~Lena's Comments intertwined today in red ~
Acts 11: 1 - 30
1 The (Good-)news traveled fast and in no time the leaders and friends back in Jerusalem heard about it - heard that the non-Jewish "outsiders" were now "in." 2 When Peter got back to Jerusalem, some of his old associates, concerned about circumcision, called him on the carpet: 3 "What do you think you're doing rubbing shoulders with that crowd, eating what is prohibited and ruining our good name?" 4 So Peter, starting from the beginning, laid it out for them step-by-step: 5 "Recently I was in the town of Joppa praying. I fell into a trance and saw a vision: Something like a huge blanket, lowered by ropes at its four corners, came down out of heaven and settled on the ground in front of me. 6 Milling around on the blanket were farm animals, wild animals, reptiles, birds - you name it, it was there. Fascinated, I took it all in. 7 "Then I heard a voice: 'Go to it, Peter - kill and eat.' 8 I said, 'Oh, no, Master. I've never so much as tasted food that wasn't kosher.' 9 The voice spoke again: 'If God says it's okay, it's okay.' 10 This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the sky. 11 "Just then three men showed up at the house where I was staying, sent from Caesarea to get me. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them, no questions asked. So I went with them, I and six friends, to the man who had sent for me.(7 of them, 7 means completely perfect) 13 He told us how he had seen an angel right in his own house, real as his next-door neighbor, saying, 'Send to Joppa and get Simon, the one they call Peter. 14 He'll tell you something that will save your life - in fact, you and everyone you care for.' ( THAT is the Good News- Gospel message )15 "So I started in, talking. Before I'd spoken half a dozen sentences, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us the first time. 16 I remembered Jesus' words: 'John baptized with water; you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 So I ask you: If God gave the same exact gift to them as to us when we believed in the Master Jesus Christ, how could I object to God?" 18 Hearing it all laid out like that, they quieted down. And then, as it sank in, they started praising God. "It's really happened! God has broken through to the other nations, opened them up to Life!" awesome !!!
19 Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. 20 Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. 21 God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it - quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master. 22 When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. 23 As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. 24 He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master. 25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.
Their persecution of the message was used for the glory of God. Don’t ever accept defeat where the message of the Lord is concerned. Stand up and start a fresh, seeing how the situation and circumstance can be used to glorify God. If you can’t preach at work, then preach at Publix kind of thing. Don’t allow the circumstance to stop God’s word, or silence it in you! Be enthusiastic and confident in God in you, not in you alone. These stayed together in training. Confidence is taught in training, by being around those who have that confidence.
27 It was about this same time that some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up one day and, prompted by the Spirit, warned that a severe famine was about to devastate the country. (The famine eventually came during the rule of Claudius.) 29 So the disciples decided that each of them would send whatever they could to their fellow Christians in Judea to help out. 30 They sent Barnabas and Saul to deliver the collection to the leaders in Jerusalem. another way one could see a famine would be a famine of the word of God. Like at one season it seems to be an abundant flow, and is found so readily and easily at every turn, and in another time it is hard to find. If the Lord shows it is going to be a dry time, then He forwarns us so that we can store up for that day and have words to live by beforehand. This would be why these leaders were send with the abundant teaching of the word, to help build a foundation that will stand firm in dry weather.
The Message - This edition issued by contractual arrangement with NavPress, a division of The Navigators, U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002-2003 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread
~Today ~
Acts 10
Peter's Vision
1 There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there.2 He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer.
3 One day about three o'clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God, as real as his next-door neighbor, came in and said, "Cornelius." 4 Cornelius stared hard, wondering if he was seeing things. Then he said, "What do you want, sir?" The angel said, "Your prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God's attention. 5 Here's what you are to do. Send men to Joppa to get Simon, the one everyone calls Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the Tanner, whose house is down by the sea."
7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two servants and one particularly devout soldier from the guard. 8 He went over with them in great detail everything that had just happened, and then sent them off to Joppa.
9 The next day as the three travelers were approaching the town, Peter went out on the balcony to pray. It was about noon. 10 Peter got hungry and started thinking about lunch. While lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the skies open up. Something that looked like a huge blanket lowered by ropes at its four corners settled on the ground. 12 Every kind of animal and reptile and bird you could think of was on it. 13 Then a voice came: "Go to it, Peter--kill and eat."
14 Peter said, "Oh, no, Lord. I've never so much as tasted food that was not kosher."
15 The voice came a second time: "If God says it's okay, it's okay."
16 This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the skies.
17 As Peter, puzzled, sat there trying to figure out what it all meant, the men sent by Cornelius showed up at Simon's front door. 18 They called in, asking if there was a Simon, also called
Peter, staying there.
19 Peter, lost in thought, didn't hear them, so the Spirit whispered to him, "Three men are knocking at the door looking for you. 20 Get down there and go with them. Don't ask any questions. I sent them to get you."
21 Peter went down and said to the men, "I think I'm the man you're looking for. What's up?"
22 They said, "Captain Cornelius, a God-fearing man well-known for his fair play--ask any Jew in this part of the country--was commanded by a holy angel to get you and bring you to his house so he could hear what you had to say." 23 Peter invited them in and made them feel at home.
The next morning he got up and went with them. Some of his friends from Joppa went along.
God Plays No Favorites
24 A day later they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had his relatives and close friends waiting with him. 25 The minute Peter came through the door, Cornelius was up on his feet greeting him--and then down on his face worshiping him! 26 Peter pulled him up and said, "None of that--I'm a man and only a man, no different from you."
27 Talking things over, they went on into the house, where Cornelius introduced Peter to everyone who had come. 28 Peter addressed them, "You know, I'm sure that this is highly irregular. Jews just don't do this--visit and relax with people of another race. But God has just shown me that no race is better than any other. 29 So the minute I was sent for, I came, no questions asked. But now I'd like to know why you sent for me."
30 Cornelius said, "Four days ago at about this time, mid afternoon, I was home praying. Suddenly there was a man right in front of me, flooding the room with light. 31 He said, "Cornelius, your daily prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God's attention. 32I want you to send to Joppa to get Simon, the one they call Peter. He's staying with Simon the Tanner down by the sea.'
33 "So I did it--I sent for you. And you've been good enough to come. And now we're all here in God's presence, ready to listen to whatever the Master put in your heart to tell us."
34 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! 35 It makes no difference who you are or where you're from--if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. 36 The Message he sent to the children of Israel--that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again--well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone.
37 "You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. 38 Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.
39 "And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. 40 But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. 41 Not everyone saw him--he wasn't put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand--us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. 42 He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. 43 But we're not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets."
44 No sooner were these words out of Peter's mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. 45 The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on "outsider" Gentiles, 46 but there it was--they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 "Do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water? They've received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did." 48 Hearing no objections, he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then they asked Peter to stay on for a few days.
~ Lena’s Comments ~
This man was in the Greek/Roman part of the world. In it but not of it. In fact, he was involved in very worldly activities at least up to this point. Could have even been of the groups of tormentors to those who were being killed either justly or unjustly. They were taught to be unmerciful, but obviously he’d in someway been affected by Christ’s death and resurrection, enough to be seeking more of God and His ways, and desiring for others to know God also. Later on in this passage, it says he was fair in his dealings and the Jews, even that day’s journey away, knew it. His reputation preceded him.
I love this story. I see so much of Peter’s personality. His heart that stood firm to do what he’d believed was correct and righteous before God, yet so willing to change at the whisper of the voice of the Holy Spirit, and once he knew he heard that voice, he acted immediately. It didn’t take him 4 weeks to fast and pray over it, or days to seek another sign, He trusted his ability to hear God’s voice, know God’s voice and act on God’s voice, even if he was hearing something completely contrary to all he’d ever been taught and practiced. He knew the resurrection was the beginning of change, just as our acceptance of it is our time for change. He didn’t realize what amount of change that would be bringing his way, but He knew and trusted God enough to act in faith in the person of God he’d come to know rather than the words he’d studied his whole life long. Having a relationship with the person of God makes the world of difference where action is concerned. If we do not act, or if we take a lot of time to act, we need help establishing our personal relationship with God.
The very minute I was sent for, I came! Oh, how I want to be this way! Think of how much more God in us would accomplish if we responded with this sense of trust and urgency. When a person sees the Lord as clearly as Peter did, I feel they would want to do as much as they could in their lifetime for the establishing of God’s kingdom, not wanting any moment to "go to waste". The urgency of the kingdom message being delivered is that, we have no idea how much time others have here on earth and how long we would have to effectively deliver the message to them. We must seize the day by the empowerment of God’s Holy Spirit.
Acts 10
Peter's Vision
1 There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there.2 He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer.
3 One day about three o'clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God, as real as his next-door neighbor, came in and said, "Cornelius." 4 Cornelius stared hard, wondering if he was seeing things. Then he said, "What do you want, sir?" The angel said, "Your prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God's attention. 5 Here's what you are to do. Send men to Joppa to get Simon, the one everyone calls Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the Tanner, whose house is down by the sea."
7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two servants and one particularly devout soldier from the guard. 8 He went over with them in great detail everything that had just happened, and then sent them off to Joppa.
9 The next day as the three travelers were approaching the town, Peter went out on the balcony to pray. It was about noon. 10 Peter got hungry and started thinking about lunch. While lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the skies open up. Something that looked like a huge blanket lowered by ropes at its four corners settled on the ground. 12 Every kind of animal and reptile and bird you could think of was on it. 13 Then a voice came: "Go to it, Peter--kill and eat."
14 Peter said, "Oh, no, Lord. I've never so much as tasted food that was not kosher."
15 The voice came a second time: "If God says it's okay, it's okay."
16 This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the skies.
17 As Peter, puzzled, sat there trying to figure out what it all meant, the men sent by Cornelius showed up at Simon's front door. 18 They called in, asking if there was a Simon, also called
Peter, staying there.
19 Peter, lost in thought, didn't hear them, so the Spirit whispered to him, "Three men are knocking at the door looking for you. 20 Get down there and go with them. Don't ask any questions. I sent them to get you."
21 Peter went down and said to the men, "I think I'm the man you're looking for. What's up?"
22 They said, "Captain Cornelius, a God-fearing man well-known for his fair play--ask any Jew in this part of the country--was commanded by a holy angel to get you and bring you to his house so he could hear what you had to say." 23 Peter invited them in and made them feel at home.
