled. God’s promise was for him, too. So he made the other Hebrews promise to carry his bones out of Egypt and to bury them in the promised land. And four hundred years later, when they finally left, they carried his bones around the desert with them for 40 years until they were finally able to lay them at rest. Though dead, Joseph came home to the place God had promised.

It’s been a long time since Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, promising to come back and take us home. Many believers have died through the years—through the centuries. But that doesn’t make His promise worthless. It’s going to happen. And when He comes, it won’t be just our bones that benefit. He’s going to raise us to life again. It might be a long time coming, but let’s live for that promise.

Question: What pleasures in this life make you forget the promises of God and live as though it’s not worth waiting for them? What trials make your life feel so overwhelming that you would rather sin and dishonor your Savior than wait for Him to return and make things right?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Trust or Bust

ALL – Psalm 110:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 27:14
OT – Ezekiel 24:1-26:21
NT – Hebrews 11:1-16

Interesting passage for the day: Noah was another who trusted God. When he heard God’s warning about the future, Noah believed him even though there was then no sign of a flood, and wasting no time, he built the ark and saved his family. Noah’s belief in God was in direct contrast to the sin and disbelief of the rest of the world—which refused to obey—and because of his faith he became one of those whom God has accepted. – Hebrews 11:7, The Living Bible

Thought: Usually it’s the people who are preparing for some unconfirmed future disaster who are considered to be crazy. They build bunkers, store up years’ worth of food and, with eyes that dart suspiciously to and fro, they hiss dogmatic warnings of doom for all mankind. But Noah, the man who built the most epic floating bunker ever, storing up enough food for eight humans and for multiple specimens of the entire planet’s wildlife to survive for about a year, was not crazy. He had heard from and believed the one true and living God. And because Noah believed what God said about a coming flood, he took appropriate action (also with guidance from above).

And we thought we had nothing in common with Noah.

Noah heard God promise to destroy the earth with a flood. We’ve heard from God that, when Jesus comes back, the earth will be destroyed by fire.

Noah received instructions from God about escaping death. We’ve received instructions from God about escaping death (for example, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and your household.” – Acts 16:31, NIV).

Noah responded wholeheartedly to God’s instructions. … How about us?

Question: What does it look like to respond wholeheartedly to God’s command to “believe in the Lord Jesus”? Is it enough to say, “I believe,” or should our lives be different somehow, too? Would you say that your life is being spent wholeheartedly responding to God’s warnings, promises and instructions? Why or why not?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

The God Who Swore

ALL – Psalm 105:16-36
ALL – Proverbs 27:1-2
OT – Ezekiel 10:1-11:25
NT – Hebrews 6:1-20

Interesting passage for the day: God also bound himself with an oath, so that those he promised to help would be perfectly sure and never need to wonder whether he might change his plans. – Hebrews 6:17, The Living Bible

Thought: “Cross my heart and hope to die.” Remember being a kid, when we told so many tall tales and tried so often to trick one another that any time we were being serious, we had to promise we were telling the truth on pain of death? Maybe you’re still there…

So perhaps we’re not the most trustworthy people in the world. But there are some trustworthy people. My grandmas, for instance. I trust them. When they tell me something, it’s true, and if it’s not true, at least I know that they believe it’s true.

As trustworthy as my grandmas are, God is much more trustworthy. And He has made some pretty amazing promises—promises about saving His enemies and those who have rebelled against Him. Promises about forgiving us, counting Jesus’ death on the cross as the punishment for our sins, restoring our relationship with Him. Promises about raising us from the dead and giving us eternal life with Him. Promises about living in us through His Holy Spirit.

How can people not trust Him? Yet the reality is that people struggle to trust God.

So even God has backed up His promises. Even God has essentially said, “Cross my heart and hope to die.” Even God has given an oath: “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me” (Gen. 22:16-18, NIV).

Are you a part of “all nations on earth”? Then you are among those whom God has not only promised, but sworn, to bless through Abraham’s offspring. And that offspring who brings us God’s blessing is Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16).

Question: What more does God have to do to earn your trust? If you can admit that God is completely trustworthy, then what leads you to live as though you don’t believe that all of God’s blessings for you come to you through Jesus Christ? How can you look for the good life anywhere else?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

The Guide, The Spirit

ALL – Psalm 64:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 23:23
OT – Isaiah 33:13-36:22
NT – Galatians 5:13-26

Interesting passage for the day: I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to do. – Galatians 5:16, The Living Bible

Thought: We need the Scriptures because they help us to learn to recognize God’s voice, and they correct us when we think we heard God’s voice and later find out otherwise.

But I’m growing more and more impressed with how often the New Testament writers urge us to listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice as we make our daily choices. We believers have the Holy Spirit living in us! He whispers to our hearts and minds what His desires are for us in every situation. And we are called to listen and obey.

