Tag: Jesus

September 4, 2023

September 4th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 8

Highlight Verse:

“Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8‬:‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, the people of that region are amazed when he frees two men from a legion of demons. And they beg him to leave?

You would think that Jesus would insist on staying and preaching to them.

Nope!

In the first verse of the next chapter, he gets back in the boat and leaves.

But, that’s not the end of the story. In Mark’s version of the story, Jesus told the man who was freed from the demons to go home and tell of what God had done for him.

He did.

In fact, he went through the whole land proclaiming what Jesus had done for him.

Jesus didn’t leave that land without the Gospel.

He delegated the telling of it to another.

Have you been touched by Jesus?
Has he freed you from a life of slavery to sin?

I believe he would ask you to go to your own land and proclaim what God has done for you to those who know you!
August 20, 2023

August 20th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 103-104

Highlight Verse:

“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A thousand years before Jesus, David already had a good understanding of the redemptive work of God.

In this single verse, David recognizes that we mess up and that God is able to remove our guilt from us.

As far as east is from the west is an expression that presupposes that east and west never meet. Therefore our guilt is so far gone, we’ll never see it again.

This verse is in the middle of a Psalm of praise in which David lists many amazing attributes of God, any one of which is worthy of praise.

Understand the amazing gifts of God starting with Jesus’ sacrifice that paid the price for all we’ve done wrong, past, present, and future. Then you will have plenty of incentive to praise Him.

Does dwelling on the attributes of God, especially His forgiveness, make you want to bring Him praises?
Have you ever found yourself taking His grace for granted? Did it result in you praising less?
July 3, 2023

July 3rd, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The people who had made the error were the Sadducees who didn’t believe in an afterlife.

Jesus used Scripture to prove that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been raised to eternal life. With that, He showed that we too would be raised to eternal life.

It should be noted that the language here made it clear that Jesus was speaking of physical resurrection.

While we won’t be here on this Earth and we will have different bodies from the imperfect ones we have now, it’s clear that

we will have bodies.

It won’t be an eternal life of floating around the ether in spiritual form. We will have physical form with senses and voices.

While there won’t be marriage in heaven, it is spoken of as a wedding feast so I’d say there’s a good chance there will be food.

There are more hints and descriptions of heaven that have been interpreted in a wide variety of ways.

I think we can rest assured that it will be paradise.

That’s the word Jesus himself used to describe it from the cross.

What are you looking forward to in heaven?
What do you think it is going to be like?
June 26, 2023

June 26th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 10

Highlight Verses:

“When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love Bartimaeus’ attitude.

There was no way he was going to let people get between him and Jesus.

It’s worth noting that this was one of Jesus’s quickest healings. He didn’t make Bartimaeus do anything beyond what he had already done. He just told Bart that his faith had healed him and, instantly, he could see.

After he was healed, he immediately followed Jesus.

When we are facing a hardship, whether physical problems, impossible financial situations, or desperate emotional situations, it seems easy to call desperately to Jesus.

Sometimes He answers our cries immediately. Sometimes we don’t hear a response.

I dare say we often don’t hear a response because we don’t want to hear the type of response He gives us.

Jesus saw Bartimaeus’ heart and knew he would drop everything to follow.

May we have that level of desperation for Jesus.

Have you had times in your life when you were desperate for Jesus?
Did you call out to Him for help?
We’re you willing to follow Him whatever his response?
June 12, 2023

June 12th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 7-8

Highlight Verses:

“Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Here’s the difference between religion and relationship.

In religion, you obey a bunch of rules in order to earn your way into heaven.

When you have a relationship with God, you follow his leading out of gratitude for being given a new life and trust that God knows what’s best for you.

We can never earn our way into heaven because we will never meet God’s standard of perfection. Jesus is the only one who ever did. He laid down his life as a sacrifice in our place that we may be with Him for eternity in heaven and have a relationship with Him in this life. That’s an amazing gift that we do our best to live up to, though we know that we will fall short.

I’ve know many people who, even after they’ve accepted God’s forgiveness, still feel like they have to keep to a strict set of rules or they will lose their salvation. For you I have good news.

The only way you could lose your salvation is by rejecting Jesus.

I also know many people who have accepted God’s forgiveness and live like there are no rules. I have good news for you as well.

Following the principles set forth in the Bible will lead you to a richer, more fulfilling life.

Obeying God’s commands will not earn you heaven, but it will bring you closer to the God of all joy.

Some think that if they obey, they’ll miss out on all the fun. In obedience is more fun and joy than you can imagine.

The path of sin, if followed to the end, can lead you so far from Jesus that you reject Him and forgiveness, which is the furthest thing from joy I can imagine.

Have you been stressing over every little religious rule you’ve ever heard of?
Or have you been seeking fulfillment in sin?
Trade those paths in for the path of relationship with the God of all Joy!
June 8, 2023

June 8th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 13-14

Highlight Verse:

“Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today, 14:1 jumped out as a good balance between the gifts of the Spirit and the love chapter.

I have seen people so adamant about the constant practice of the gifts of the Spirit that they drive people away from them.

I’ve seen some who are so focused on love that they ignore the working of the Holy Spirit and even repentance.

In this one verse, we find both love and power. They can coexist. Especially in prophecy.

True prophecy is rooted in love.

In the past, I have been confronted with “prophecy” that was rooted in gossip. It was not helpful. I dare say that it contributed to my ex-wife’s slide away from Christ and away from her commitment to our marriage.