The next morning he got up and went with them. Some of his friends from Joppa went along.
God Plays No Favorites
24 A day later they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had his relatives and close friends waiting with him. 25 The minute Peter came through the door, Cornelius was up on his feet greeting him--and then down on his face worshiping him! 26 Peter pulled him up and said, "None of that--I'm a man and only a man, no different from you."
27 Talking things over, they went on into the house, where Cornelius introduced Peter to everyone who had come. 28 Peter addressed them, "You know, I'm sure that this is highly irregular. Jews just don't do this--visit and relax with people of another race. But God has just shown me that no race is better than any other. 29 So the minute I was sent for, I came, no questions asked. But now I'd like to know why you sent for me."
30 Cornelius said, "Four days ago at about this time, mid afternoon, I was home praying. Suddenly there was a man right in front of me, flooding the room with light. 31 He said, "Cornelius, your daily prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God's attention. 32I want you to send to Joppa to get Simon, the one they call Peter. He's staying with Simon the Tanner down by the sea.'
33 "So I did it--I sent for you. And you've been good enough to come. And now we're all here in God's presence, ready to listen to whatever the Master put in your heart to tell us."
34 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! 35 It makes no difference who you are or where you're from--if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. 36 The Message he sent to the children of Israel--that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again--well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone.
37 "You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. 38 Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.
39 "And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. 40 But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. 41 Not everyone saw him--he wasn't put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand--us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. 42 He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. 43 But we're not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets."
44 No sooner were these words out of Peter's mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. 45 The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on "outsider" Gentiles, 46 but there it was--they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 "Do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water? They've received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did." 48 Hearing no objections, he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then they asked Peter to stay on for a few days.
~ Lena’s Comments ~
This man was in the Greek/Roman part of the world. In it but not of it. In fact, he was involved in very worldly activities at least up to this point. Could have even been of the groups of tormentors to those who were being killed either justly or unjustly. They were taught to be unmerciful, but obviously he’d in someway been affected by Christ’s death and resurrection, enough to be seeking more of God and His ways, and desiring for others to know God also. Later on in this passage, it says he was fair in his dealings and the Jews, even that day’s journey away, knew it. His reputation preceded him.
I love this story. I see so much of Peter’s personality. His heart that stood firm to do what he’d believed was correct and righteous before God, yet so willing to change at the whisper of the voice of the Holy Spirit, and once he knew he heard that voice, he acted immediately. It didn’t take him 4 weeks to fast and pray over it, or days to seek another sign, He trusted his ability to hear God’s voice, know God’s voice and act on God’s voice, even if he was hearing something completely contrary to all he’d ever been taught and practiced. He knew the resurrection was the beginning of change, just as our acceptance of it is our time for change. He didn’t realize what amount of change that would be bringing his way, but He knew and trusted God enough to act in faith in the person of God he’d come to know rather than the words he’d studied his whole life long. Having a relationship with the person of God makes the world of difference where action is concerned. If we do not act, or if we take a lot of time to act, we need help establishing our personal relationship with God.
The very minute I was sent for, I came! Oh, how I want to be this way! Think of how much more God in us would accomplish if we responded with this sense of trust and urgency. When a person sees the Lord as clearly as Peter did, I feel they would want to do as much as they could in their lifetime for the establishing of God’s kingdom, not wanting any moment to "go to waste". The urgency of the kingdom message being delivered is that, we have no idea how much time others have here on earth and how long we would have to effectively deliver the message to them. We must seize the day by the empowerment of God’s Holy Spirit.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread
~Today ~
1 Corinthians 2: 1 - 16
1 You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. 2 I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did - Jesus crucified. 3 I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate - I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it - 4 and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, 5 which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
6 We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it's not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. 7 God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface. It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest - what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. 8 The experts of our day haven't a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn't have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross. 9 That's why we have this Scripture text: No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it - What God has arranged for those who love him. 10 But you've seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you. 11 Who ever knows what you're thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God - except that he not only knows what he's thinking, 12 but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. 13 We don't have to rely on the world's guesses and opinions. We didn't learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we're passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way. 14 The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit - God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. 15 Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing, and can't be judged by unspiritual critics. 16 Isaiah's question, "Is there anyone around who knows God's Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?" has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ's Spirit.
The Message - This edition issued by contractual arrangement with NavPress, a division of The Navigators, U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002-2003 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved
~Lena’s Comments~
We do not have to talk people into getting saved. We pray to God and receive our instructions from what is beating in His heart, we act out of a willing, open, obedient heart of faith towards Him, That He guides our steps and pathways and lays out the course of our daily meetings for us. Then we are as bold as we are willing to be with His words. If we are willing and obedient we will have fruit enough to eat. God will do the work of growing the seeds planted, watered, weeded, etc. We must give Him an offering from our lives, something to work with and on. If we do not speak, He’ll have nothing.
What a beautiful translation this is, How clear it makes the word, all on it’s own. I encourage you to meditate on it, chew on a few of these passages a bit. I like how he hints to us digging deeper, going back to our roots of purpose and the simplicity of the gospel’s message. That last verse is awesome. Christ knows all things of God and we now have His Spirit alive in us! Amen
1 Corinthians 2: 1 - 16
1 You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. 2 I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did - Jesus crucified. 3 I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate - I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it - 4 and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, 5 which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
6 We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it's not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. 7 God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface. It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest - what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. 8 The experts of our day haven't a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn't have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross. 9 That's why we have this Scripture text: No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it - What God has arranged for those who love him. 10 But you've seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you. 11 Who ever knows what you're thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God - except that he not only knows what he's thinking, 12 but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. 13 We don't have to rely on the world's guesses and opinions. We didn't learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we're passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way. 14 The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit - God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. 15 Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing, and can't be judged by unspiritual critics. 16 Isaiah's question, "Is there anyone around who knows God's Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?" has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ's Spirit.
The Message - This edition issued by contractual arrangement with NavPress, a division of The Navigators, U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002-2003 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved
~Lena’s Comments~
We do not have to talk people into getting saved. We pray to God and receive our instructions from what is beating in His heart, we act out of a willing, open, obedient heart of faith towards Him, That He guides our steps and pathways and lays out the course of our daily meetings for us. Then we are as bold as we are willing to be with His words. If we are willing and obedient we will have fruit enough to eat. God will do the work of growing the seeds planted, watered, weeded, etc. We must give Him an offering from our lives, something to work with and on. If we do not speak, He’ll have nothing.
What a beautiful translation this is, How clear it makes the word, all on it’s own. I encourage you to meditate on it, chew on a few of these passages a bit. I like how he hints to us digging deeper, going back to our roots of purpose and the simplicity of the gospel’s message. That last verse is awesome. Christ knows all things of God and we now have His Spirit alive in us! Amen
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread
~Today~
John 13: 1 - 38
1 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end.
2 It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God...4 So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron..5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. 6 When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." 8 Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet - ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." 9 "Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" 10 Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." 11 (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") 12 After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. 13 You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. 14 So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. 15 I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. 16 I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. 17 If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it - and live a blessed life. 18 "I'm not including all of you in this. I know precisely whom I've selected, so as not to interfere with the fulfillment of this Scripture: The one who ate bread at my table Turned on his heel against me. 19 "I'm telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am. 20 Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me."
21 After he said these things, Jesus became visibly upset, and then he told them why. "One of you is going to betray me." 22 The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth he was talking about. 23 One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder. 24 Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus might be talking about. 25 So, being the closest, he said, "Master, who?" 26 Jesus said, "The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I've dipped it." Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. 27 As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him. "What you must do," said Jesus, "do. Do it and get it over with." 28 No one around the supper table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the Feast, or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Judas, with the piece of bread, left. It was night.
31 When he had left, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, 32 God's glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified - glory all around! 33 "Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I'm telling you: 'Where I go, you are not able to come.' 34 "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. 35 This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other."
36 Simon Peter asked, "Master, just where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't now follow me where I'm going. You will follow later." 37 "Master," said Peter, "why can't I follow now? I'll lay down my life for you!" 38 "Really? You'll lay down your life for me? The truth is that before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times."
The Message - This edition issued by contractual arrangement with NavPress, a division of The Navigators, U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002-2003 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved
~ Lena’s Comments ~
This same mind which was in Christ Jesus should be in you*** How awesomely symbolic this changing of garments was! He knew who He was; yet he decided to be a servant anyway, rather than fighting flesh and blood, He fought all hell and won all earth with humility. Maybe if we see ourselves in the light of servant-hood, it will keep us from judging and being prideful and bossy, our motivation will stay love through service.
These guys could have wondered who would take the lead when Jesus was gone, who would ascend this ladder of rank within their group. Jesus wanted all of them to humble themselves, even unto death for one another, as He would continue to show them in what He was about to unfold for them.
***Philippians 2:1-11 (where that scripture was from)
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This part about recieving others is so pertinent to how we think all of the time. Who has Jesus sent? Only Pastors, and Evangelists and maybe Sunday school Teachers? No, God has sent each and every Christian who is diligently seeking Him, some as seed planters, messengers, givers, harvesters etc. He said if we receive these He ‘s sent, we receive Him. It reminds me of the ones we were willing to feed, and clothe, as though we are feeding and clothing Him. He’s showing us ways to keep ourselves from being the ones who would someday be used of satan to betray Him or anyone else.
-The disciples had committed to following Jesus.
-He was there to lead them.
-He was leading them to take His place on the earth, not follow Him to heaven- not yet.
-He had His time on earth, then His time to be in heaven.
-We have that same time appointed to us.
-Our time on earth is not to be spent only finding God and then dying. No, it is to find God and live for Him, in ministering to others as Jesus is outlining here when He says love and serve one another. They spent time learning about Him, learning to trust Him, and then demonstrating that trust by following Him.
-His love drew them to these places of decision, of seeking after, of relying on, and of trusting.
-Their love would do the same for others, if they would do and be who he had now left them here to be.
-We are His reflection in the earth.
-The reflection of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
The wayyyy cool thing is/was that instead of their being only one picture of God running around the earth, there would now be 100’s and thousands and, millions, and Billions!
-THAT was/is God’s idea, goal and plan.
-We are the ones fulfilling it by the act of our own free will.
