14 Thursday Jan 2016
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It is easy to love people and be kind to them when they love you and are kind to you. But what happens when people are mean, unkind, and unloving? In Luke 6:32 Jesus answers that question, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.” Jesus is our example and we are supposed to be a reflection of Him. Loving others is not conditional.
13 Wednesday Jan 2016
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Do you ever get the impression Jesus healed people on the Sabbath on purpose? It seems like Jesus took several opportunities to do this and it wasn’t an accident. Jesus begins to explain why in Mark 3:4, Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?” But they remained silent. One of Jesus’ principle reasons for coming to earth was to fulfill the law. He makes it clear later on that He was not here to abolish it. The law had it’s purpose, and it’s purpose was to bring people to a point where they recognized their unrighteousness and their need for repentance. When Jesus came, there was no longer a need for rules to remind people of their sinful nature because now Jesus became our only way to salvation and eternal life with Him. From this point on we were no longer in competition with each other to see who could be more holy by following the rules. Our only task in life is to reflect who Jesus is. That is what is means to be “Christ-like”.
12 Tuesday Jan 2016
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There are no rules around doing what is right and Jesus exemplified this at every opportunity. In John 5:17 Jesus makes it clear that rules do not supersede taking care of those in need, Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” Let us never hide behind traditions and liturgy in place of doing what is right. If we need to shut down the church on Sunday in order to feed and clothe the poor, then let’s do that.
11 Monday Jan 2016
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It is difficult to understand that Jesus came for the salvation of everyone, including Jews and gentiles, but the message He brought was easier for the gentiles to accept than the Jews. I never really understood what Mark 2:22 meant until the last few years, And no one pours new wine into old wine skins. If he does, the wine bursts the skin, and both the wine and the wine skins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wine skins. Jesus is talking about His ministry and His message, which are radically different than the Jews expected of the Messiah and broke all their expectations (old wine skin). The new message was something the gentiles were more easily able to digest and accept (new wine skin).
09 Saturday Jan 2016
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In today’s reading we find Jesus declaring to the Samaritan woman that he is the Messiah in John 4:26, Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.” This is one of the times in scripture where Jesus plainly reveals Himself to be the Christ. While there was some doubt, the woman recognizes Him as the one they have been waiting on. The sad part is many have heard the truth and do not believe and have rejected Him. We know the truth, we just need to accept it.
08 Friday Jan 2016
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When we accept Christ we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And just like we cannot control our physical birth, we cannot control our spiritual birth. In John 3:8 Jesus explains to Nicodemus how the Holy Spirit works in us, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” The Spirit will move in us in ways we cannot predict or control. The secret is to allow it to happen and follow His guidance in our lives.
07 Thursday Jan 2016
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I love the story of Jesus turning water into wine. The reason is because of His interaction with His mother Mary. When she told the servants to listen to Jesus, his reply was in John 2:4, “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” While His time had not yet come He still obeyed His mother. This is kind of humorous to me and yet displayed the type of obedience that is expected of us. Even Jesus listened to His mom.
06 Wednesday Jan 2016
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Obedience is sometimes hard, especially when you have tried and failed on your own a few times. Luke 5:5 shows what happens when we are obedient to God’s calling, Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” The result was more than Simon could ever have hoped for. When God calls us to something, and we obey, the payoff in the end is always better than we can imagine.
05 Tuesday Jan 2016
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In today’s reading we look at Luke’s account of Jesus being tempted by Satan for 40 days and nights while he fasted. At the end of this time, even though He was weak and hungry, Jesus rebuked the devil for trying to tempt Him. The most powerful verse for me is Luke 4:12, Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” Two things happened here: 1) Jesus exclaimed His true identity as God’s Holy Son. 2) Jesus put the devil in his place and showed His authority over all things, including the devil. When we face temptation or struggles around us, remember who is our authority and who has all control.
04 Monday Jan 2016
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When Jesus was on the earth, even He was tempted by Satan. But even Jesus came to a point where He had enough. Matthew 4:10 says, Jesus said to him, “Away from me Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord you God, and serve him only.'” We will never stop being tempted, but we have the same power to move Satan aside in God’s holy name.
Daily Devotion 