YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.

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FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND

Read John 6:1-13; Mark 6:30-44

* * *

He (Jesus) said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. John 6:5b-6 NIV

* * *

Nothing that Jesus did while on earth was just happenstance. Jesus said to the twelve, “You give them something to eat.” (Mark 6:37) When everyone was fed, they were able to gather up enough for a basketful each for themselves. They served the bread, but it cost them nothing, and they had their own needs supplied. This is significant in light of Philip’s protest; “eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” (John 6:7)

* * *

Lord, more often than not, I sound just like Philip. I see only the practical facts, and the impossibility of the situation. Help us to trust You for our daily bread, and for all other needs we may have. You lord, are the Bread of Life and You know our requests even before we ask; but You did tell us to ask. I am asking You this morning, to provide for our financial and spiritual needs.

* * *

After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. John 6:14-15 NIV

COMPASSION IN TIME OF SORROW

JOHN THE BAPTIST MARTYRED

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Read Matthew 14:1–14

The king…ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. Matthew 14:9-10, 12 NIV

* * *

Jesus had just been given the news about the beheading of John the Baptist, the prophet God had sent to announce His coming. John’s dramatic message of repentance to the adulterous King Herod ended with his death. His brief but powerful ministry, in accordance with God’s sovereign will, had come to an end.

* * *

Jesus, though He was God’s Son, was still subject to the emotions and sorrows of a man. His response was to withdraw to a solitary place to be alone, but the crowds followed Him. Instead of insisting on time to Himself, He had compassion on the people and ministered to their needs.

* * *

Lord, sometimes I feel irritated at the pressing demands on my time. Help me to be filled with the fruit of Your Spirit, especially patience, love and concern for the needs of my family. Help me to notice when others need a listening ear.

* * *

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:13-14 NIV

THE TRINITY

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EQUAL WITH GOD

Read John 5:1–23

Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18 NKJV

* * *

This passage in John is one of the strongest proofs that Jesus claimed to be one with the Father. The reason they wanted to kill Him was that He claimed equality with God. He not only said He was able to give life — He demonstrated it by raising people from the dead, and eventually rising from the dead Himself.

* * *

Men and women come to our doors today claiming that they believe in Jesus, but not in the Trinity. They cannot honestly believe in the Jesus of the Bible, without making Him a liar, because He claimed deity for Himself. He was more than a good teacher – He was and is God.

* * *

Lord, help me to give a confident and kind answer to those who come to my door with a false teaching about Jesus. Perhaps some day one of them will be searching for the real Jesus.

* * *

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it . . . that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. John 5:21, 23 NIV

PAYING TAXES

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A TRICK QUESTION

Read:  Luke 20:20–26

            So the spies questioned him:… Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Luke 20:21-22 NIV

 

* * *

            Jesus had just told a parable which implicated the religious leaders in the plot to kill Him. Not only that, but he referred to prophesies from Psalms and Isaiah: “Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”  (20:17-18 NIV)

* * *

          They knew He spoke the parable about them. So in order to trick Him into saying something against Rome they asked, “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?”  “Caesar’s,” they replied…” (20:22-25a)

* * *

            Lord, those leaders thought they could trick You into a capitol offense. But what they didn’t realize was that no one could take Your life from You. They must not have been listening when You said, “My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:17-18 NKJV)

* * *

            …He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (20:25b NIV)

 

           

BEHOLD YOUR KING!

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THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

Read: Luke 19:28-40

            …the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: “‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!“  (Luke 19:37-38 NKJV)

* * *

            After leaving Zacchaeus’ home in Jericho, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, where a colt was already prepared for Jesus to make His entry. Jesus knew the donkey would be there, because His father had prophesied “Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9b NKJV) The praise of the crowd echoed the words of the angels at His birth – all planned since the beginning of time.

* * *

            Lord, I want to praise You for all Your mighty works. You are the King of Kings who will one day return to Jerusalem again. You have ordained that the mouths of babes would praise You. I pray for the “babes” in my household that their lives will be lived in praise of the King and that one day we will all stand together and see You face to face.

* * *

            And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”   Luke 19:39-40 NKJV

 

UNEXPECTED GUEST

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ZACCHAEUS

Read: Luke 19:1-10

When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” Luke 19:5 NKJV

* * *

Zacchaeus was a man who was small in stature, but a big shot in his position as tax collector for the Roman government. The price for his dishonest position of wealth was contempt by his own people.

* * *

Unlike many who stood by, Zacchaeus knew he was a sinner and believed that Jesus could forgive him. He also knew what he had to do next: He said, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (19:8 NIV)

* * *

Jesus never did anything the way the leaders expected. To call a tax collector down from a tree and announce that He was going to his house; that was unprecedented behavior. But Jesus did things purposefully for eternal results, not human applause.

* * *

Lord, I want to live for You in a way that pleases You, not just as others expect. I want to teach my children to seek Your will in their lives, not the applause of the world.

* * *

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:9-10 NKJV

HUMILITY AND REPENTANCE

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* * *
THE PHARISEE AND TAX COLLECTOR
* * *
Read: Luke 18:9-14
* * *

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,’God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. Luke 18:11 NKJV

* * *

     This religious leader may have had much to be proud of in avoiding gross sin, but he missed the fact that he was still a sinner. Salvation comes through repentance, and Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The tax collector, so despised for his sin, had it right. He, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ (18:13)

     The Pharisee was like the rich young ruler who thought he could gain eternal life by doing good works. We must all come by way of repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ. Only then can we do genuinely good works, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

* * *

     Lord, forgive me when I am guilty of looking down on someone I judge to be more sinful than I. As You have extended mercy to me, I must desire mercy for others. You look beyond the outward appearance and see our hearts. Help me to discern the heart attitudes of my children and teach them humility by example.

* * *

“. . . everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:14 NKJV

Thoughts On Blogging

I have been looking through my personal journal over the past few months, since I have entered the world of blogging. Certainly it has been a blessing, far beyond anything I expected, and it has also been a challenge as I have interacted with those who oppose the message of God’s Word.

I thought I would share some of my entries in the hope that it may encourage other Christians to step out and share their faith. Some of these entries are direct from Scripture on a day when I needed it, and some are from writings by Oswald Chambers.

• Jeremiah 20:9 “His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones. I was weary of holding it back and I could not.”
• 2 Timothy 1:2 “The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.”
• Jeremiah 10:23 “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”
• Oswald Chambers – “There is no responsibility on you for the work; the only responsibility you have is to keep in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your cooperation with Him.”
• Oswald Chambers – “God engineers everything; wherever He puts us our one great aim is to pour out our whole hearted devotion to Him in that particular work.”
• Oswald Chambers – “Spiritually we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us; and we cannot measure that at all.”
• Acts 18:10 – The Lord said to Paul, “Dismiss your fears; go on speaking and do not give up, I am with you and no one shall attack you or injure you; for I have many people in this city.”
• Acts 11:23 – About Barnabas – “He encouraged them all to remain with fixed resolve, faithful to the Lord.”
• Acts 4:20b Weymouth – “As for us, what we have seen and heard we cannot help speaking about.”