John 13: 1 - 38
1 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end.
2 It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God...4 So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron..5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. 6 When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." 8 Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet - ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." 9 "Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" 10 Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." 11 (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") 12 After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. 13 You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. 14 So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. 15 I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. 16 I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. 17 If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it - and live a blessed life. 18 "I'm not including all of you in this. I know precisely whom I've selected, so as not to interfere with the fulfillment of this Scripture: The one who ate bread at my table Turned on his heel against me. 19 "I'm telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am. 20 Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me."
21 After he said these things, Jesus became visibly upset, and then he told them why. "One of you is going to betray me." 22 The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth he was talking about. 23 One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder. 24 Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus might be talking about. 25 So, being the closest, he said, "Master, who?" 26 Jesus said, "The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I've dipped it." Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. 27 As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him. "What you must do," said Jesus, "do. Do it and get it over with." 28 No one around the supper table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the Feast, or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Judas, with the piece of bread, left. It was night.
31 When he had left, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, 32 God's glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified - glory all around! 33 "Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I'm telling you: 'Where I go, you are not able to come.' 34 "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. 35 This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other."
36 Simon Peter asked, "Master, just where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't now follow me where I'm going. You will follow later." 37 "Master," said Peter, "why can't I follow now? I'll lay down my life for you!" 38 "Really? You'll lay down your life for me? The truth is that before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times."
The Message - This edition issued by contractual arrangement with NavPress, a division of The Navigators, U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002-2003 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved
~ Lena’s Comments ~
This same mind which was in Christ Jesus should be in you*** How awesomely symbolic this changing of garments was! He knew who He was; yet he decided to be a servant anyway, rather than fighting flesh and blood, He fought all hell and won all earth with humility. Maybe if we see ourselves in the light of servant-hood, it will keep us from judging and being prideful and bossy, our motivation will stay love through service.
These guys could have wondered who would take the lead when Jesus was gone, who would ascend this ladder of rank within their group. Jesus wanted all of them to humble themselves, even unto death for one another, as He would continue to show them in what He was about to unfold for them.
***Philippians 2:1-11 (where that scripture was from)
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This part about recieving others is so pertinent to how we think all of the time. Who has Jesus sent? Only Pastors, and Evangelists and maybe Sunday school Teachers? No, God has sent each and every Christian who is diligently seeking Him, some as seed planters, messengers, givers, harvesters etc. He said if we receive these He ‘s sent, we receive Him. It reminds me of the ones we were willing to feed, and clothe, as though we are feeding and clothing Him. He’s showing us ways to keep ourselves from being the ones who would someday be used of satan to betray Him or anyone else.
-The disciples had committed to following Jesus.
-He was there to lead them.
-He was leading them to take His place on the earth, not follow Him to heaven- not yet.
-He had His time on earth, then His time to be in heaven.
-We have that same time appointed to us.
-Our time on earth is not to be spent only finding God and then dying. No, it is to find God and live for Him, in ministering to others as Jesus is outlining here when He says love and serve one another. They spent time learning about Him, learning to trust Him, and then demonstrating that trust by following Him.
-His love drew them to these places of decision, of seeking after, of relying on, and of trusting.
-Their love would do the same for others, if they would do and be who he had now left them here to be.
-We are His reflection in the earth.
-The reflection of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
The wayyyy cool thing is/was that instead of their being only one picture of God running around the earth, there would now be 100’s and thousands and, millions, and Billions!
-THAT was/is God’s idea, goal and plan.
-We are the ones fulfilling it by the act of our own free will.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread
~Today~
John 1: 1 - 18
1 In the beginning there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were made by him, and nothing was made without him. 4 In him there was life, and that life was the light of all people.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it. 6 There was a man named Johnn who was sent by God. 7 He came to tell people the truth about the Light so that through him all people could hear about the Light and believe. 8 John was not the Light, but he came to tell people the truth about the Light. 9 The true Light that gives light to all was coming into the world! 10 The Word was in the world, and the world was made by him, but the world did not know him. 11 He came to the world that was his own, but his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They did not become his children in any human way -- by any human parents or human desire. They were born of God. 14 The Word became a human and lived among us. We saw his glory -- the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father -- and he was full of grace and truth.
15 John tells the truth about him and cries out, saying, "This is the One I told you about: 'The One who comes after me is greater than I am, because he was living before me.'" 16 Because he was full of grace and truth, from him we all received one gift after another. 17 The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But God the only Son is very close to the Father, and he has shown us what God is like.
New Century Version
New Century Version © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing,a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission
John 3:1-10
1 There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. 2 Late one night he visited Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it." 3 Jesus said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to - to God's kingdom." 4 "How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born-from-above' talk?" 5 Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me say it again.
Unless a person submits to this original creation - the 'wind hovering over the water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life - it's not possible to enter God's kingdom. 6 When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch - the Spirit - and becomes a living spirit. 7 "So don't be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be 'born from above' - out of this world, so to speak. 8 You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it's headed next. That's the way it is with everyone 'born from above' by the wind of God, the Spirit of God." 9 Nicodemus asked, "What do you mean by this? How does this happen?" 10 Jesus said, "You're a respected teacher of Israel and you don't know these basics?
16-18
16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002-2003 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Comments ~
Note The WORD IS a person, as we will see The Person of Jesus Christ! Whenever you read the word "Word" now in scripture, think – Person/Jesus Christ! You’ll see "The Word" in a greater light J
Are we also "religious" teachers? Ones who serve in Sunday school or ones who believe in God, but live as we wish to live, adding Godly activities into our lives every once in a while? This guy gave His life for the teaching of the scriptures, but did not have God’s Spirit in Him and Did NOT know God. He only knew the written down on paper words, he did not know the person- Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ wants to tell him what to do with the written down words and live them in everyday life, by loving rather than judging people by "the word". Without God’s Spirit, we are led by our own human spirits and we are led wrongly if we do not place our lives in Christ’s Body where the Word we hear is fine-tuned and clearly defined for us regularly.
THIS is such a serious passage of scripture and the enemy knows it, so he has even caused the world and every church member to recite it, knowing that reciting it is not understanding or seeing it. One cannot see it without having God’s Spirit alive inside of Him, So the whole world practically "knows" this, but do they really know it? Do they know and realize and participate in its message?
THIS IS the message of the GOSPEL –
God created Adam & Eve and placed them as rulers in the earth, to tend the earth and keep it safe, to rule over any enemies of God’s Spirit….
When Adam decided to give his life’s and the earth’s rule over to satan by eating from the tree God told him not to eat of, (the tree that satan talked him into eating of) God told Adam the he’d have to die. (Genesis 1:17) This was the death sentence that would have to be executed on mankind. The death was of an eternal nature; it was dying an eternal death in comparison to living an eternal life, which is what Adam and Eve were created to live in. Man began to die naturally as a result and an effect of the spiritual death happening. BUT the worst part of it was without trying very very hard to obey God and His commands, he’d die eternally where he’d be separated from God’s mercy and any chance of redemption, forever! There were laws set in order (read Deuteronomy for an example) to show man how impossible it would be to obey God on his own strength and with his own will. It showed man his need for help, his need for a Savior and a way out of this mess. In fact, the penalty was really great and it would take a whole lot to be able to pay sin’s price tag and wage. Thus Rom 6:23 The wages of sin are death (of an eternal nature) and the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord! & John 3:16-18 again sum it ALL up for us. 16 This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
The good news is we do not have to die that eternal death that our sin’s penalty required of us, Jesus stepped in and did this for us, instead of us. God gave us the Savior we needed to help us do what we could not do on our own strength. The only strong thing we need to do is decide to follow after God’s Plan that He unfolded through His Son Jesus, by giving our lives in exchange for His. He isn’t asking us to die an excruciating death of torment and torture on a cross, as he did. He is asking us to choose Him and walk with Him, and help bring this gospel to anyone who will hear and accept it, that they too could receive salvation. It is about giving our living days over to His mission to save the world, not about dying and leaving the world unsaved.
John 1: 1 - 18
1 In the beginning there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were made by him, and nothing was made without him. 4 In him there was life, and that life was the light of all people.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it. 6 There was a man named Johnn who was sent by God. 7 He came to tell people the truth about the Light so that through him all people could hear about the Light and believe. 8 John was not the Light, but he came to tell people the truth about the Light. 9 The true Light that gives light to all was coming into the world! 10 The Word was in the world, and the world was made by him, but the world did not know him. 11 He came to the world that was his own, but his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They did not become his children in any human way -- by any human parents or human desire. They were born of God. 14 The Word became a human and lived among us. We saw his glory -- the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father -- and he was full of grace and truth.
15 John tells the truth about him and cries out, saying, "This is the One I told you about: 'The One who comes after me is greater than I am, because he was living before me.'" 16 Because he was full of grace and truth, from him we all received one gift after another. 17 The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But God the only Son is very close to the Father, and he has shown us what God is like.
New Century Version
New Century Version © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing,a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission
John 3:1-10
1 There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. 2 Late one night he visited Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it." 3 Jesus said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to - to God's kingdom." 4 "How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born-from-above' talk?" 5 Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me say it again.
Unless a person submits to this original creation - the 'wind hovering over the water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life - it's not possible to enter God's kingdom. 6 When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch - the Spirit - and becomes a living spirit. 7 "So don't be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be 'born from above' - out of this world, so to speak. 8 You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it's headed next. That's the way it is with everyone 'born from above' by the wind of God, the Spirit of God." 9 Nicodemus asked, "What do you mean by this? How does this happen?" 10 Jesus said, "You're a respected teacher of Israel and you don't know these basics?
16-18
16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002-2003 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Comments ~
Note The WORD IS a person, as we will see The Person of Jesus Christ! Whenever you read the word "Word" now in scripture, think – Person/Jesus Christ! You’ll see "The Word" in a greater light J
Are we also "religious" teachers? Ones who serve in Sunday school or ones who believe in God, but live as we wish to live, adding Godly activities into our lives every once in a while? This guy gave His life for the teaching of the scriptures, but did not have God’s Spirit in Him and Did NOT know God. He only knew the written down on paper words, he did not know the person- Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ wants to tell him what to do with the written down words and live them in everyday life, by loving rather than judging people by "the word". Without God’s Spirit, we are led by our own human spirits and we are led wrongly if we do not place our lives in Christ’s Body where the Word we hear is fine-tuned and clearly defined for us regularly.