This certainly involves challenges. We have to learn to distinguish between our own desires and the Holy Spirit’s. We need enough humility to admit that we sometimes claim we’re hearing His voice when we really aren’t. We still need to discipline ourselves to return to the Scriptures, even though some people might deny this is a necessity since the Holy Spirit is guiding them (but then, wouldn’t the Holy Spirit’s desire for us include time in God’s Word?).

But we should be able to walk through life a lot more confidently than we often do. We should be confident that we can make good choices consistently—GODLY choices—not because we have perfectly read, studied, memorized, systematized and analyzed the Bible, but because we walk with the Holy Spirit every moment.

Question: What decisions are you thinking through today? What direction do you hear the Spirit leading you to take? Share it here and share your impressions with believing friends. You’re free to follow wherever He leads.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Professionally Sincere, or Just Sincere?

ALL – Psalm 57:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 23:9-11
OT – Isaiah 12:1-14:32
NT – 2 Corinthians 13:1-14

Interesting passage for the day: I pray that you will live good lives, not because that will be a feather in our caps, proving that what we teach is right; no, for we want you to do right even if we ourselves are despised. – 2 Corinthians 13:7, The Living Bible

Thought: Why do people seem to fight a pastor’s advice more than each other’s? Is it some suspicion lurking in people’s minds that the pastor is just trying to be a know-it-all and prove how great he is? When a pastor wants people to do something good, does everyone assume that he’s just giving his particular advice “because that’s his job”?

Pastors love their people. At least I hope so. Personally, I don’t look at being a pastor so much as being paid to give good advice. I see it more as being financially supported so that I can max out my time doing what I would try to do even if I weren’t a pastor—loving people and encouraging them to follow Jesus.

“I pray that you will live good lives…even if we ourselves are despised.” For me, that’s not just a phrase I’m paid to say. I don’t write this blog every day because I’m paid for it, either (I’m not). It’s because I love you (yes, you, whoever’s reading this, even if I don’t know you) and want to do everything I can to encourage you to love the God who loves you, hates sin, and died to show the extent of both.

Question: Which people do you suspect are only saying good things because they’re supposed to? What would it take for you to follow their counsel anyway?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

No Burden Too Heavy

ALL – Psalm 40:11-17
ALL – Proverbs 22:2-4
OT – Job 20:1-22:30
NT – 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Interesting passage for the day: We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead. – 2 Corinthians 1:9, The Living Bible

Thought: When Christy, Emma and I headed to Louisville so that I could attend the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in June of 2006, we felt ready and self-sufficient. We had saved about $15,000 as a cushion for the first few months’ expenses, Christy’s web design business was clearly capable of generating income, and we had everything planned out for me to watch Emma enough each week for Christy to be able to run her business smoothly. Survival would not be an issue in seminary. We were going to thrive!

That’s not how I felt in September or October when I was sitting in the corner of the dining room, sobbing uncontrollably because we were already less than a month away from being completely out of funds, and feeling like a total failure as a husband and father. What had I led my family into?

I felt kind of like Paul: “doomed to die and [seeing] how powerless we were to help ourselves.” Okay, maybe the dying thing is a little dramatic, but seriously, I was totally aware of my own weakness, powerlessness, inability, failure.

But God turned things around. He provided business for Christy. He gave me the strength to add a part-time job (actually two jobs, for a while) to my schedule. We weren’t wealthy, but we were living. God had saved us from going totally broke.

God is always providing for us. He does it for the entire world. But He especially delights to provide for His children. Sometimes God calls us into situations that we cannot handle, circumstances that threaten to overwhelm us—even to wipe us off the face of the planet! But our God is able to raise the dead! He owns all of creation! There is not a challenge we can face that is “too big” for Him!

Question: What has overwhelmed you—in the past, or perhaps even now? How can we support one another as we call on Jesus, our God who saves us from every trouble?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Heading for Trouble

ALL – Psalm 149:1-9
ALL – Proverbs 18:8
OT – 2 Kings 18:13-19:37
NT – Acts 21:1-17

Interesting passage for the day: When it was clear that he wouldn’t be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The will of the Lord be done.” – Acts 21:14, The Living Bible

Thought: Sometimes God leads believers into challenging and dangerous situations. No one could have been more certain than Paul that danger lay ahead for him. He had been warned repeatedly that the path to Jerusalem would put him in harm’s way (Acts 21:4, 10-12). His brother and sister disciples were begging him not to go. And yet he pressed on. Was he sinning to continue on despite their warnings? Despite the Holy Spirit’s warning? No, he wasn’t. He was still walking with Christ and His Holy Spirit. And so the believers couldn’t confront him. They couldn’t rebuke him or say anything against Paul’s plans. When it became clear that neither their warnings nor their pleas would change Paul’s mind, they did the only thing left for them to do: they put their trust and hope in God and His will. They could trust God’s plan.

