Category Archives: Christian

Nothing is impossible (Mark 14:27-31;66-72), November 3, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 14:27-31; 66-72

Set – Job 25; Mark 14

Go! – Job 25; Mark 13-14

Mark 14:27-31; 66-72
Jesus: ²⁷ All of you will desert Me tonight. It was written by Zechariah,
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will scatter.
²⁸ But when I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.
Peter (protesting): ²⁹ It doesn’t matter who else turns his back on You. I will never desert You.
Jesus: ³⁰ Peter, mark My words. This very night before the cock crows twice, you will have denied Me three times.
Peter (insisting): ³¹ No, Teacher. Even if it means that I have to die with You, I’ll never deny You.
All the other disciples said similar things.
^66-67 While Peter was waiting by the fire outside, one of the servant girls of the high priest saw him.
Servant Girl: You were one of those men with Jesus of Nazareth.
Peter: ⁶⁸ Woman, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
He left the fire, and as he went out into the gateway, a cock crowed.
⁶⁹ The servant girl saw him again.
Servant Girl: Hey, this is one of them—one of those who followed Jesus.
Peter: ⁷⁰ No, I’m not one of them.
A little later, some of the other bystanders turned to Peter.
Bystander: Surely you’re one of them. You’re a Galilean. We can tell by your accent.
⁷¹ And then he swore an oath that if he wasn’t telling the truth that he would be cursed.
Peter: Listen, I don’t even know the man you’re talking about.
⁷² And as he said this, a cock crowed a second time; and Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the cock crows twice, you will have denied Me three times.”
He began to weep.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Be careful about making promises you can’t keep. Peter thought he would never deny Me when he made his declaration. It was just a few short hours, though, and he not only denied Me, but sealed his denial with an oath. Fear for his life caused him to forget the thin boast he made that he would die before he would leave My side. It only took the sight of the soldiers’ swords in the night to dissuade him from following further to his own crucifixion.

It wasn’t that Peter didn’t believe he would stand with Me until the end, but he didn’t have the strength by himself to do so and because My Spirit had not yet come to stay with you and in you, he just couldn’t do it. He fled just like Zechariah said all of My disciples would. None had the intestinal fortitude to stand by Me in those darkest hours. They had all witnessed crucifixions. They had all seen the floggings and beatings inflicted by the Romans. They knew what could happen if they didn’t escape … and quickly. So they ran. All of them.

It was partly because of Peter’s experience he became such a fervish missionary for Me. Once he learned to lean upon Me and trust in My strength instead of his own, Peter discovered he could keep his promise and not fear physical death. Once Peter saw Me after My resurrection and had My Spirit living in him, he knew nothing could keep him from following Me wherever I led him. Even to the cross where he requested he be crucified upside-down because he felt he didn’t deserve to die the same way I did.

What was the change in Peter? The upper room was the change. He and those who spent time with him in that room waited for the third person of the triune Godhead to invade their lives. The Holy Spirit came to them after they prayed through. What does that mean? They gave up everything. They emptied themselves of self and let Me have control of their lives. They vowed to do what I asked them to do…whatever it might be or whatever it might cost. Peter and those with him held nothing back.

You can do the same. It’s not just the words, “I give myself to you,” though. It means you have to really do it. You really pray through and give Me everything…everything. It’s not always easy to give everything up, but you must give Me everything if you expect to have the strength of those like Peter, Paul, James, John, and so many others through the centuries.

Peter couldn’t keep his promises until I lived within him. Neither will you. But once you let Me transform you with My mighty power, there is nothing impossible through Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God knows your thoughts (Mark 12:1-12), November 2, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 12:1-12

