Luke 11:1 says, And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. When Jesus was praying, after He finished, one of His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray as John the Baptist had taught his disciples. We may hear someone say today that they would pray, but they don't know how. Prayer is simply pouring your heart out to God, and there are no required words or formula. Verse two adds, And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Jesus began to teach them how to pray. They were to start by acknowledging God as their Father and keeping His name hallowed, or holy. Then, they were to ask that His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it was in heaven. If God is to hear our prayers, we must first acknowledge Him as our heavenly Father, then our prayer must be not for what we want or desire, but for God's will to be done in our life. Verse three continues, Give us day by day our daily bread. The disciples were to pray that God would meet their needs every day, and that should be our prayer today. Verse four concludes, And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. They were to pray that they were forgiven as they forgave others, and that they not be led into temptation. We must forgive others as God has forgiven us, and that is undeservedly. We are also to pray the we not be led into temptation, which can happen if we begin to pray for what we want instead of what God wants for us. As followers of Christ, we don't need to follow someone else's way to pray, but simply need to bring our cares and concerns, not our wants and desires, to God.
Monday, May 23, 2022
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Luke 10:38
Luke 10:38 says, Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. As Jesus was traveling, a woman named Martha invited Him into her house. Jesus always had to rely on the kindness of others for His daily needs. Martha was likely a widow, and the cost of providing for Jesus and His disciples was not cheap, but she was willing to make the sacrifice. They did not demand the best of food nor even the best house to eat it in. Today, too often those who profess to follow Christ want assurance that they will have everything they want before they go, and they want the best food and lodging when they get there. Verse thirty-nine adds, And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. Martha's sister Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened as He taught. She was not helping Martha with the preparations. Sometimes, when we are working to spread the gospel, others are going to be learning more from Jesus about being a Christian. Verse forty states, But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. Martha, who had invited Jesus, became upset because Mary wasn't helping her prepare for His visit. She asked Jesus to bid Mary to help her. If we are busy doing what we believe God wants us to do as followers of Christ, we should not get upset if it appears that some other Christian is doing less, and we certainly shouldn't tell God to have them join us in what we are doing. Verse forty-one adds, And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: Jesus told Martha that she was busy being troubled by many things. Sometimes, we may feel troubled by all that we feel we need to do for Jesus, but just being busy is not enough. Verse forty-two continues, But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Jesus told Martha that she had missed one needful thing, and that was that she had allowed the preparation of the meal to become more important than spending time with Jesus. We need to be careful that we don't get so caught up in church work that we neglect time alone with God. Jesus said Mary had chosen to do that good part, and it wouldn't be taken away from her. When we are doing what we believe God wants us to do, we don't need to be worried about what other Christians are doing, and we certainly should never judge them.
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Luke 10:29
Luke 10:29 says, But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? The lawyer, still trying to get Jesus to say something that he could use against Him, asked who his neighbor was when it was determined that God expects us to love our neighbor as ourself. People are still trying to make Jesus look bad today by twisting or mistnterpting His words. Verse thirty adds, And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Jesus did not answer the man's question directly, but used it as a teaching opportunity. Jesus said a man went from Jerusalem to Jerico and thieves stripped him of his clothes, wounded him, and went away leaving him in a ditch. We still hear of much the same thing happening too often today. Verse thirty-one continues, And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. A priest, a man who was supposed to represent God, came that way, and didn't even cross the road to check on the man. He may have felt that he was too busy doing God's work to be bothered, and we need too be careful that we don't get so caught up in religious activities that we don't have time to help others. Verse thirty-two states, And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. A Levite, another man of God at least in name, came along, went over and looked at the man, then went on his way on the other side. Looking on people in need and doing nothing to help them is never enough for us as followers of Christ to do. Verse thirty-three adds, But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, Jesus said a Samaritan, someone the Jews would have nothing to do with, came along and had compassion on the man. Sadly, there are people that we would have nothing to do with as Christians today who have more compassion on those in need than we have as Christians. Verse thirty-four continues, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The Samaritan went out of his way, and at expense to himself, helped the man. He treated the man's wounds, set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn. I would assume that the man had been riding his beast, and now he had to walk. We should be willing to go out of our way to help others, even if it costs us to do so. Verse thirty-five concludes, And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. The next day, the Samaritan made arrangements for the continued care of the man until he was well. Sometimes, we may need to go beyond just meeting the immediate physical needs of those that we help, and be willing to make sure that they can get back on their feet before we feel we have done enough. Verse thirty-six asks, Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? Jesus then asked the lawyer which of these three was a neighbor to the man who had fallen among thieves. The question of who was his neighbor was the man's original question, and now Jesus was going to allow him to answer it. At times, God may allow us to answer our own spiritual questions, but as followers of Christ, we will always have to guidance of the Holy Spirit available. Verse thirty-seven answers, And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. The lawyer had very little way to avoid answering the question without saying the one who helped the man, who was the Samaritan, was the neighbor. Then, Jesus told the lawyer to go and do likewise. We don't need to ask questions to limit who we help today, but simply need to help those that we come into contact with in any way that God leads us to do.