THIS is such a serious passage of scripture and the enemy knows it, so he has even caused the world and every church member to recite it, knowing that reciting it is not understanding or seeing it. One cannot see it without having God’s Spirit alive inside of Him, So the whole world practically "knows" this, but do they really know it? Do they know and realize and participate in its message?
THIS IS the message of the GOSPEL –
God created Adam & Eve and placed them as rulers in the earth, to tend the earth and keep it safe, to rule over any enemies of God’s Spirit….
When Adam decided to give his life’s and the earth’s rule over to satan by eating from the tree God told him not to eat of, (the tree that satan talked him into eating of) God told Adam the he’d have to die. (Genesis 1:17) This was the death sentence that would have to be executed on mankind. The death was of an eternal nature; it was dying an eternal death in comparison to living an eternal life, which is what Adam and Eve were created to live in. Man began to die naturally as a result and an effect of the spiritual death happening. BUT the worst part of it was without trying very very hard to obey God and His commands, he’d die eternally where he’d be separated from God’s mercy and any chance of redemption, forever! There were laws set in order (read Deuteronomy for an example) to show man how impossible it would be to obey God on his own strength and with his own will. It showed man his need for help, his need for a Savior and a way out of this mess. In fact, the penalty was really great and it would take a whole lot to be able to pay sin’s price tag and wage. Thus Rom 6:23 The wages of sin are death (of an eternal nature) and the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord! & John 3:16-18 again sum it ALL up for us. 16 This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
The good news is we do not have to die that eternal death that our sin’s penalty required of us, Jesus stepped in and did this for us, instead of us. God gave us the Savior we needed to help us do what we could not do on our own strength. The only strong thing we need to do is decide to follow after God’s Plan that He unfolded through His Son Jesus, by giving our lives in exchange for His. He isn’t asking us to die an excruciating death of torment and torture on a cross, as he did. He is asking us to choose Him and walk with Him, and help bring this gospel to anyone who will hear and accept it, that they too could receive salvation. It is about giving our living days over to His mission to save the world, not about dying and leaving the world unsaved.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread
~ Today ~
Matthew 25: 1 - 46
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn't take oil with them. 4 But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "In the middle of the night there was a shout: 'Here's the groom! Come out to meet him.' 7 "Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' 9 "The sensible ones answered, 'No, there won't be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.' 10 "When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 "Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, 'Master, master, open up for us!' 12 "But he replied, ' I assure you: I do not know you!' 13 "Therefore be alert, because you don't know either the day or the hour.
14 "For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one--to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. 19 "After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I've earned five more talents.' 21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter your master's joy!' 22 "Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I've earned two more talents.' 23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter your master's joy!' 24 "Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, 'Master, I know you. You're a difficult man, reaping where you haven't sown and gathering where you haven't scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.' 26 "But his master replied to him, 'You evil, lazy slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven't sown and gather where I haven't scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest. 28 "'So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?' 40 "And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.' 41 Then He will also say to those on the left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you didn't take Me in; I was naked and you didn't clothe Me, sick and in prison and you didn't take care of Me.' 44 "Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?' 45 "Then He will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.' 46 "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
The Holman Christian Standard Bible
~Lena’s Comments~
I was doing this scripture in our 5th – 8th Grade Bible Classes. The Curriculum said that it was a custom of the young maidens-In-waiting to serve the happy couple and show their enthusiasm in welcoming the bridegroom, and it was, as a payment of respect to the family, to be ready when the bridegroom was to arrive no matter the time of day or night. These girls were to act as "street lights" to this bridegroom, lighting His way to His new bride and or their new home. Isn’t that cool? Out of the ordinary that they’d want to take the time to use unusual hospitality and go way out of their way to welcome someone into the family. They knew one day someone else would do the same for them. I can see the eagerness from a true heart of love and genuine interest being able to be expressed, or a half-hearted, "so what if he comes he comes", kind of thing, where there’s not a whole lot of thought or true love expressed. The general feeling could have been one of, "well It’s your wedding, not mine, what’s the big deal anyway?"
We can’t act like we know Him now, acting as though we’ll do something for Him, when it gets closer to His "coming", and somehow put off for a later time what He’s been asking us to do from the beginning. At some point in time it will be too late.
When I read this parable of the talents a few key words stand out to me- the response was Immediate, at least the response of the obedient heart, The heart after the masters heart. The faithful heart’s response was immediate. Because the response was immediate, so was the produce of the labor! Another thing I noticed was they were called slaves (in this translation)- even when they were faithful laborers, until they had something in their hand to turn over to Him and give Him a literal account for/of. He gave them what it was they needed in their hands to Do His commands. He enabled them, provided for them.
I saw this differently last month and that is still with me. This story is not about natural hunger and thirst and clothing. It is about people who are hungering for the Gospel message and also for a drink of living water that will stay with them forever, for God’s Spirit to be made alive in them, and to no longer be uncovered in their own righteousness, which will never get them anywhere with God.
Also for people who say they are Christians, to never do this for anyone is such an eternal deception. How can any of us really be saved when we are not willing to give the message, the living message in daily example in our lives, given as offerings to God and others. For us to think we are "saved" and live our lives only for us, is going to be quite the shocker when we stand before God and He says…..something like- as much as you did to these you did to Me also! For our and God’s enemy to have us think this is about feeding the homeless, and working the Thrift Store shift or donating clothes to poor people is such a rip off for the world. They are missing out on oh so much. If we do this thinking it is our Christian duty to do so, we are missing oh so much. Go ahead and feed homeless, but pour your life into one man enough to change his life forever as you plant the image of Christ in Him. Clothe poor folks, but leave an eternal impression upon them as you do it, because you love them as people that God Our Father loves. If you leave your clothes at the Good Will box, you’ve left no lasting impact on anyone, you’ve done your religious duty and you alone are satisfied. He’s not, He’s still hungry, thirsty, naked and homeless! Jesus, that is.
Matthew 25: 1 - 46
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn't take oil with them. 4 But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "In the middle of the night there was a shout: 'Here's the groom! Come out to meet him.' 7 "Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' 9 "The sensible ones answered, 'No, there won't be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.' 10 "When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 "Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, 'Master, master, open up for us!' 12 "But he replied, ' I assure you: I do not know you!' 13 "Therefore be alert, because you don't know either the day or the hour.
14 "For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one--to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. 19 "After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I've earned five more talents.' 21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter your master's joy!' 22 "Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I've earned two more talents.' 23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter your master's joy!' 24 "Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, 'Master, I know you. You're a difficult man, reaping where you haven't sown and gathering where you haven't scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.' 26 "But his master replied to him, 'You evil, lazy slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven't sown and gather where I haven't scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest. 28 "'So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?' 40 "And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.' 41 Then He will also say to those on the left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you didn't take Me in; I was naked and you didn't clothe Me, sick and in prison and you didn't take care of Me.' 44 "Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?' 45 "Then He will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.' 46 "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
The Holman Christian Standard Bible
~Lena’s Comments~
I was doing this scripture in our 5th – 8th Grade Bible Classes. The Curriculum said that it was a custom of the young maidens-In-waiting to serve the happy couple and show their enthusiasm in welcoming the bridegroom, and it was, as a payment of respect to the family, to be ready when the bridegroom was to arrive no matter the time of day or night. These girls were to act as "street lights" to this bridegroom, lighting His way to His new bride and or their new home. Isn’t that cool? Out of the ordinary that they’d want to take the time to use unusual hospitality and go way out of their way to welcome someone into the family. They knew one day someone else would do the same for them. I can see the eagerness from a true heart of love and genuine interest being able to be expressed, or a half-hearted, "so what if he comes he comes", kind of thing, where there’s not a whole lot of thought or true love expressed. The general feeling could have been one of, "well It’s your wedding, not mine, what’s the big deal anyway?"
We can’t act like we know Him now, acting as though we’ll do something for Him, when it gets closer to His "coming", and somehow put off for a later time what He’s been asking us to do from the beginning. At some point in time it will be too late.
When I read this parable of the talents a few key words stand out to me- the response was Immediate, at least the response of the obedient heart, The heart after the masters heart. The faithful heart’s response was immediate. Because the response was immediate, so was the produce of the labor! Another thing I noticed was they were called slaves (in this translation)- even when they were faithful laborers, until they had something in their hand to turn over to Him and give Him a literal account for/of. He gave them what it was they needed in their hands to Do His commands. He enabled them, provided for them.
I saw this differently last month and that is still with me. This story is not about natural hunger and thirst and clothing. It is about people who are hungering for the Gospel message and also for a drink of living water that will stay with them forever, for God’s Spirit to be made alive in them, and to no longer be uncovered in their own righteousness, which will never get them anywhere with God.
Also for people who say they are Christians, to never do this for anyone is such an eternal deception. How can any of us really be saved when we are not willing to give the message, the living message in daily example in our lives, given as offerings to God and others. For us to think we are "saved" and live our lives only for us, is going to be quite the shocker when we stand before God and He says…..something like- as much as you did to these you did to Me also! For our and God’s enemy to have us think this is about feeding the homeless, and working the Thrift Store shift or donating clothes to poor people is such a rip off for the world. They are missing out on oh so much. If we do this thinking it is our Christian duty to do so, we are missing oh so much. Go ahead and feed homeless, but pour your life into one man enough to change his life forever as you plant the image of Christ in Him. Clothe poor folks, but leave an eternal impression upon them as you do it, because you love them as people that God Our Father loves. If you leave your clothes at the Good Will box, you’ve left no lasting impact on anyone, you’ve done your religious duty and you alone are satisfied. He’s not, He’s still hungry, thirsty, naked and homeless! Jesus, that is.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread
~Everyday~
1 Corinthians 10:3-4
3And all [of them] ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food,(A)
4And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Christ.(B)
John 17:8
8For the [uttered] words that You gave Me I have given them; and they have received and accepted [them] and have come to know positively and in reality [to believe with absolute assurance] that I came forth from Your presence, and they have believed and are convinced that You did send Me.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
~Today~
Matthew 20: 1 - 34
1 "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage F108 and sent them out to work. 3 "At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 At noon and again around three o'clock he did the same thing. 6 At five o'clock that evening he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, 'Why haven't you been working today?' 7 "They replied, 'Because no one hired us.'"The owner of the estate told them, 'Then go on out and join the others in my vineyard.' 8 "That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. 10 When those hired earlier came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested, 12 'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.' 13 "He answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take it and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be angry because I am kind?' 16 "And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then."
