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 8, 2012

"The One Who Accuses You Is Moses" (10/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from John 5.

Despite the evidence that was being presented to prove that Jesus was the promised Messiah, many of the Jews rejected Him. So Jesus, rather than accusing them Himself of rejecting the Christ, used those things which had been written by Moses.

“Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:45-47).

Moses was held in high regard by the Jews because he was the one who delivered the law from God. So Jesus used their regard for Moses to try to make them think. They rejected Jesus but claimed to accept Moses. But Jesus said, “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.”
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October 6, 2012

"We Have Heard for Ourselves and Know" (10/6)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from John 2-4.

When Jesus stopped at a well in Samaria and spoke with the woman who came to draw water, it triggered a spiritual awakening in that city.

“From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all the things that I have done.’ So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world’” (John 4:39-42).

At first, the woman who spoke with Jesus told the men of the city about the conversation she had with Him: “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” (John 4:29). Many of the Samaritans believed in Christ because of her testimony.
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October 3, 2012

The Magi Came to the House (10/3)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 2; Luke 2:39-52.

When December comes, it is common to see nativity scenes displayed in front of houses, places of worship, and other locations. These typically include depictions of the baby Jesus lying in a manger with Mary and Joseph, the animals, the shepherds, and the magi (wise men) gathered around. There is at least one problem with this – the magi were not present at the manger.

“After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:9-11).

The shepherds were certainly present while Jesus was lying in a manger (Luke 2:15-16). But the magi did not arrive until after the Child had been moved from the manger into a house.
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September 28, 2012

Effective Teaching and Hearing (9/28)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Nehemiah 8-10.

The following passage describing Ezra reading the law of God to the people shows how the word of God can be effectively presented by the speaker and received by the audience.

“And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel. Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law” (Nehemiah 8:1-3).
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September 18, 2012

Undocumented Priests (9/18)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezra 1-3.

We hear people today talk about “undocumented immigrants.” This term refers to immigrants who have come into this country but do not have the necessary papers (documentation) showing that they can legally be here. This has led to a great political debate about what to do with these “undocumented immigrants” – deport them, grant them amnesty, ignore their lack of documentation, etc.

When the Jews returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city, they had to deal with another “undocumented” group. Certain priests did not have the appropriate documentation showing their ancestry and, therefore, could not prove that they had a lawful place in the priesthood. Notice what was done with these undocumented priests:

“Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he was called by their name. These searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. The governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim” (Ezra 2:61-63).

Notice a few points about the undocumented priests.
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September 17, 2012

"From the First Day That You Set Your Heart on Understanding" (9/17)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Daniel 10-12.

Daniel received a vision regarding what would happen “in the latter days” (Daniel 10:14). The text indicated that “he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision” (Daniel 10:1). How could he have such an understanding of this revelation? Notice what the messenger told him:

“Then he said to me, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words’” (Daniel 10:12).

From the first day Daniel set his heart, he was heard; and the revelation was sent to him. It is important to notice what he set his heart to do, because these things are necessary if we wish to understand the will of God today.
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