October 21, 2012

The Son of Man Will Be Killed (10/21)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9:28-62.

Even though His disciples did not completely understand what He meant, Jesus told them beforehand what was going to happen to Him.

“For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, ‘The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later’” (Mark 9:31).

Jesus was going to be killed. He knew this would happen. Peter would later say that this was part of the “predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). This was the reason why Jesus came to the earth in the first place – to die on the cross.
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October 19, 2012

"Experts at Setting Aside the Commandment of God" (10/19)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 15; Mark 7.

After condemning the Pharisees for worshiping God in vain and elevating the commandments of men to the same status as the commandments of God, Jesus told them they were experts. Unfortunately, they were not experts in an area that was any good.

“He was also saying to them, ‘You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition’” (Mark 7:9).

Jesus was certainly not praising them for their expertise here. They had become highly adept at violating the commandment of God while still appearing to be religious. Sadly, many people today do the same thing. But notice how the Pharisees did this.
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October 14, 2012

Yielding a Crop (10/14)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 13; Luke 8.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus described four types of soils and how the seed responded to each one. The seed represented the word and the soils represented the different types of hearts that would come into contact with the gospel. The good soil – which stood for the good, honest heart – yielded a crop.

“And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty” (Matthew 13:8).

Jesus explained this to His disciples to be sure they understood the meaning.

“And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understand it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty” (Matthew 13:23).

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October 9, 2012

Why Do You Call Jesus, "Lord"? (10/9)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 1:1-21; Mark 3; Luke 6.

There are many people today who would call Jesus their Lord. But are all of these people actually treating Him as Lord? Sadly, many are not. How are they failing to treat Jesus as Lord? Notice what Jesus said:

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Jesus’ point is clear: if one will not obey Him, it is meaningless for him to call Jesus “Lord.”
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October 5, 2012

Those Who Need a Physician (10/5)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 4; Luke 4-5; John 1:15-51.

After Jesus called Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him (Luke 5:27), Levi held a reception for Him, inviting his fellow tax collectors and others. This drew the scrutiny of the  Pharisees and the scribes.

“And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd  of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?’ And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance’” (Luke 5:29-32).

There was a simple reason why Jesus associated with “tax collectors and sinners.” He was not encouraging or condoning sin, but as “a physician” He was trying to heal them of their sin sickness.
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October 5, 2012

Eagerly Awaiting the Return of Christ

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).

As citizens of heaven, Paul said that we ought to be eagerly looking forward to the Lord’s return. But there is more to this than just the mental desire for Christ to return. Notice the words of God revealed through the prophet Amos:

“Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; as when a man flees from a lion and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake bites him. Will not the day of the Lord be darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it?” (Amos 5:18-20).

There were people in Amos’ day – just as there are in our day – who were looking forward to the day of the Lord. They thought it would be a time for their deliverance rather than judgment and punishment. We do not want to delude ourselves like those of whom Amos prophesied. If we want to genuinely and properly look forward to Christ’s return, there are certain things we must do and things we must understand.
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October 2, 2012

"This Child is Appointed for the Fall and Rise of Many" (10/2)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 1; Luke 2:1-38.

When Joseph and Mary came to Jerusalem to present the child Jesus to the Lord at the temple, they were met by a devout man named Simeon. God had revealed to Simeon that “he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26). When Jesus was brought to the temple, Simeon was able to be a witness of God’s promise in Christ. He first praised God, then briefly explained to Mary what Jesus’ role was going to be:

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed’” (Luke 2:3).

Mary had already been told, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32-33). Joseph had already been told that Jesus would “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). These passages emphasize the blessings that would come to man through Christ.
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