Matthew 11:20-28
Content: Jesus has just instructed his twelve disciples as they head out into the mission field. He has gone to Galilee, and John the Baptist, in prison, heard about what he had been doing. John sent some of his disciples to ask if Jesus was the 'one who was to come.' Our text is about halfway through his response to them.
Text:
20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[a] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
25At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
27"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Matthew 11:23 Greek Hades
taken from www.biblegateway.com
I'm not exactly sure what the sackcloth was like in Jesus' day, but I remember the big burlap bags that my great grandpa received when he bought feed for his animals. They were very rough and scratchy, they had a large weave and they were the color of dirt. They smelled musty and dirty. I sure wouldn't want to wear it!
But in Biblical times this type of cloth was worn to show mourning or grief over death or disaster. It was also occasionally worn to show grief over sin. Sackcloth was almost always worn with ashes as the main accessory. In Jeremiah 6:26 it says that they rolled in the ashes. When dressed like this everyone knew that the person was in deep despair.
That's exactly when Jesus wants us to come to him, when we have heavy burdens and are in deep despair. We are to come as children, wide eyed and believing, and he will help to carry our load so we can have rest.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
May 9 - No Condemnation
Read Romans 8:1-11
Context: Continuation from yesterday
Text:
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[d] 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Romans 8:1 Some later manuscripts Jesus, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit,
Romans 8:3 Or the flesh; also in verses 4, 5, 8, 9, 12 and 13
Romans 8:3 Or man, for sin
Romans 8:3 Or in the flesh
Romans 8:6 Or mind set on the flesh
Romans 8:7 Or the mind set on the flesh
This whole section of Romans has always been a little confusing to me. It seems like Paul has gotten onto his soapbox and he is so excited and passionate about what he's trying to say that his words run together. The Baker Commentary on the Bible says that it is typical Jewish and Hellenistic sytle to alternate between themes. While today's text relates to yesterdays text, it really links back to Romans 6:1-7:6 where he talks about being dead to sin and slaves to righteousness.
The word 'condemnation' in verse one means (in the Greek), damnatory sentence. All who try to follow the law will fail, and that failure results in a sentence of death. But since we are Christians and the Spirit of God dwells in us, our failures don't mean death because Jesus has already taken our punishment.
This doesn't mean that we can go on sinning, though. As Christians filled with the Spirit, we are free from the legalism of the law, but we are to be controlled by the Spirit, doing what He leads us to do. Paul says in Galatians 5:13 "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."
We will always sin because we are human, but if we follow the Spirit's leading we can please God.
Context: Continuation from yesterday
Text:
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[d] 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Romans 8:1 Some later manuscripts Jesus, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit,
Romans 8:3 Or the flesh; also in verses 4, 5, 8, 9, 12 and 13
Romans 8:3 Or man, for sin
Romans 8:3 Or in the flesh
Romans 8:6 Or mind set on the flesh
Romans 8:7 Or the mind set on the flesh
This whole section of Romans has always been a little confusing to me. It seems like Paul has gotten onto his soapbox and he is so excited and passionate about what he's trying to say that his words run together. The Baker Commentary on the Bible says that it is typical Jewish and Hellenistic sytle to alternate between themes. While today's text relates to yesterdays text, it really links back to Romans 6:1-7:6 where he talks about being dead to sin and slaves to righteousness.
The word 'condemnation' in verse one means (in the Greek), damnatory sentence. All who try to follow the law will fail, and that failure results in a sentence of death. But since we are Christians and the Spirit of God dwells in us, our failures don't mean death because Jesus has already taken our punishment.
This doesn't mean that we can go on sinning, though. As Christians filled with the Spirit, we are free from the legalism of the law, but we are to be controlled by the Spirit, doing what He leads us to do. Paul says in Galatians 5:13 "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."
We will always sin because we are human, but if we follow the Spirit's leading we can please God.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
May 8 - Why Do I Do What I Do?
Read Romans 7:14-25
Context: Paul has been explaining sanctification to the Romans. He has discussed how Christ's death took away the law so we can be released and serve in the new way of the Spirit, not the old way of the written code.
Text:
14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Romans 7:18 Or my flesh
taken from www.biblegateway.com
It is encouraging to see that someone who was so faithful and dedicated also struggled daily with sin. It seems that just as soon as I decide I'm going to focus on a particular area of my life to improve (such as eating less or devoting more time to Bible study) my mind and body rebel and I end up doing the thing I don't want to do even more often that I did before I decided not to do it!