I have also seen prophecy that was empowered by the Holy Spirit and rooted in God’s love.

Over the years, several Spirit prompted exhortations have helped keep me on the right path.

I should be clear that the gift of prophecy as I understand it, does not necessarily involve predicting the future. In my experience, it rarely does.

What it does involve is Holy Spirit prompted exhortation or advice that, when not messed up by the “prophet”, is exactly what the hearer needs to hear.

True prophecy will always line up with Scripture!

The Spirit will normally confirm the word of prophecy to the hearer and the speaker.

I could go on but I’ve already passed my self-imposed word limit.

What do you think prophecy should look like?
How do you think prophecy and love can coexist?
May 29, 2023

May 29th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 5

Highlight Verse:

“So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In case you didn’t read the first part, this man was just restored after being possessed by at least 2000 demons.

He’s not the kind of guy that people wanted to model their lives after.

If I had done the kinds of things this guy had done and then been freed from the demons, I’d probably want to hide in shame – maybe become a monk or something like that.

He didn’t do that.

In his joy and excitement over being freed, he told as many people as he could about Jesus.

And because of his past, they believed!

I guarantee that your past is not as bad as this guy’s. God can use your past too.

What would happen if you shared freely about your past and what Jesus has done to free you from it?
Is there anything keeping you from sharing it?
May 26, 2023

May 26th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 61-63

Highlight Verse:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These are the words that Jesus read in a synagogue in Luke 4. When Jesus confirmed that the words were spoken about Him, the Jews turned on him and tried to throw Him over a cliff. I don’t think they were convinced that He was the Messiah.

Today, relatively few practicing Jews believe there will even be a Messiah.

Among all the world’s population, people who believe that Jesus is the Messiah are a small minority.

This verse by itself is enough to sadden me at that fact. The things that they miss out on!

He brings joys in the midst of poverty.

There is no greater healer from hurt than Jesus.

There is no one at all besides Jesus who can free us from the bonds of sin.

And those are just what this verse mentions. How rich are the mercies and blessings Jesus brings!

What has trusting in Jesus blessed you with?
If you haven’t trusted in Jesus, what’s holding you back?
May 15, 2023

May 15th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“And they left their nets at once and followed him.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We start a new Gospel today. Mark is one of the synoptic Gospels. That means that it draws on the same material as Matthew and Luke. Many scholars believe Mark to be the source of the material which those other two Gospels build on with other sources.

It is believed that Mark (John Mark in Acts) got his accounts of Jesus from Peter.

You will see as we go through it that Mark gets right to the point. He moves the narrative along quickly and tends to have the subjects move quickly with terms like “immediately” and “at once”.

Whether the “at once” in today’s verse is literal or just expressing the fact that they left without second thought, it is obvious that the first apostles Jesus called were fully committed to following Jesus. They left behind their livelihoods and families to learn from the Messiah.

While we are not called to ditch our families, we would do well to have a strong commitment to learning from Jesus and following the mission that he has for us.

Are you fully committed to learning everything you can from Jesus?
Are you willing to do what you need to follow the mission Jesus has for you?
May 1, 2023

May 1st, 2023

Before we get into today’s study, you should know that the reading list for May and June is now posted at WITLBible.com/reading-list/

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 19

Highlight Verse:

“Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.””
‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One begins to sympathize with Pilate for being put in the position of having to condemn an innocent man by the pressure of the people.

Then you realize that he just had Jesus brutally flogged with a lead tipped whip.

Pilate was a cruel man.

The Roman system of justice was cruel.

Granted, some of the previous justice systems in the world would result in instant death for someone who had the bad fortune of being accused of a crime.

The Romans did have a type of trial. But those found guilty suffered the most painful, torturous death imaginable!

Naked.

In public.

On a cross where they were suspended from the most painful places while they slowly bled to death and were kept on the edge of suffocation.

Often for hours.

Why would God bring His son into the world in that time and place? Couldn’t He have come at a time when the death penalty was more humane?

To that I would have to say, God knew exactly what He was doing.

The depth of Christ’s pain and humiliation demonstrated in no uncertain terms the depth of His love for us.

Let that sink in.

Do you know how deep and extravagant God’s love for you is?
How will you begin to return that love today?

Tag: Jesus

He delegated the telling of it to another.

I believe he would ask you to go to your own land and proclaim what God has done for you to those who know you!

A thousand years before Jesus, David already had a good understanding of the redemptive work of God.

we will have bodies.

I think we can rest assured that it will be paradise.

I love Bartimaeus’ attitude.

May we have that level of desperation for Jesus.

Here’s the difference between religion and relationship.

The only way you could lose your salvation is by rejecting Jesus.

Following the principles set forth in the Bible will lead you to a richer, more fulfilling life.

True prophecy is rooted in love.

Over the years, several Spirit prompted exhortations have helped keep me on the right path.

True prophecy will always line up with Scripture!

He’s not the kind of guy that people wanted to model their lives after.

And because of his past, they believed!

I guarantee that your past is not as bad as this guy’s. God can use your past too.

He brings joys in the midst of poverty.

There is no greater healer from hurt than Jesus.

There is no one at all besides Jesus who can free us from the bonds of sin.

While we are not called to ditch our families, we would do well to have a strong commitment to learning from Jesus and following the mission that he has for us.

Pilate was a cruel man.

To that I would have to say, God knew exactly what He was doing.

Let that sink in.