A Journey With Christ

Monday, August 30              John 19

Tuesday, August 31               John 20-21

Wednesday, September 1     Matthew 1

Thursday, September 2         Matthew 2

Friday, September 3              Matthew 3

Pilate is an unfortunate man in the unfolding of the crucifixion of Jesus.  Clearly, Pilate did not sign up to be a part of this story, but nonetheless he finds himself right in the middle of it.

Pilate did not find anything wrong for Jesus to be crucified, yet he was facing the pressure from the Jewish crowd and had a potential revolt on his hands.  What was he to do?  Go with his gut and release Jesus or give into the crowd and have him crucified.

I can empathize with Pilate because I have found myself in situations where I know what I should do, but for some reason I choose not to do the right thing.  My life has yet to be in danger for standing up for Jesus Christ.  My friend Jeff O’Loughlin is serving in a country where it is illegal to bring up the topic of Jesus.  I can’t fathom being in such a situation.  Most of the pressure we face in America is going against political correctness which might have a social consequence at worst.  Pilate challenges me to do the right thing regardless of the fallout.  Pilate encourages me to take a stand without taking a poll of the people’s opinions.

As I go through this week, I pray that I will have the fortitude and courage to do the right thing.  I pray that you do to.

Sammy

Monday, August 23 . . . John 14

Tuesday, August 24 . . . John 15

Wednesday, August 25 . . . John 16

Thursday, August 26 . . . John 17

Friday, August 27. . . John 18

As I read through the passages for this week, I was reminded by John 15:1-5, that Jesus is to be the source for every good work we can ever hope to accomplish.

He illustrates this truth by painting a picture of a vine and its branches.  Growing up, we had English Ivy on the back of our house.  I don’t know how many times we trimmed that stuff back – all the way to the ground on several occasions.  But regardless of how much we trimmed it, the back wall of the house would soon be covered with ivy again.

However, the branches that we cut from the vine died.  They could not survive without being connected to the plant.  But those remaining connected to the vine spread all over the wall.

In the same way, if we do not stay connected to the true vine, we will die as well.  For many of us, we are living an illusion that we can do this thing called life, disconnected from our creator.  In reality, we are drying up and we may not even know it.  There can be no real life apart from a connection to Jesus.

So here is my question for you today, “How is your connection to Jesus?”

Spend some time this week making sure you are growing in your relationship with Christ.

Be blessed this week!

Brian

Monday, August 16 . . . John 9

Tuesday, August 17 . . . John 10

Wednesday, August 18 . . . John 11

Thursday, August 19 . . . John 12

Friday, August 20 . . . John 13

I read through this week’s reading, it struck me anew the love that Jesus has for all of mankind.  As I read in John 11 about the plot to kill Jesus, then as He predicts His own death in chapter 12, I thought about the all-knowing God.   Jesus knew the end before he ever came to Earth.  Yet he still came!  He continued to heal people, love people, and minister to people as he KNEW that a group of people was plotting to kill him.

Jesus took the time to listen and care for people throughout his ministry on Earth even though he knew that there were people that were going to kill him for it.  We could all take lessons from Him on that.  Most of us go through life thinking that we can’t help others or don’t have time to reach out; our lives are more important.  Most of us don’t know we are going to die; we aren’t dealing with that kind of emotional turmoil, but we live like what is going on in our realm is that important.  If Jesus thought that it was important enough to show compassion and love to those around him under his circumstances, I think that we should be thinking the same!

Have a GREAT week in God’s great word!  Amie

Monday, August 9 . . . John 4

Tuesday, August 10 . . . John 5

Wednesday, August 11 . . . John 6

Thursday, August 12 . . . John 7

Friday, August 13 . . . John 8

As a minister, as a leader, and as a believer I have often wandered what causes somebody else to believe in Jesus. I have spent time brainstorming what we do to cause somebody to believe. I have tried to think creatively, to utilize multiple resources, to take advantage of technology, to think outside the box…and sometimes these things work, but sometimes they don’t. How can I help people to believe in Jesus?

There’s a short verse in this week’s readings that I’ve probably read hundreds of times but never stopped to think about its impact.

“And many more believed because of His word.” John 4:41

Did you catch that? It says they believed “because of His word.”

No fancy websites, no catchy jingles, no cool videos, no huge worship band. Just His word. Period.

How often do I (and do we as the church) try to rely on these other resources over and above His word?