Friday, May 20, 2022
Lukec10;21
Luke 10:21 says, In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. Jesus said that we cannot know Him and come to Him through earthly wisdom, but can only come as babies, helpless by our own understanding and power. Education and earthly power or position will never bring us to God. Verse twenty-two adds, All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. Jesus said the heavenly Father gave Him all His power, and that only He knew Who the heavenly Father really was. Likewise, only the heavenly Father knew Who Jesus was, and those that the heavenly Father revealed the knowledge of Who Jesus was to. We can know Who Jesus is, but we can never know all of Who God is. Verse twenty-three states, And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: Jesus privately told the disciples that eyes of those who blessed what they saw, the miraculous works of Jesus, were blessed. We are still blessed when we see Jesus Christ for Who He is, and that is the Savior of all who will accept Him as such by faith. Verse twenty-four adds, For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Jesus told the disciples that many prophets had desired to see and hear the things that the disciples saw and heard, but they hadn't seen nor heard them. A desire to hear and see about salvation is not enough until Jesus comes to us and we accept Him by faith. Verse twenty-five says, And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? A lawyer stood up and asked Jesus what he had to do to receive eternal life, not because he really wanted to know, but to tempt, or somehow trick, Jesus. There are still people today who question Jesus, not because they desire to follow Him, but in order to somehow discredit Him. Verse twenty-six adds, He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? Jesus asked the lawyer what was written in the scripture and how did he interpret it. We must acknowledge God's law and what it means if we are are to follow Jesus Christ successfully. Jesus said He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. Verse twenty-seven continues, And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. The lawyer answered that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, or with all the we are in other words, and that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. The lawyer knew what was required, but he had not put his faith in it based on the reason that he asked the question. We may know all the facts about how to be saved, but until we accept them by faith in Jesus Christ, it will do us no good. Verse twenty-eight concludes, And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. Jesus told the lawyer that he had answered correctly, and to now go and do these things by faith, and he would have everlasting life. Of course, the lawyer could not do these things by his own ability and neither can we. We all fall short when we attempt to come to God by our own merit, which is why faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord is the only way we can have everlasting life.
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Luke 10:10
Luke 10:10 says, But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Jesus also told those disciples what to do in a city that would not receive them. Verse eleven adds, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. They were to go out in the streets of those cities, shake the dust off their feet, and tell the people there that the kingdom of God had come nigh to them. They were not to rant and rave, but were simply to tell the people in those cities that they had been given the opportunity to become a part of God's kingdom. We are not to be angry at people who will not hear us when we witness, but we can at least tell them that they had the opportunity to be saved. Verse twelve, continues, But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. These disciples were also to warn the people in those cities that it would be more tolerable for the people of Sodom in the day of judgment than it would be for them. Those who have a greater understanding of the gospel and reject it will be held more accountable then those who never heard the gospel. Verse thirteen declares, Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. There was a warning to two cities in particular, telling them if the mighty works done in them had been done in Tyre and Sidon, that they would have have repented long ago. Since great works of God have been done in America, and we call ourselves a Christian nation, if people here reject Christ, I believe they will be held more accountable than in places where Christ cannot be preached. Verse fourteen adds, But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. Jesus said it would be more tolerable in Tyre and Sidon, Gentile cities, where His message had not been preached, than in these two cities. Verse fifteen continues, And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. There was a warning for the people of Capernaum, another Jewish city where Jesus had preached, that they might think they were exalted to heaven because the were a part of the nation of Israel, but they were to be cast down into hell for rejecting Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter if we feel that we are exalted by God because of where we were born if we reject the gospel of Christ. Verse sixteen says, He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. Jesus said that those who rejected the disciples that He sent rejected Him and the heavenly Father Who sent Him. This remains true today of those who reject us when we share the gospel of Christ with them. Verse seventeen adds, And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. These seventy that Jesus sent out returned telling Him that even the devils were subject to them when they dealt with them by faith in Jesus's name. We have no less power when we are truly acting in the power of Christ today. Verse eighteen states, And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Jesus said He had seen Satan fall from heaven. His power had always been limited, and it still is today. Verse nineteen adds, Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. This did not mean that these disciples were to go out and look for serpents and scorpions to walk on to prove their faith, but that if they were to step on them while proclaiming the gospel that they would have no more power over them than any enemy of God had. They were secure in their relationship to God through faith in Jesus Christ no matter what. If we stand for God, nothing can stand against us. Verse twenty continues, Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Jesus told these disciples not to rejoice in their victory over demons, but to rejoice that their names were written down in heaven. This is reason that we should rejoice today as well.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Luke 10 :1