17 As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 "When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead."
20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 "What is your request?" he asked. She replied, "In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one at your right and the other at your left?" 22 But Jesus told them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I am about to drink?" "Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!" 23 "You will indeed drink from it," he told them. "But I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to mine. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen." 24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. 26 But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. 28 For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."
29 As Jesus and the disciples left the city of Jericho, a huge crowd followed behind. 30 Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 31 The crowd told them to be quiet, but they only shouted louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 32 Jesus stopped in the road and called, "What do you want me to do for you?" 33 "Lord," they said, "we want to see!" 34 Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
FOOTNOTES:F108: Greek a denarius, the payment for a full day's labor; also in 20:9, 10, 13.
The New Living Translation
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Lena's Comments ~
God has purposed, is purposing and will purpose to bring laborers into His harvest field. He paid the same price for all to work it. It was worth it to Him to pay that price, that we would find our purpose, live our purpose and be rewarded for that purpose. We have looked at this from such a self-centered view, What if we see it from the Employer’s perspective. The field is the world, the people of earth who need to be saved out of the punishment of sin, where they are doomed for eternal darkness. He has been asking for laborers, who will do the work, because He has paid the high price for this field with His own sweat and blood. He is now asking us to work in it and will continue to ask, as long as there is still time. Do we see what is in it for us? Or what is in it for others? Or what is in it for Him! UNTO HIMN shall the gathering of the people be. May it be so, and may I be a part as long as I have time to be!
Notice in the very next verses 17- He starts to show the price He was willing to pay for this field. It is ALL about giving, giving of one’s life so that others may have eternal life with God, rather than eternal death and torment with satan. Jesus was demonstrating to His disciples how precious people are to His Father and to Him. How high a price He is/was willing to pay for their souls and their rescue out of the worst place they could ever go, if He was not willing to pay this price, how could he ask us to? But He was willing and is willing that none would perish. That’s what the parable of the Vineyard is about. The enemy does not want us to see the serious magnitude of this, he wants us in denial of what really is and will be. He wants us to stay selfish and be self seeking, rather than God and people seeking. I keep this before my eyes daily so I keep centered on what is real, what is true – Love God #1 & Love People #2.
One more point to ponder- He bought this field with His blood. He paid its price and now owns it. How can we think we own it is a way that we use and abuse it however we want? How can we think we are our own employers aside from His will? How can we even run businesses here aside from His purposes? NO, we have seen this picture misconstrued. We ARE His workers, in HIS field. Even our jobs were designed for this! When we find ourselves in a place of hiring others…think about all of that.
1 Corinthians 10:3-4
3And all [of them] ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food,(A)
4And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Christ.(B)
John 17:8
8For the [uttered] words that You gave Me I have given them; and they have received and accepted [them] and have come to know positively and in reality [to believe with absolute assurance] that I came forth from Your presence, and they have believed and are convinced that You did send Me.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
~Today~
Matthew 20: 1 - 34
1 "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage F108 and sent them out to work. 3 "At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 At noon and again around three o'clock he did the same thing. 6 At five o'clock that evening he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, 'Why haven't you been working today?' 7 "They replied, 'Because no one hired us.'"The owner of the estate told them, 'Then go on out and join the others in my vineyard.' 8 "That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. 10 When those hired earlier came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested, 12 'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.' 13 "He answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take it and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be angry because I am kind?' 16 "And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then."
17 As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 "When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead."
20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 "What is your request?" he asked. She replied, "In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one at your right and the other at your left?" 22 But Jesus told them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I am about to drink?" "Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!" 23 "You will indeed drink from it," he told them. "But I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to mine. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen." 24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. 26 But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. 28 For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."
29 As Jesus and the disciples left the city of Jericho, a huge crowd followed behind. 30 Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 31 The crowd told them to be quiet, but they only shouted louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 32 Jesus stopped in the road and called, "What do you want me to do for you?" 33 "Lord," they said, "we want to see!" 34 Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
FOOTNOTES:F108: Greek a denarius, the payment for a full day's labor; also in 20:9, 10, 13.
The New Living Translation
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Lena's Comments ~
God has purposed, is purposing and will purpose to bring laborers into His harvest field. He paid the same price for all to work it. It was worth it to Him to pay that price, that we would find our purpose, live our purpose and be rewarded for that purpose. We have looked at this from such a self-centered view, What if we see it from the Employer’s perspective. The field is the world, the people of earth who need to be saved out of the punishment of sin, where they are doomed for eternal darkness. He has been asking for laborers, who will do the work, because He has paid the high price for this field with His own sweat and blood. He is now asking us to work in it and will continue to ask, as long as there is still time. Do we see what is in it for us? Or what is in it for others? Or what is in it for Him! UNTO HIMN shall the gathering of the people be. May it be so, and may I be a part as long as I have time to be!
Notice in the very next verses 17- He starts to show the price He was willing to pay for this field. It is ALL about giving, giving of one’s life so that others may have eternal life with God, rather than eternal death and torment with satan. Jesus was demonstrating to His disciples how precious people are to His Father and to Him. How high a price He is/was willing to pay for their souls and their rescue out of the worst place they could ever go, if He was not willing to pay this price, how could he ask us to? But He was willing and is willing that none would perish. That’s what the parable of the Vineyard is about. The enemy does not want us to see the serious magnitude of this, he wants us in denial of what really is and will be. He wants us to stay selfish and be self seeking, rather than God and people seeking. I keep this before my eyes daily so I keep centered on what is real, what is true – Love God #1 & Love People #2.
One more point to ponder- He bought this field with His blood. He paid its price and now owns it. How can we think we own it is a way that we use and abuse it however we want? How can we think we are our own employers aside from His will? How can we even run businesses here aside from His purposes? NO, we have seen this picture misconstrued. We ARE His workers, in HIS field. Even our jobs were designed for this! When we find ourselves in a place of hiring others…think about all of that.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Matthew 13
~Everyday’s Portion ~
John 17:8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
1 Corinthians 10:3 -4
3 And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4 and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
FOOTNOTES:F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4.
~ Today’s Portion ~
Lena’s Comments in other color…..
Matthew 13: 1 - 58
1 Later that same day, Jesus left the house and went down to the shore, 2 where an immense crowd soon gathered. He got into a boat, where he sat and taught as the people listened on the shore.
3 He told many stories such as this one: "A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plants sprang up quickly, 6 but they soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades. 8 But some seeds fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted. 9 Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"
10 His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you always tell stories when you talk to the people?" 11 Then he explained to them, "You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. 12 To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them. The very principle he is teaching here applies to what He is also saying here. If we do not go forth to purposely get it, we will lose it.
13 That is why I tell these stories, because people see what I do, but they don't really see. They hear what I say, but they don't really hear, and they don't understand. 14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: 'You will hear my words, but you will not understand; you will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning. 15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes – so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' F73
ONLY God’s word will heal all of the mental anguish we have gone through in life. If we do not hear His words we will not be healed, if we are not healed, we will have no lasting changes happening in our lives and we will never be an example of the hope of the gospel for other hurting people. The enemy will be able to tell people untruths, such as God does not want you healed, God does not love you, etc. The truth of the word will set us free from these lying spirits and their influences. This is why the enemy wants us to not hear or listen. He knows how to put the muzzle on God’s only true witnesses in the earth who are here to free the groaning earth from it’s pain and suffering.
16 "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I assure you, many prophets and godly people have longed to see and hear what you have seen and heard, but they could not.
18 "Now here is the explanation of the story I told about the farmer sowing grain: 19 The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the Good News about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the seed away from their hearts. 20 The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy. 21 But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word.
We must know well that we will suffer persecution for the word’s sake. There is a spiritual battle going on for the souls of men and women. The word will change the lives of men and women. If the word is given and yet stolen there will be no change, so the enemy would be ok with us actually hearing the word if we could hear it and it would not be able to effect a change in us.
How can that happen? We do not immediately guard it and deliberately keep it safe. We are not admitting it can be taken from us, we’ve been ignorant of the devices of the evil realm and its war against God and those who have the potential to be like Him in the earth. Our enemy knows we were destined to be like God and effect change in the earthly realm. If we allow him to steal the word, change will NOT come. BUTTTTT if we know this, listen to and do the word, apply it to our own lives, sink our faith into it, guard it from the thieves and keep it safe, we will be changed by it and it will begin to have an effect on our earth wherever we are at, wherever we live, for whomever we know, etc. That is a definite threat to the dark forces, set up to see to it there is no change!
22 The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced.
How does the "lure" of wealth apply to all of this? Simply, it is pulling on you, calling you to spend your time seeking after it, it wants you to give your life over to its service, and it also wants your complete attention. If it gets that it gets you and takes you away from learning and participating in more of what God has for you to do. This is why the word says seek God 1st and all of the rest will be added to you by God. When we are lured by $, we have no time for God, when we are lured by God we get $ anyway. It is the miraculous fruit of a faith filled life.
23 The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God's message and produce a huge harvest – thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted."
Once we get all of these things, becoming aware of their power over our lives and if we take back the power God gives us to live a life unto Him; we will find multiplication happening all around us. No longer will we be being stolen from (subtraction and division) or just making it day to day (addition) But we will be multiplying the kingdom of God in the earth right where we live!
24 Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as everyone slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat. 26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. 27 The farmer's servants came and told him, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!' 28 "'An enemy has done it!' the farmer exclaimed .'Shall we pull out the weeds?' they asked. 29 "He replied, 'No, you'll hurt the wheat if you do. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn.'"
Do NOT be decieved into thinking God has made things so hard or that God uses evil to teach us etc. This is such a lie. It is AN enemy who has done this, NOT God.
31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter in its branches." Multiplication again!
33 Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though she used a large amount F74 of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough."