Context: Paul has been explaining sanctification to the Romans. He has discussed how Christ's death took away the law so we can be released and serve in the new way of the Spirit, not the old way of the written code.
Text:
14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Romans 7:18 Or my flesh
taken from www.biblegateway.com
It is encouraging to see that someone who was so faithful and dedicated also struggled daily with sin. It seems that just as soon as I decide I'm going to focus on a particular area of my life to improve (such as eating less or devoting more time to Bible study) my mind and body rebel and I end up doing the thing I don't want to do even more often that I did before I decided not to do it!
Monday, May 7, 2007
May 7 - Woe to the Pharisees
Read Matthew 23:13-33
Context: Jesus has been having a rough day. He entered the temple courts to teach the people and he has been tested by the authorities all day long. The Pharisees sent their disciples and the Herodians to trap him in his words. They were amazed at his response, so they left and a little later the Sadducees came to him with a trick question. After he had silenced them, the Pharisees came back to test him again. Jesus then gives the following speech to the crowds and his disciples.
Text:
13"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.[a]
15"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
16"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' 19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.
23"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
33"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? (NIV)
Footnotes:
Matthew 23:13 Some manuscripts to. 14 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Therefore you will be punished more severely.
taken from www.biblegateway.com
Wow -- I'm so glad we aren't like the Pharisees! They must have been pompous and self assured, knowing that they were going to Heaven because of their righteousness. They worked hard to ensure that all of those they taught really understood the difficulties of being good enough to get to heaven. They probably didn't associate with those people who were 'real' sinners -- the tax collectors, harlots, and the like. Everyone around them must have been awestruck by their devotion. They had given up their whole lives to serve their God. They were unapproachable and condescending. What hypocrites.
I know that if I had lived back then I would never have done the things they did...
But wait...look back at verse 30. That's exactly what they said! Oh, and that part about looking good on the outside but being filled with greed and self-indulgence...that hits a little close to home, too.
Be warned...the Pharisees are still on the loose. I saw one in the mirror just this morning.
Context: Jesus has been having a rough day. He entered the temple courts to teach the people and he has been tested by the authorities all day long. The Pharisees sent their disciples and the Herodians to trap him in his words. They were amazed at his response, so they left and a little later the Sadducees came to him with a trick question. After he had silenced them, the Pharisees came back to test him again. Jesus then gives the following speech to the crowds and his disciples.
Text:
13"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.[a]
15"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
16"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' 19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.
23"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
33"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? (NIV)
Footnotes:
Matthew 23:13 Some manuscripts to. 14 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Therefore you will be punished more severely.
taken from www.biblegateway.com
Wow -- I'm so glad we aren't like the Pharisees! They must have been pompous and self assured, knowing that they were going to Heaven because of their righteousness. They worked hard to ensure that all of those they taught really understood the difficulties of being good enough to get to heaven. They probably didn't associate with those people who were 'real' sinners -- the tax collectors, harlots, and the like. Everyone around them must have been awestruck by their devotion. They had given up their whole lives to serve their God. They were unapproachable and condescending. What hypocrites.
I know that if I had lived back then I would never have done the things they did...
But wait...look back at verse 30. That's exactly what they said! Oh, and that part about looking good on the outside but being filled with greed and self-indulgence...that hits a little close to home, too.
Be warned...the Pharisees are still on the loose. I saw one in the mirror just this morning.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
May 3 - Wait for the Spirit
Read Acts 1:1-10
Context: Luke is expanding up on the last few paragraphs of the gospel he had written, talking about Jesus' final appearance to the disciples.
Text:
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
Did the disciples understand who the Holy Spirit was any better than we do? Jesus was often filled with the Spirit, and there are many instances in the Old Testament of men also being filled with the Spirit. They had used the power of the Spirit many times when healing others, so they had quite a bit of knowledge. I wonder how 'being filled with the Spirit' was different before and after Jesus?
I imagine the disciples had many questions for Jesus that weren't answered before his ascension. And, most likely, they didn't realize he was leaving until the moment he was taken up. Did they really hear all that he had to say that day? They were probably confused and wondered how they could be baptized with the Holy Spirit...an entity they could not see. All they could do was gape at the sky thinking of all the things they wished they had asked Jesus, kicking themselves for things they had not said.
Context: Luke is expanding up on the last few paragraphs of the gospel he had written, talking about Jesus' final appearance to the disciples.
Text:
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
Did the disciples understand who the Holy Spirit was any better than we do? Jesus was often filled with the Spirit, and there are many instances in the Old Testament of men also being filled with the Spirit. They had used the power of the Spirit many times when healing others, so they had quite a bit of knowledge. I wonder how 'being filled with the Spirit' was different before and after Jesus?