Luke 10:1 says, After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Jesus appointed seventy other disciples and sent them out by twos to prepare the people in the cities around there where He might come for His coming. We today are to prepare the cities around us for the second coming of Jesus by sharing the gospel with them. Verse two adds, Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. The harvest then, those who needed to hear about Jesus was great, and it is even greater today. There were few laborers, those who would share the gospel then, and their are few today. Just as Jesus told them to pray to the Lord of the harvest then to send harvesters, so must we today. Verse three states, Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Jesus told these seventy to go on their way, and He sent them as lambs among wolves. We may find it dangerous to preach the gospel today, but we still must go where God sends us and do what God calls us to do. Verse four adds, Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. Jesus gave them the same instructions that He had given the disciples earlier. They were to take nothing with them and not to salute people along them way. They were to let nothing distract them from their mission. I believe that too often today we want to carry too much with us as we go where God sends us instead of relying on His provision, and we are often distracted by others along the way. Verse five says, And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. Jesus told them to declare peace to the first house they entered. If they accepted the disciples and the gospel of Christ then they would have peace, and so will anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord today. Verse six adds, And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. Jesus warned them that some people would accept their message and others would not, and this is still true today. Verse seven continues, And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. Jesus told them to stay in the house that they were invited to stay in and to eat and drink whatever was offered them, and that as laborers for Christ they were worthy to have their needs provided for. God will provide for us as Christians today if we rely on Him in faith. Verse eight states, And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: In any city that received these disciples, they were to eat what was set before them. They were not to make special demands for what they ate, but were to eat as those that they met ate. We should never demand better for ourselves today as we share the gospel than what those that we are sharing it with live off of. Verse nine adds, And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. These disciples were to heal the sick and tell them the kingdom of God had come nigh to them. Jesus had yet to complete His sacrifice of Himself for our sins, but the time was getting closer. When someone accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord today, their salvation is assured.
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Luke 9:57
Luke 9:57 says, And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. As Jesus and His disciples were traveling a certain way, a man came to Him and said that he would follow Jesus, whom he called Lord, anywhere that He went. The man had decided on his own to follow Jesus, and this was a bold statement, and many people make the same bold statement today, but it wasn't necessarily a statement made from faith in Who Jesus really is. Verse fifty-eight adds, And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Jesus toldcthe man that he hadn't counted the cost of following Him. Jesus said that unlike the foxes and birds, He didn't even have a place to lay His head. Jesus had no home here on earth, and if the man was going to follow Jesus for earthly rewards, he was going to be disappointed. This earth is not our home, and if we are following Jesus for earthly rewards, we are going to be disappointed. Verse fifty-nine states, And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus called on another man to follow Him, but the man said let him go and bury his father first. Matthew Henry says the man's father was not yet dead, but had only a short time to live. When Jesus calls us following Him should be our first priority. Verse sixty adds, Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. Jesus told the man to let the dead bury the dead, and for the man to go and preach the gospel. We cannot allow anything in the world to stop us from following Jesus Christ when He calls us, nor from doing what He calls us to do and be truly faithfulful. Verse sixty-one says, And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. Another man who had decided on His own to follow Jesus said that he would follow Him once he said goodbye to his family. He was putting saying goodbye to them as a condition to following Jesus, and we can never do this. We must put following Jesus above everything else. Verse sixty-two adds, And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Jesus said that no one who had claimed to follow Him and continued to look back at the things left behind as more important than following Him was not fit for the kingdom of God. Once we become a follower of Christ, we cannot look back on what we have left behind materially and allow it to be more important than following Him, and that even includes our family.