34 Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. 35 This fulfilled the prophecy that said, "I will speak to you in parables. I will explain mysteries hidden since the creation of the world." F75
36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, "Please explain the story of the weeds in the field." 37 "All right," he said. "I, the Son of Man, am the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 [The field is the world], and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels. 40 "Just as the weeds are separated out and burned, so it will be at the end of the world. 41 I, the Son of Man, will send my angels, and they will remove from my Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace and burn them. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the godly will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!
Have you ever had the thought that the weeping and gnashing of teeth comes from Saints who are watching judgment, and now realize in full light the severity and infinite nature of judgment being executed on those they maybe knew of or maybe had some sort of opportunity to share the kingdom with, but did not for some impertinent reason?
44 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field – and to get the treasure, too!
45 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
What causes a person to sell all he has and give all he is over to something or someone? He realizes the eternity involved in the matter, he sees the price that was already paid, and he knows the consequences and is willing to bring the message of freedom to captives.
47 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that is thrown into the water and gathers fish of every kind. 48 When the net is full, they drag it up onto the shore, sit down, sort the good fish into crates, and throw the bad ones away. 49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the godly, 50 throwing the wicked into the fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 Do you understand?" "Yes," they said, "we do." 52 Then he added, "Every teacher of religious law who has become a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a person who brings out of the storehouse the new teachings as well as the old."
53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories, he left that part of the country. 54 He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was astonished and said, "Where does he get his wisdom and his miracles? 55 He's just a carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers – James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All his sisters live right here among us. What makes him so great?" 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family." 58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
FOOTNOTES:F73: Isa 6:9-10. F74: Greek 3 measures. F75: Ps 78:2.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
John 17:8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
1 Corinthians 10:3 -4
3 And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4 and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
FOOTNOTES:F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4.
~ Today’s Portion ~
Lena’s Comments in other color…..
Matthew 13: 1 - 58
1 Later that same day, Jesus left the house and went down to the shore, 2 where an immense crowd soon gathered. He got into a boat, where he sat and taught as the people listened on the shore.
3 He told many stories such as this one: "A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plants sprang up quickly, 6 but they soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades. 8 But some seeds fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted. 9 Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"
10 His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you always tell stories when you talk to the people?" 11 Then he explained to them, "You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. 12 To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them. The very principle he is teaching here applies to what He is also saying here. If we do not go forth to purposely get it, we will lose it.
13 That is why I tell these stories, because people see what I do, but they don't really see. They hear what I say, but they don't really hear, and they don't understand. 14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: 'You will hear my words, but you will not understand; you will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning. 15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes – so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' F73
ONLY God’s word will heal all of the mental anguish we have gone through in life. If we do not hear His words we will not be healed, if we are not healed, we will have no lasting changes happening in our lives and we will never be an example of the hope of the gospel for other hurting people. The enemy will be able to tell people untruths, such as God does not want you healed, God does not love you, etc. The truth of the word will set us free from these lying spirits and their influences. This is why the enemy wants us to not hear or listen. He knows how to put the muzzle on God’s only true witnesses in the earth who are here to free the groaning earth from it’s pain and suffering.
16 "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I assure you, many prophets and godly people have longed to see and hear what you have seen and heard, but they could not.
18 "Now here is the explanation of the story I told about the farmer sowing grain: 19 The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the Good News about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the seed away from their hearts. 20 The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy. 21 But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word.
We must know well that we will suffer persecution for the word’s sake. There is a spiritual battle going on for the souls of men and women. The word will change the lives of men and women. If the word is given and yet stolen there will be no change, so the enemy would be ok with us actually hearing the word if we could hear it and it would not be able to effect a change in us.
How can that happen? We do not immediately guard it and deliberately keep it safe. We are not admitting it can be taken from us, we’ve been ignorant of the devices of the evil realm and its war against God and those who have the potential to be like Him in the earth. Our enemy knows we were destined to be like God and effect change in the earthly realm. If we allow him to steal the word, change will NOT come. BUTTTTT if we know this, listen to and do the word, apply it to our own lives, sink our faith into it, guard it from the thieves and keep it safe, we will be changed by it and it will begin to have an effect on our earth wherever we are at, wherever we live, for whomever we know, etc. That is a definite threat to the dark forces, set up to see to it there is no change!
22 The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced.
How does the "lure" of wealth apply to all of this? Simply, it is pulling on you, calling you to spend your time seeking after it, it wants you to give your life over to its service, and it also wants your complete attention. If it gets that it gets you and takes you away from learning and participating in more of what God has for you to do. This is why the word says seek God 1st and all of the rest will be added to you by God. When we are lured by $, we have no time for God, when we are lured by God we get $ anyway. It is the miraculous fruit of a faith filled life.
23 The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God's message and produce a huge harvest – thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted."
Once we get all of these things, becoming aware of their power over our lives and if we take back the power God gives us to live a life unto Him; we will find multiplication happening all around us. No longer will we be being stolen from (subtraction and division) or just making it day to day (addition) But we will be multiplying the kingdom of God in the earth right where we live!
24 Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as everyone slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat. 26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. 27 The farmer's servants came and told him, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!' 28 "'An enemy has done it!' the farmer exclaimed .'Shall we pull out the weeds?' they asked. 29 "He replied, 'No, you'll hurt the wheat if you do. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn.'"
Do NOT be decieved into thinking God has made things so hard or that God uses evil to teach us etc. This is such a lie. It is AN enemy who has done this, NOT God.
31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter in its branches." Multiplication again!
33 Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though she used a large amount F74 of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough."
34 Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. 35 This fulfilled the prophecy that said, "I will speak to you in parables. I will explain mysteries hidden since the creation of the world." F75
36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, "Please explain the story of the weeds in the field." 37 "All right," he said. "I, the Son of Man, am the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 [The field is the world], and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels. 40 "Just as the weeds are separated out and burned, so it will be at the end of the world. 41 I, the Son of Man, will send my angels, and they will remove from my Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace and burn them. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the godly will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!
Have you ever had the thought that the weeping and gnashing of teeth comes from Saints who are watching judgment, and now realize in full light the severity and infinite nature of judgment being executed on those they maybe knew of or maybe had some sort of opportunity to share the kingdom with, but did not for some impertinent reason?
44 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field – and to get the treasure, too!
45 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
What causes a person to sell all he has and give all he is over to something or someone? He realizes the eternity involved in the matter, he sees the price that was already paid, and he knows the consequences and is willing to bring the message of freedom to captives.
47 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that is thrown into the water and gathers fish of every kind. 48 When the net is full, they drag it up onto the shore, sit down, sort the good fish into crates, and throw the bad ones away. 49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the godly, 50 throwing the wicked into the fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 Do you understand?" "Yes," they said, "we do." 52 Then he added, "Every teacher of religious law who has become a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a person who brings out of the storehouse the new teachings as well as the old."
53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories, he left that part of the country. 54 He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was astonished and said, "Where does he get his wisdom and his miracles? 55 He's just a carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers – James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All his sisters live right here among us. What makes him so great?" 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family." 58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
FOOTNOTES:F73: Isa 6:9-10. F74: Greek 3 measures. F75: Ps 78:2.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Matthew 10
~Today ~
Matthew 10: 1 - 42
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. 2 Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter's brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James's brother), 3 Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, 4 Simon (the Zealot F57 ), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him)..
5 Jesus sent the twelve disciples out with these instructions: "Don't go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel – God's lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. F58 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! 9 "Don't take any money with you. 10 Don't carry a traveler's bag with an extra coat and sandals or even a walking stick. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. F59 11 Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy man and stay in his home until you leave for the next town. 12 When you are invited into someone's home, give it your blessing. 13 If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. 14 If a village doesn't welcome you or listen to you, shake off the dust of that place from your feet as you leave. 15 I assure you, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off on the judgment day than that place will be.
16 "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Be as wary as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. 18 And you must stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me – yes, to witness to the world. 19 When you are arrested, don't worry about what to say in your defense, because you will be given the right words at the right time. 20 For it won't be you doing the talking – it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 "Brother will betray brother to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will rise against their parents and cause them to be killed. 22 And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I assure you that I, the Son of Man, will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel. 24 "A student is not greater than the teacher. A servant is not greater than the master. 25 The student shares the teacher's fate. The servant shares the master's fate. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, F60 how much more will it happen to you, the members of the household! 26 But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. 27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, shout from the housetops for all to hear! 28 "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. 32 "If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. 33 But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven. 34 "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword. 35 I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household! 37 If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it. 40 "Anyone who welcomes you is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me. 41 If you welcome a prophet as one who speaks for God, F61 you will receive the same reward a prophet gets. And if you welcome good and godly people because of their godliness, you will be given a reward like theirs. 42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded."
FOOTNOTES:F57: Greek the Cananean. F58: Or has come, or is coming soon. F59: Or the worker is worthy of support. F60: Greek Beelzeboul. F61: Greek welcome a prophet in the name of a prophet.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved
~Everyday~
1 Cor10:3-4 3 And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4 and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
FOOTNOTES:F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
John 17: 8
for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Lena’s Comments Matthew 10
He Called to Himself AND then He sent them out, to specific places ( I’ll call them targets) WITH instructions! If we do not know where we are going, how will we get anywhere? If we don’t know what we are "shooting at", how will we hit a bullseye? Jesus hits the bullseye, right on the target, because He sends out His disciples with goals and purposes and an outlined strategy in hand. Why even go to war or build a house or have a goal if not to finish, win, or make something from nothing? He aims and shoots and hits. If a person aims at nothing, that’s what he’ll hit, nothing. Also aiming with faith is a key, not just aiming, but aiming looking through the eye of faith is key! Do we realize we have been sent as announcers? When was the last time you even thought about making an announcement for God to anyone at all? Have you been sure and secure enough to announce anything to anybody that is a contrary message from whatever has already been being announced to them? Such as- If they’ve been unloved, or felt unloved, what would you be right there at the right time announcing? That there is one who loves them like no one else ever could, and tell them it is Jesus who loves them that way? Do you see yourself as an announcer? Let’s not agree with people’s problems or sympathize with circumstances, let’s announce the good news. Who are you? Who do they say you are? Who does He say you are?