I imagine the disciples had many questions for Jesus that weren't answered before his ascension. And, most likely, they didn't realize he was leaving until the moment he was taken up. Did they really hear all that he had to say that day? They were probably confused and wondered how they could be baptized with the Holy Spirit...an entity they could not see. All they could do was gape at the sky thinking of all the things they wished they had asked Jesus, kicking themselves for things they had not said.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
May 2 - Led by the Holy Spirit
Read Luke 4:1-13
Context: Jesus was just baptized by John in the Jordan River.
Text:
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'[a]"
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'[b]"
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[c]"
12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[d]"
13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Luke 4:4 Deut. 8:3
Luke 4:8 Deut. 6:13
Luke 4:11 Psalm 91:11,12
Luke 4:12 Deut. 6:16
taken from www.biblegateway.com
The Trinity is one of the most difficult concepts of the Bible to fully understand. One God, three persons. Each is separate, yet all are one. I find it fascinating that Jesus, fully God and fully Man, can be filled with the Holy Spirit... is that because of the man He was, or for another reason? The Spirit clearly led Jesus into the desert and it can be presumed that the Spirit stayed with him for the next forty days of fasting and praying. If you read on in the text, we are told that Jesus returned to Galilee in the 'power of the Spirit'.
Jesus, God himself, relied on the Holy Spirit to give him direction and power. Do you rely on the Holy Spirit? For what purpose?
Context: Jesus was just baptized by John in the Jordan River.
Text:
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'[a]"
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'[b]"
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[c]"
12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[d]"
13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Luke 4:4 Deut. 8:3
Luke 4:8 Deut. 6:13
Luke 4:11 Psalm 91:11,12
Luke 4:12 Deut. 6:16
taken from www.biblegateway.com
The Trinity is one of the most difficult concepts of the Bible to fully understand. One God, three persons. Each is separate, yet all are one. I find it fascinating that Jesus, fully God and fully Man, can be filled with the Holy Spirit... is that because of the man He was, or for another reason? The Spirit clearly led Jesus into the desert and it can be presumed that the Spirit stayed with him for the next forty days of fasting and praying. If you read on in the text, we are told that Jesus returned to Galilee in the 'power of the Spirit'.
Jesus, God himself, relied on the Holy Spirit to give him direction and power. Do you rely on the Holy Spirit? For what purpose?
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
May 1 - The Spirit is Everywhere
Read Psalm 139:1-12
Context: This is a psalm written by David for the director of music.
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Psalm 139:8 Hebrew Sheol
taken from www.biblegateway.com
Both of our sons have been having some trouble 'staying on task' at school lately. I don't know if it's the weather that has them restless or if they are just being boys, but we get reports every other day or so that one of them has been preoccupied with something other than their assignment. Yesterday Kevin kind of grinned when he told me that his teacher had given him a good report for the day. He confided that while she was out of the classroom he had been out of his chair quite a bit...and he finished with "She didn't even know!"
That, of course, led to the discussion of God's omnipresence. While she didn't know, He did, and He wants us to obey even when no one is watching. This passage is good evidence of that!
There is a more positive side to this passage, too. In addition to watching us at all times so we know that we can't hide the evil in our hearts or actions, the Spirit is also watching out for us...helping us to avoid those situations and protecting our hearts from harm. No matter where we are, or how far away from Him we stray, the Spirit is with us and is nudging us toward fulfillment of God's plan.
Context: This is a psalm written by David for the director of music.
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Psalm 139:8 Hebrew Sheol
taken from www.biblegateway.com
Both of our sons have been having some trouble 'staying on task' at school lately. I don't know if it's the weather that has them restless or if they are just being boys, but we get reports every other day or so that one of them has been preoccupied with something other than their assignment. Yesterday Kevin kind of grinned when he told me that his teacher had given him a good report for the day. He confided that while she was out of the classroom he had been out of his chair quite a bit...and he finished with "She didn't even know!"
That, of course, led to the discussion of God's omnipresence. While she didn't know, He did, and He wants us to obey even when no one is watching. This passage is good evidence of that!
There is a more positive side to this passage, too. In addition to watching us at all times so we know that we can't hide the evil in our hearts or actions, the Spirit is also watching out for us...helping us to avoid those situations and protecting our hearts from harm. No matter where we are, or how far away from Him we stray, the Spirit is with us and is nudging us toward fulfillment of God's plan.
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