We do have to think about what causes somebody to hear and to listen to His word. That’s where these other creative ideas, resources, tools, technologies, etc. can help. I take seriously that we are to do whatever it takes to present the word of God in a way that people can and will hear and listen. But the challenge for me this week is that the most important thing is simply His word. If we stripped away everything else we sometimes rely on we will find that His word is powerful and effective. It is what draws people to believe in Him. Period.

Monday, August 2 . . . Luke 23

Tuesday, August 3 . . . Luke 24

Wednesday, August 4 . . . John 1

Thursday, August 5 . . . John 2

Friday, August 6 . . . John 3

How do you approach the Bible? Many times I find myself reading a passage or a story or a chapter or book looking for a key truth that I can apply to my life for that particular day. Sometimes I just read through the passage trying to get to the end. And occasionally I’ll meditate on a passage for awhile and try to listen for God to speak to me through it.

As I read through this week’s chapters one particular passage caused me to stop and think through how I approach the Bible. In Luke 24 Jesus (after He is resurrected) is walking down the road to Emmaus with two guys. These guys have no idea who he is. In verse 27 it says “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

A few verses later these guys’ eyes were opened as Jesus broke bread with them and they said, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

I’ve heard it said many times that all scripture is about Jesus…It all points to the cross and ultimately to the risen Messiah. The Bible in it’s entirety is the story of God’s salvation for mankind given through Jesus. In the passage I mentioned above Jesus himself taught the Bible to these two men on the road to Emmaus…and He was the central figure. I know I need to approach the Bible more as the story of Christ than I do. I need to look for Jesus as I read about Jonah or David. I need to see Jesus revealed as I read the beautiful poetry in Psalms or the rich wisdom of Proverbs. I need to see Jesus in the story of creation and in the missionary journeys of Paul. This is how I want to approach the Bible…And as I do I know my heart will burn inside of me much like these two guys who had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Monday, July 26 . . . Luke 18

Tuesday, July 27 . . . Luke 19

Wednesday, July 28 . . . Luke 20

Thursday, July 29 . . . Luke 21

Friday, July 30 . . . Luke 22

I (Sam) haven’t had the opportunity to blog about our daily readings in several months and as I was reading this week’s scripture a few things really captured my attention.

First,  I noticed that I was reading through the scripture really fast in an attempt to finish. OUCH! I had to make myself slow down, pray for understanding, and try to absorb everything I could out of each verse. I plan to go back each day and read through the chapters again slowly and prayerfully throughout the rest of the week.

Second, I noticed that pretty much everything that Jesus said and did completely and totally contradicted everything that his followers, the religious leaders, and pretty much everybody else expected Him to say and do. One of my favorite stories from these chapters is the rare exception: Luke 18:35-43 from Monday’s reading. Here we have a blind beggar. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was close by he immediately begin to scream out, “JESUS!!!!!” Talk about not having any sense of decency or civility or discretion. All the folks close by were totally floored. They got on to him and told him to shut up.  And I love the end of verse 39: “But he cried all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me!” I’m sure the expectation was that Jesus would either roll his eyes and ignore this disgraceful act or perhaps he would jump all over this guy and tell him to have some sense of decency. But Jesus didn’t. He called for this loud, obnoxious blind man to be brought to him. He asked him what he wanted. The man said with no hesitation and no shame, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus healed him.

So where are you in this story? Are you one who will stand by with dignity and respect in the presence of Jesus? Are you one who will shout and beg for mercy and do anything within your means for a personal encounter with Jesus? Are you one who will get onto somebody close by for acting with such childlike indignity? (by the way, see Luke 18:16-17 if this is you)

Most of the people who were physically around Jesus were totally floored by what He said and did. I think today if we slow down enough to take it in and think about it we would be totally floored also.

One final thing I noticed is in Luke 19:41-44. Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem. His heart is broken for the Jewish people. He came as the Messiah, the Savior…to bring peace and restoration to a broken people. And he says, “I was here. I’ve been with you. I am the key to peace. I am your salvation. I’ve been right here with you. And you totally missed me. Now your enemies will destroy you because you didn’t recognize God with you.” (my paraphrase) How often do we gather with each other as the church (the representation of Christianity…the people of God, much like Jerusalem was the representation of God’s chosen people, the Hebrew nation when Jesus wept over the city) and we totally miss God with us? How often does Jesus weep over His church when we meet together, sing songs together, pray together, listen to a sermon together, and walk out having totally missed Him?