When we announce, the point is not whether they listen or not, the point is whether we announce or not. How can there ever be a chance for listening, if we are not announcing? BUT there is at least a chance that they are listening, if we are announcing, and even more so if we are also praying and fasting
Only sheep go out. If we are goats (diff between sheep and goats? "But, But. But…. No BUTS. Go)
vs 22 This is sooooo key…He who ENDURES to the END will be saved. God made us to bring His will and plan into the earth- period. He needs us to do that, that’s why we were made, that’s why we are here, born at the time we were made, in this city, in this country, in this age. IF we do not ever do this we miss it all, and if we do it but quit we miss a whole lot, and if we do it no matter what happens to us, or what people think of us or how they look at, or speak of us, or no matter what kind of opposition arises to try to stop us, we will see a great reward. One such reward, I believe is the sweet holy communion of a human being being ONE with God Himself. What an awesome place that is to be in! There is no other place like that anywhere. That place is where satan does not want us to go, or stay in. He’d hate it if we even went there for a moment, if we can go there for a moment it will be enough to take us there over and over again, it is enough to keep us keeping on, and going on, and enduring all, for the love we get to know in that place. Love covers a multitude of sin. Love sees beyond who people appear to be to reach their lost souls. Love will endure their state of being to get through to their spirit life, what is really inside and call it forth, so they too can become who God made them to be in Christ Jesus the Lord.
ANNOUNCE – ANNOUNCE- ANNOUNCE! Rebel against the world’s sway to keep silent. Rebel against the enemy’s pull to fight against and try to win against God. Do it anyway, say it anyway. Start small. Practice love. Practice kindness. Practice announcing. Practice boldness, and confidence in Him, because He wins and when we are on His "side" we win too.
Matthew 10: 1 - 42
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. 2 Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter's brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James's brother), 3 Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, 4 Simon (the Zealot F57 ), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him)..
5 Jesus sent the twelve disciples out with these instructions: "Don't go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel – God's lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. F58 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! 9 "Don't take any money with you. 10 Don't carry a traveler's bag with an extra coat and sandals or even a walking stick. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. F59 11 Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy man and stay in his home until you leave for the next town. 12 When you are invited into someone's home, give it your blessing. 13 If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. 14 If a village doesn't welcome you or listen to you, shake off the dust of that place from your feet as you leave. 15 I assure you, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off on the judgment day than that place will be.
16 "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Be as wary as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. 18 And you must stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me – yes, to witness to the world. 19 When you are arrested, don't worry about what to say in your defense, because you will be given the right words at the right time. 20 For it won't be you doing the talking – it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 "Brother will betray brother to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will rise against their parents and cause them to be killed. 22 And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I assure you that I, the Son of Man, will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel. 24 "A student is not greater than the teacher. A servant is not greater than the master. 25 The student shares the teacher's fate. The servant shares the master's fate. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, F60 how much more will it happen to you, the members of the household! 26 But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. 27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, shout from the housetops for all to hear! 28 "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. 32 "If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. 33 But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven. 34 "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword. 35 I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household! 37 If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it. 40 "Anyone who welcomes you is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me. 41 If you welcome a prophet as one who speaks for God, F61 you will receive the same reward a prophet gets. And if you welcome good and godly people because of their godliness, you will be given a reward like theirs. 42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded."
FOOTNOTES:F57: Greek the Cananean. F58: Or has come, or is coming soon. F59: Or the worker is worthy of support. F60: Greek Beelzeboul. F61: Greek welcome a prophet in the name of a prophet.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved
~Everyday~
1 Cor10:3-4 3 And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4 and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
FOOTNOTES:F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
John 17: 8
for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Lena’s Comments Matthew 10
He Called to Himself AND then He sent them out, to specific places ( I’ll call them targets) WITH instructions! If we do not know where we are going, how will we get anywhere? If we don’t know what we are "shooting at", how will we hit a bullseye? Jesus hits the bullseye, right on the target, because He sends out His disciples with goals and purposes and an outlined strategy in hand. Why even go to war or build a house or have a goal if not to finish, win, or make something from nothing? He aims and shoots and hits. If a person aims at nothing, that’s what he’ll hit, nothing. Also aiming with faith is a key, not just aiming, but aiming looking through the eye of faith is key! Do we realize we have been sent as announcers? When was the last time you even thought about making an announcement for God to anyone at all? Have you been sure and secure enough to announce anything to anybody that is a contrary message from whatever has already been being announced to them? Such as- If they’ve been unloved, or felt unloved, what would you be right there at the right time announcing? That there is one who loves them like no one else ever could, and tell them it is Jesus who loves them that way? Do you see yourself as an announcer? Let’s not agree with people’s problems or sympathize with circumstances, let’s announce the good news. Who are you? Who do they say you are? Who does He say you are?
When we announce, the point is not whether they listen or not, the point is whether we announce or not. How can there ever be a chance for listening, if we are not announcing? BUT there is at least a chance that they are listening, if we are announcing, and even more so if we are also praying and fasting
Only sheep go out. If we are goats (diff between sheep and goats? "But, But. But…. No BUTS. Go)
vs 22 This is sooooo key…He who ENDURES to the END will be saved. God made us to bring His will and plan into the earth- period. He needs us to do that, that’s why we were made, that’s why we are here, born at the time we were made, in this city, in this country, in this age. IF we do not ever do this we miss it all, and if we do it but quit we miss a whole lot, and if we do it no matter what happens to us, or what people think of us or how they look at, or speak of us, or no matter what kind of opposition arises to try to stop us, we will see a great reward. One such reward, I believe is the sweet holy communion of a human being being ONE with God Himself. What an awesome place that is to be in! There is no other place like that anywhere. That place is where satan does not want us to go, or stay in. He’d hate it if we even went there for a moment, if we can go there for a moment it will be enough to take us there over and over again, it is enough to keep us keeping on, and going on, and enduring all, for the love we get to know in that place. Love covers a multitude of sin. Love sees beyond who people appear to be to reach their lost souls. Love will endure their state of being to get through to their spirit life, what is really inside and call it forth, so they too can become who God made them to be in Christ Jesus the Lord.
ANNOUNCE – ANNOUNCE- ANNOUNCE! Rebel against the world’s sway to keep silent. Rebel against the enemy’s pull to fight against and try to win against God. Do it anyway, say it anyway. Start small. Practice love. Practice kindness. Practice announcing. Practice boldness, and confidence in Him, because He wins and when we are on His "side" we win too.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread
~Everyday~
John 17:8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
1 Corinthians 10:3 –4
3 And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4 and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
FOOTNOTES:F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4.
~Today ~
Matthew 7: 1 - 29
1 "Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. 2 For others will treat you as you treat them. F47 Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. 3 And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye F48 when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye. 6 "Don't give what is holy to unholy people. F49 Don't give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
7 "Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. 9 You parents – if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
12 "Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. 13 "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell F50 is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. 14 But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.
15 "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. 16 You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don't pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. 17 A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced. No If’s And’s or But’s- none. That’s it, no fruit, no life.
21 "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. 22 On judgment day many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized. F51 ' 24 "Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on rock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash." 28 After Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught as one who had real authority – quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
FOOTNOTES:F47: Or For God will treat you as you treat others; Greek reads For with the judgment you judge you will be judged. F48: Greek your brother's eye; also in 7:5. F49: Greek Don't give the sacred to dogs. F50: Greek The way that leads to destruction. F51: Or unlawful.
The New Living Translation
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Lena’s Comments:
Key words – for those who choose the easy way. Choosing the easy way is not eternally beneficial to any of us! Why do few find it? They choose to.
This is like the difference between one of my child’s acquaintances saying they know me and my child knowing me. The evidence shows who knew me in the end. Who’s name is given on my will, Who gets what was mine? Usually those who know me or are known by me. We must know Him this closely, what’s Yours is mine, what’s mine is yours, that’s covenant knowing. If I’m not covenanted with God, I’m only His acquaintance and acquaintances do not really know Him, nor does what he has (for them) belong to them.
John 17:8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
1 Corinthians 10:3 –4
3 And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4 and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
FOOTNOTES:F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4.
~Today ~
Matthew 7: 1 - 29
1 "Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. 2 For others will treat you as you treat them. F47 Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. 3 And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye F48 when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye. 6 "Don't give what is holy to unholy people. F49 Don't give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
7 "Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. 9 You parents – if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
12 "Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. 13 "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell F50 is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. 14 But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.
15 "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. 16 You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don't pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. 17 A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced. No If’s And’s or But’s- none. That’s it, no fruit, no life.
21 "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. 22 On judgment day many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized. F51 ' 24 "Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on rock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash." 28 After Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught as one who had real authority – quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
FOOTNOTES:F47: Or For God will treat you as you treat others; Greek reads For with the judgment you judge you will be judged. F48: Greek your brother's eye; also in 7:5. F49: Greek Don't give the sacred to dogs. F50: Greek The way that leads to destruction. F51: Or unlawful.
The New Living Translation
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Lena’s Comments:
Key words – for those who choose the easy way. Choosing the easy way is not eternally beneficial to any of us! Why do few find it? They choose to.
This is like the difference between one of my child’s acquaintances saying they know me and my child knowing me. The evidence shows who knew me in the end. Who’s name is given on my will, Who gets what was mine? Usually those who know me or are known by me. We must know Him this closely, what’s Yours is mine, what’s mine is yours, that’s covenant knowing. If I’m not covenanted with God, I’m only His acquaintance and acquaintances do not really know Him, nor does what he has (for them) belong to them.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
~Everyday ~
John 17:8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
1 Corinthians 10:3 -4
3 And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4 and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
FOOTNOTES:F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4.
~ Today ~
Matthew 6: 1-34
1 "Be careful! When you do good things, don't do them in front of people to be seen by them. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "When you give to the poor, don't be like the hypocrites. They blow trumpets in the synagogues and on the streets so that people will see them and honor them. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. 3 So when you give to the poor, don't let anyone know what you are doing. 4 Your giving should be done in secret. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
5 "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray so people will see them. I tell you the truth, they already have their full reward. 6 When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door and pray to your Father who cannot be seen. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you. 7 "And when you pray, don't be like those people who don't know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing, thinking that God will hear them because of their many words. 8 Don't be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
9 So when you pray, you should pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name always be kept holy. 10 May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us the food we need for each day. 12 Forgive us for our sins, just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us. 13 And do not cause us to be tempted, but save us from the Evil One.' 14 Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. 15 But if you don't forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.
