2016 Day 76 – Matthew 26

16 Wednesday Mar 2016

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When things go wrong, do you run to Jesus or do you run away from Him? What about when you feel you are in a place (maybe work or school) where those around you don’t understand your faith; do you stand with Jesus in defiance of everyone around you, or do you act as though you are just like everyone else? When faced with adversity, the disciples ran even though they promised Jesus they would stand with Him, even if it meant dying for Him. Matthew 26:31 says, Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” We all want to think we would run into a burning building, but the truth is most of us do not have that kind of courage unless it involves someone very close to us. If our relationship with Jesus is weak, so will our desire to stand with Him when things get tough. If the disciples ran, what makes us think we won’t? Our strength and courage to stand can only come from our faith and a close relationship with Him.

2016 Day 75 – Matthew 25

15 Tuesday Mar 2016

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Jesus called all of us to take care of each other. When those who need help the most receive it from us, we are helping as though we were helping Christ Himself. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘ I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” We are either obedient and do what Jesus asks of us or we are not. There is no misunderstanding because Christ showed us the example of what we are to do. What are we doing differently that separates us from unbelievers?

2016 Day 74 – Matthew 24

14 Monday Mar 2016

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Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. While people around us allow themselves to be influenced and changed but the distractions and misinformation of this world, we must remember that God does not change. In Matthew 24:35 Jesus said, Heaven and earth will pass, but my words will never pass away. People and their opinions will not last, but God’s truth is eternal.

2016 Day 73 – Reflection Day

13 Sunday Mar 2016

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Hope everyone has a great day of reflection and worship. This is a great day to catch up on reading and spending time with family and friends.

If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.

2016 Day 72 – Mark 13

12 Saturday Mar 2016

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We should never be surprised by how much people want to judge us for following Christ. On more than one occasion I have hear my faith called a “fairy tale”. But in Mark 13:13 Jesus warns us of this, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Jesus knew people would judge us based on what we believe and who we believe in. But in the end, it will all be worth it. Our faith and our willingness to stand for truth will result in our reward of eternity. It’s not always easy, but it will always be worth it.

2016 Day 71 – Luke 21

11 Friday Mar 2016

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In most of today’s reading we listen to what Jesus says about His second coming. Even after 2,000 years we are still waiting. But even after all this time, Jesus’ words are still true; we should not dwell or be anxious about any outcomes. In Luke 21:34 Jesus says, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.” We know Christ is coming again, but we should not be obsessed to the point where we lose perspective on the wok He has called us to do. Don’t let life’s worries overburden you and cause you to lose focus.

2016 Day 70 – Luke 20

10 Thursday Mar 2016

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When we accept Christ’s gift of salvation, we no longer have to worry about eternal death. In the beginning of today’s reading Jesus is talking about the final resurrection, but the truth still remains that we are alive in Christ through eternity. Jesus says to the religious leader in Luke 20:38, He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive. If all there is after this life on earth is death, then it would not matter who God is, why He created us, or whether He loves us or not. But God loves us through eternity because we will be alive.

2016 Day 69 – Matthew 23

09 Wednesday Mar 2016

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In today’s reading we listen as Jesus condemns the religious leaders for their hypocrisy. Of all the things Jesus mentions, the passage that stood out to me most was Matthew 23:23, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices – mint, dill, cummin. 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.” While we may feel good about giving our stuff (money, possessions, etc.) to the church and those in need, what we really need to concentrate on is reflecting Christ’s example from when He was here on earth. When we fail to do what is right by taking care of people and loving them, we fail at being who God calls each of us to be.

2016 Day 68 – Mark 12

08 Tuesday Mar 2016

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In today’s reading, the story of the poor widow was incredibly humbling. When we give to others out of our wealth it can be meaningful to us. But when we give all we have (and I am not just talking about money), it means everything to us and the Kingdom of God. In Mark 12:43-44 it says, 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.” When gifts are given out of gratitude and a spirit of generosity, it is pleasing to God. There is little to no value in a gift given grudgingly or purely for recognition. The value of any gift is not measured by the amount, but by the spirit in which it was given.

2016 Day 67 – Matthew 22

07 Monday Mar 2016

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When Jesus was asked by religious leaders what the great commandment is, He replied in Matthew 22:37-40, 37 Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Jesus’ point was that if we love God and our neighbors, we will naturally keep God’s commandments. Instead of worrying about everything we cannot do, we should be more concerned with everything we should be doing.