Remember, Jesus will say and do things that are completely different than what most people would expect. Slow down as you spend time with Him. Don’t miss Him. Don’t miss what He wants to do in your life.

Monday, July 19 . . . Luke 13

Tuesday, July 20 . . . Luke 14

Wednesday, July 21 . . . Luke 15

Thursday, July 22 . . . Luke 16

Friday, July 23 . . . Luke 17

In our reading for this week, I was drawn to the story of the ten lepers that Jesus healed.  You can read the story here for yourself.  Most likely we have all heard and read this story before.  Jesus encountered ten lepers in his travels.  While he was still a distance from them, they called out to him.  This would have been the proper thing for lepers to do.  In that culture, lepers were seen as unclean and self-respecting, practicing Jews could not come in contact with them.  But Jesus had compassion and healed them.  As they were headed to the priest to show themselves for approval, they were cleansed.

But the real point to the story is what happens next.  Only one of the ten returned to thank Jesus.  We are not told where the other nine went or why they did not return to Jesus.  My guess is that they were so caught up in the moment of being healed of their miserable disease that they did not think about it.

Here is my question for you to consider today: How appreciative are you of the blessings God gives you – or have you come to expect them?

Do not let another day go by without thanking God for all He has done for you.

Have a great week!

Brian

Monday, July 12 . . . Luke 8

Tuesday, July 13 . . . Luke 9

Wednesday, July 14 . . . Luke 10

Thursday, July 15 . . . Luke 11

Friday, July 16 . . . Luke 12

In Luke chapter 9, the chapter begins with Jesus sending out the disciples on their own to minister in the surrounding areas.  He gave them specific instructions.  Part of those instructions, found in verse 3 were this:  ”He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.’”

In other words, Jesus said that his disciples should head out into the world completely dependent on God – no plan B, no fall back.

My question to you this week is this: “Are you completely dependent on God?”

Think about it.

Brian

Monday, July 5 . . . Luke 3

Tuesday, July 6 . . . Luke 4

Wednesday, July 7 . . . Luke 5

Thursday, July 8 . . . Luke 6

Friday, July 9 . . . Luke 7

Luke 6 begins with two separate accounts of Jesus getting into trouble with the religious folks of his day.  Both instances center around what was acceptable activity on the Sabbath.

The religious system that was developed around the commandment of remembering the Sabbath and keeping it holy was extremely restrictive.  The religious leaders had developed a list of what could be done and what couldn’t be done on the Sabbath in order to keep the day holy, as God commanded.

Was the principle behind their efforts misguided?  I don’t think so.  I believe that the desire was to keep God’s commandment of setting aside the Sabbath day just as God intended.  As time transpired, the people wanted specific criteria for what they could and could not do and remain in compliance with this command.

Naturally, over time, the “hedge” around the law, became law itself.

What Jesus was notorious for was cutting through the junk and getting to the heart of the issue.  He reminded the religious leaders that what God intended had gotten lost in the legalism.

Are we guilty of this same sin?  Do we ever hold to certain elements in the church that have more to do with tradition than God’s intention?

Don’t hear me say that tradition is bad – all of it can be wonderfully moving and spiritual when taken in moderation and taken for what it is.

The key is to understand that each of us have traditions we hold as “sacred” but we must remember that we should always approach church with humility and openness.  Today’s fresh and creative ideas are tomorrow’s tradition.  God is not stagnant.  God’s church should not be stagnant either.

Have a fresh week!

Brian

Monday, June 28                                      Mark 14

Tuesday, June 29                                      Mark 15

Wednesday, June 30                               Mark 16

Thursday, July 1                                        Luke 1

Friday, July 2                                             Luke 2

This week we read the end of the gospel of Mark and the first two chapters of the gospel of Luke.  How interesting that we have Jesus’ death juxtaposed with the beginning of His life here on earth.

As I read through this week’s reading, I was reminded again that Jesus came to die.  It was for this reason, Jesus was born.  God so loved me that he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to come and die for my faults and sins so that I might have life, eternal and abundant, through Jesus Christ.

This is just another reminder that God loves me.  I didn’t deserve it nor did I earn it.  He loved me in spite of all the “stuff” I have done or still do.  That is unconditional love…and we see it in a tangible way through the coming, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This week remember that you are loved by the Creator of this universe.  When God looks at you He sees someone of worth…someone of value…someone of significance…someone worth dying for.

How can a love like that not affect the way you live life.  Live life fully and live life for Christ.

Have a great week,

Sammy