16 "When you give up eating, don't put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are giving up eating. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. 17 So when you give up eating, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
19 "Don't store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. 20 But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will be where your treasure is. 22 "The eye is a light for the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. And if the only light you have is really darkness, then you have the worst darkness. 24 "No one can serve two masters. The person will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches.
25 "So I tell you, don't worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. 26 Look at the birds in the air. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. 27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don't work or make clothes for themselves. 29 But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 30 God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don't have so little faith! 31 Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' 32 The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. 33 The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you. 34 So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
New Century Version © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing,a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The text of the New Century Version (NCV) appearing on or deriving from this or any other web page is for personal use only. Any other use of the NCV must be with the written permission of Nelson Bible Rights and Permissions.
John 17:8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
1 Corinthians 10:3 -4
3 And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4 and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
FOOTNOTES:F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4.
~ Today ~
Matthew 6: 1-34
1 "Be careful! When you do good things, don't do them in front of people to be seen by them. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "When you give to the poor, don't be like the hypocrites. They blow trumpets in the synagogues and on the streets so that people will see them and honor them. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. 3 So when you give to the poor, don't let anyone know what you are doing. 4 Your giving should be done in secret. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
5 "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray so people will see them. I tell you the truth, they already have their full reward. 6 When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door and pray to your Father who cannot be seen. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you. 7 "And when you pray, don't be like those people who don't know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing, thinking that God will hear them because of their many words. 8 Don't be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
9 So when you pray, you should pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name always be kept holy. 10 May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us the food we need for each day. 12 Forgive us for our sins, just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us. 13 And do not cause us to be tempted, but save us from the Evil One.' 14 Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. 15 But if you don't forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.
16 "When you give up eating, don't put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are giving up eating. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. 17 So when you give up eating, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
19 "Don't store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. 20 But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will be where your treasure is. 22 "The eye is a light for the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. And if the only light you have is really darkness, then you have the worst darkness. 24 "No one can serve two masters. The person will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches.
25 "So I tell you, don't worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. 26 Look at the birds in the air. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. 27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don't work or make clothes for themselves. 29 But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 30 God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don't have so little faith! 31 Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' 32 The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. 33 The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you. 34 So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
New Century Version © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing,a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The text of the New Century Version (NCV) appearing on or deriving from this or any other web page is for personal use only. Any other use of the NCV must be with the written permission of Nelson Bible Rights and Permissions.
Lena's Comments 3-6-05 Matthew 6
I’m thinking this is saying the motivation is the important part. We can do deeds that people see, that they may learn, and the deed may stand as a testimony of Christ-like behavior; but our motivation should not be of one desirous of being seen for a "pat on the back" type of reward.
How does a person, a human being, keep God’s name Holy? By their own testimony of a pure life, true to God. Not a phony, not a put on. It is a life concentrated on doing the words of life they hear. Comparative to hearing without giving any response back in our actions. His kingdom begins inside of me, in demonstration in me. The world has to see His kingdom in power and rule in me, before they will join into asylum and change rulers and kingdoms.
These prayers are oh so personal to us and for us. We are not praying for some magical thing to take place, we are praying for us to be obedient to His words and to be strong enough in desire to walk in faith and to hunger for God’s kingdom and God’s will to become established inside of me 1st , so the world may know who He is – alive now and living now, in me.
Forgivness is a huge obstacle to even hearing the word that we may do the word. Forgivness is a daily practice and release of burdens carried. If we don’t participate daily our burdens become oh so hard to bear.
Vs 19-24…such huge boulders in our culture, to our faith walk progressing. Things get right in the way, and how to get things, get right in the way. Planning and thinking about how and when to get things and the time spent getting the means and shopping for specific things, get in the way….of God’s kingdom being established in me 1st. Then helping others establish it is a whole ‘nother story. I can’t even help someone else if I don’t and won’t take this kind of time and effort to do so – first, for me. Our enemy knows our weaknesses. We have got to recognize these weaknesses and see where he is stealing the time it takes for us to get faith, away from us and we must deliberately take it away from his hands.
We may spend a lot of time trying to get jobs/sales that pay us enough to buy whatever we want to get. We are willing to work weekends, we are willing to work overtime, we are willing to give all of our extra time to get this thing, all the while, we are being stolen from in the area of having the opportunity to build any faith in God at all, we are far too busy trying to get the things we want. We are really tired and any free time we have we need to rest, we need to keep up the possessions we already have, we need to tend our families (if we still have one after working so much!) In this scenario, if we were offered any opportunity to be a part of a fellowship of believers and hear the word for ourselves to build faith in us personally, we wouldn’t be able to, we’d feel we had no time to. The enemy has choked the word, our love of $ has choked the word, and our master has called for our servitude and we’ve answered his call (the master being the $). Then for some reason we get angry at God for requiring things of us we don’t have time or energy for, and we get angry at Christians who are seeming to pressure us too much with requirements "of the law". See how this works? We despise God and love $. It comes down to who or what is our source of provision and trust.
Vs 25-34 are the answers to the question a person who has not been trusting God would ask. A person who is transitioning from loving $, to loving God. He answers it all. It is simple trust with wisdom applied. See we may have a lot of excess baggage we might need to shed in order to have more time for the kingdom to be established in us, (like do away with that hefty car payment by downsizing, or move into a smaller house, or get rid of the direct TV, etc etc.), it will be wisdom applied to shed some of the baggage. That’s wisdom. If we keep the excess, it will continue to call for our attentions, affections and TIME. If we cut off the source then there’s no way it can call to us. This will be a true test of our faith and of our service to God, when we have opportunity to say no to money’s pull and yes to God. When that is happening regularly, you’ll know you’ve switched kingdoms and masters.
How does a person, a human being, keep God’s name Holy? By their own testimony of a pure life, true to God. Not a phony, not a put on. It is a life concentrated on doing the words of life they hear. Comparative to hearing without giving any response back in our actions. His kingdom begins inside of me, in demonstration in me. The world has to see His kingdom in power and rule in me, before they will join into asylum and change rulers and kingdoms.
These prayers are oh so personal to us and for us. We are not praying for some magical thing to take place, we are praying for us to be obedient to His words and to be strong enough in desire to walk in faith and to hunger for God’s kingdom and God’s will to become established inside of me 1st , so the world may know who He is – alive now and living now, in me.
Forgivness is a huge obstacle to even hearing the word that we may do the word. Forgivness is a daily practice and release of burdens carried. If we don’t participate daily our burdens become oh so hard to bear.
Vs 19-24…such huge boulders in our culture, to our faith walk progressing. Things get right in the way, and how to get things, get right in the way. Planning and thinking about how and when to get things and the time spent getting the means and shopping for specific things, get in the way….of God’s kingdom being established in me 1st. Then helping others establish it is a whole ‘nother story. I can’t even help someone else if I don’t and won’t take this kind of time and effort to do so – first, for me. Our enemy knows our weaknesses. We have got to recognize these weaknesses and see where he is stealing the time it takes for us to get faith, away from us and we must deliberately take it away from his hands.
We may spend a lot of time trying to get jobs/sales that pay us enough to buy whatever we want to get. We are willing to work weekends, we are willing to work overtime, we are willing to give all of our extra time to get this thing, all the while, we are being stolen from in the area of having the opportunity to build any faith in God at all, we are far too busy trying to get the things we want. We are really tired and any free time we have we need to rest, we need to keep up the possessions we already have, we need to tend our families (if we still have one after working so much!) In this scenario, if we were offered any opportunity to be a part of a fellowship of believers and hear the word for ourselves to build faith in us personally, we wouldn’t be able to, we’d feel we had no time to. The enemy has choked the word, our love of $ has choked the word, and our master has called for our servitude and we’ve answered his call (the master being the $). Then for some reason we get angry at God for requiring things of us we don’t have time or energy for, and we get angry at Christians who are seeming to pressure us too much with requirements "of the law". See how this works? We despise God and love $. It comes down to who or what is our source of provision and trust.
Vs 25-34 are the answers to the question a person who has not been trusting God would ask. A person who is transitioning from loving $, to loving God. He answers it all. It is simple trust with wisdom applied. See we may have a lot of excess baggage we might need to shed in order to have more time for the kingdom to be established in us, (like do away with that hefty car payment by downsizing, or move into a smaller house, or get rid of the direct TV, etc etc.), it will be wisdom applied to shed some of the baggage. That’s wisdom. If we keep the excess, it will continue to call for our attentions, affections and TIME. If we cut off the source then there’s no way it can call to us. This will be a true test of our faith and of our service to God, when we have opportunity to say no to money’s pull and yes to God. When that is happening regularly, you’ll know you’ve switched kingdoms and masters.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Today's Daily Bread
Everyday’s Portion ~
John 17:8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
1 Corinthians 10:3 -4
3 And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4 and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
FOOTNOTES:F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4.
Today’s Portion ~
John 17:1-26
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do. 5 And now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
6 "I have told these men about you. They were in the world, but then you gave them to me. Actually, they were always yours, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. 9 "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me, so they are my glory!
11 Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them – all those you have given me – so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I have kept them safe. F76 I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. 13 "And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not. 15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They are not part of this world any more than I am
17 Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours.
20 "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. 21 My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father – that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. 22 "I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are – 23 I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.
24 Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began! 25 "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them."
FOOTNOTES:F76: Greek I have kept in your name those whom you have given me.
Romans 8:28-30
8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together F35 for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory.
FOOTNOTES:F35: Some manuscripts read And we know that everything works together. F76: See Isa 40:13.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation NLT,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
John 17:8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
1 Corinthians 10:3 -4
3 And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4 and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
FOOTNOTES:F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4.
Today’s Portion ~
John 17:1-26
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do. 5 And now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
6 "I have told these men about you. They were in the world, but then you gave them to me. Actually, they were always yours, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. 9 "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me, so they are my glory!
11 Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them – all those you have given me – so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I have kept them safe. F76 I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. 13 "And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not. 15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They are not part of this world any more than I am
17 Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours.
20 "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. 21 My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father – that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. 22 "I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are – 23 I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.
24 Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began! 25 "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them."
FOOTNOTES:F76: Greek I have kept in your name those whom you have given me.
Romans 8:28-30
8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together F35 for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory.
FOOTNOTES:F35: Some manuscripts read And we know that everything works together. F76: See Isa 40:13.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation NLT,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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