Question: Have you ever watched a fellow believer follow plans that led toward some kind of certain trouble? Did you get angry at them? Or were you able to seek their best and leave them in God’s hands and will?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

More Trustworthy than a Miracle

ALL – Psalm 106:32-48
ALL – Proverbs 14:34-35
OT – 1 Samuel 8:1-9:27
NT – John 6:22-42


Interesting passage for the day: They replied, “You must show us more miracles if you want us to believe you are the Messiah. Give us free bread every day, like our fathers had while they journeyed through the wilderness. As the Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven.’ ” – John 6:30-31, The Living Bible

Thought: It really would be nice if Jesus would perform miracles for us every day—at least, it feels like it would be nice. It feels like it would be easier to trust Him. These people even managed to come up with a seemingly Scriptural basis for daily miracles. But Jesus ends up correcting their use of Scripture, and the fact is that trust and faith cannot be established merely on the basis of miraculous powers. Evil people and false religions have demonstrated miraculous powers at times. Miracles demonstrate power, but power in and of itself is not trustworthy. Character counts, and Jesus was demonstrating His character all the time, even when He wasn’t performing miracles. The Son of God lived the righteous life of God. Jesus was (and is) utterly trustworthy, whether He’s in the act of performing a miracle or not.

Question: As important as it is to know that God is all-powerful and can perform miracles, is that the most important truth about God? What have you found to be even more important as you’ve journeyed with Jesus?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Test: Will You Trust Me?

ALL – Psalm 106:13-31
ALL – Proverbs 14:32-33
OT – 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17
NT – John 6:1-21

Interesting passage for the day: (He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.) – John 6:6, The Living Bible

Thought: Remember when Jesus fed the 5000? This verse came right before that miracle, when Jesus asked Philip where to buy bread for all the people there. Can you imagine how much Jesus must have stressed Philip out by making Philip think He expected him to be responsible for all these people? Philip didn’t want that kind of responsibility. And Jesus never intended for Philip to carry it alone. But Philip’s response was not a response of faith; his response demonstrated that he was still trying to handle life’s challenges in his own strength. Principle: When a challenge comes our way, perhaps (or more than perhaps) it’s a test from God—NOT to see whether we can handle the challenge on our own, but to see whether we’ll respond in faith by asking God to lead us.

Question: What is your response to the thought that some of the burdens you’re trying to carrying are burdens that God intended you to trust Him with? How would seeking His help make a difference?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

The rest of the week's readings:

May 10, 2010

ALL – Psalm 106:32-48
ALL – Proverbs 14:34-35
OT – 1 Samuel 8:1-9:27
NT – John 6:22-42

May 11, 2010

ALL – Psalm 107:1-43
ALL – Proverbs 15:1-3
OT – 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
NT – John 6:43-71

May 12, 2010

ALL – Psalm 108:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 15:4
OT – 1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
NT – John 7:1-30

May 13, 2010

ALL – Psalm 109:1-31
ALL – Proverbs 15:5-7
OT – 1 Samuel 14:1-52
NT – John 7:31-53

May 14, 2010

ALL – Psalm 110:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 15:8-10
OT – 1 Samuel 15:1-16:23
NT – John 8:1-20

May 15, 2010

ALL – Psalm 111:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 15:11
OT – 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4
NT – John 8:21-30

May 16, 2010

ALL – Psalm 112:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 15:12-14
OT – 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24
NT – John 8:31-59

Trust That’s Real

ALL – Psalm 105:16-36
ALL – Proverbs 14:26-27
OT – Ruth 2:1-4:22
NT – John 4:43-54

Interesting passage for the day: Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son is healed!” And the man believed Jesus and started home. – John 4:50, The Living Bible

Thought: If my son was dying, I wouldn’t rest until the doctor had seen him. I wouldn’t be satisfied until my son had been treated, until his condition had stabilized, until I could see that the doctor actually was saving his life. The story of this man is amazing! He left his son at home and went to call for Jesus’ help. And when Jesus didn’t say, “Sure, I’m on my way,” this man didn’t complain. When Jesus said, “Go back home. Your son is healed,” this man didn’t question Him. This man believed Jesus. And how do we know that he believed Jesus? He simply went back home. He obeyed, even though he had not yet seen the truth of Jesus’ words. He believed Jesus was trustworthy, and he obeyed.

Question: How quickly do we obey Jesus? How often do we procrastinate until we’ve made sure we’ll be taken care of, rather than just trusting Him?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.