Set – Job 23; Mark 12

Go! – Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

Mark 12:1-12
¹ Then He told a story.
Jesus: There was a man who established a vineyard. He put up a wall around it to fence it in; he dug a pit for a winepress; he built a watchtower. When he had finished this work, he leased the vineyard to some tenant farmers and went away to a distant land.
² When the grapes were in season, he sent a slave to the vineyard to collect his rent—his share of the fruit. ³ But the farmers grabbed the slave, beat him, and sent him back to his master empty-handed. ⁴ The owner sent another slave, and this slave the farmers beat over the head and sent away dishonored. ⁵ A third slave, the farmers killed. This went on for some time, with the farmers beating some of the messengers and killing others until the owner had lost all patience. ⁶ He had a son whom he loved above all things, and he said to himself, “When these thugs see my son, they’ll know he carries my authority. They’ll have to respect him.”
⁷ But when the tenant farmers saw the owner’s son coming, they said among themselves, “Look at this! It’s the son, the heir to this vineyard. If we kill him, then the land will be ours!” ⁸ So they seized him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.
⁹ Now what do you suppose the owner will do when he hears of this? He’ll come and destroy these farmers, and he’ll give the land to others.
¹⁰ Haven’t you read the Scriptures? As the psalmist says,
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very stone that holds together the entire foundation.
¹¹ This is the work of the Eternal One,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
¹² The priests, scribes, temple leaders, and elders knew the story was directed against them. They couldn’t figure out how to lay their hands on Jesus then because they were afraid the people would rise up against them. So they left Him alone, and they went away furious.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The Pharisees and their cronies have been working behind the scenes to try to get Me alone to kill Me. They think their plans are secret, known only to the select few who plotted My execution by their hands. Since they think My statements blashemous, they certainly cannot understand I know their thoughts and know the plans they laid out for Me. I know they wanted to stone Me in Nazareth. I know they wanted to destroy Me in the Temple on the day I healed the man with the withered hand. I know they wished Me dead when I told the paralyzed man to pick up his mat and walk away on the Sabbath.

I broke their rules and helped people understand what God meant by the laws He gave Moses on Mount Sinai during those forty days on the mountain. I showed those who would listen that God is not just a God of love, but that God is love. His laws help people understand His love by showing you how much you need Him and how much He extends His grace and mercy to you to redeem you. In fact, God gives His greatest gift to redeem you – Himself.

The parable of the vineyard owner let the religious leaders around Me know I knew their thoughts. I didn’t need spies in their camp. I know everything they did and everything they were going to do. You read in the gospels where they tried to take Me several times, but they couldn’t until I let them because until the time was right, I wouldn’t let them. I knew what they were doing at every turn, because I’m God. I knew them better than they knew themselves.

I know you too. I know your thoughts and I know your actions. I know when you are passionate about following Me and when you just play the religious game with your words and actions. I know how you pray and how you listen to Me when I talk to you. I know when you try to do what I tell you and I know when you let Me give you My strength to help you through a task.

You can try to hide what you do, just like the Pharisees tried to hide their schemes from Me, but it won’t work for you, just like it didn’t work for them. They discovered I knew their plots and schemes when I gave them the parable of the killing of the vineyard owner’s son. You know because for 2,000 years you have had the witness of those who followed the truth of My word. Those who believe in Me for salvation can tell you I know their inmost thoughts before and after their salvation. But when you give your life to Me, I can transform your life and you’ll not need to try and hide from Me anymore. You can’t hide, anyway, so just quit trying. Come to Me and live in freedom.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Learn to let God work (Mark 9:1-29), November 1, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 9:1-29

Set – Psalms 121; Mark 9:1-29

Go! – Psalms 121; Mark 9-10

Mark 9:1-29
Jesus: ¹Truly, some of you who are here now will not experience death before you see the kingdom of God coming in glory and power.
² Six days after saying this, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up onto a high mountaintop by themselves. There He was transformed ³ so that His clothing became intensely white, brighter than any earthly cleaner could bleach them. ⁴ Elijah and Moses appeared to them and talked with Jesus.
Peter (to Jesus): ⁵ Teacher, it’s a great thing that we’re here. We should build three shelters here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
⁶He was babbling and did not know what he was saying because they were terrified by what they were witnessing.
⁷ Then a cloud surrounded them, and they heard a voice within that cloud.
Voice: This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him.
⁸ All of a sudden, they looked about and all they had seen was gone. They stood alone on the mountain with Jesus.
⁹ On their way back down, He urged them not to tell anyone what they had witnessed until the Son of Man had risen from the dead, ¹⁰ so they kept it all to themselves.
Disciples (to one another): What does He mean, “Until the Son of Man is risen”? ¹¹ (to Jesus) Master, why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?
Jesus (thinking of John the Baptist): ¹² Elijah does come first to restore all things. They have it right. But there is something else written in the Scriptures about the Son of Man: He will have to suffer and be rejected. ¹³ Here’s the truth: Elijah has come; his enemies treated him with contempt and did what they wanted to him, just as it was written.
¹⁴ When they reached the rest of the disciples, Jesus saw that a large crowd had gathered and that among them the scribes were asking questions. ¹⁵ Right when the crowd saw Jesus, they were overcome with awe and surged forward immediately, nearly running over the disciples.
Jesus (to the scribes): ¹⁶ What are you debating with My disciples? What would you like to know?
Father (in the crowd): ¹⁷ Teacher, I have brought my son to You. He is filled with an unclean spirit. He cannot speak, ¹⁸ and when the spirit takes control of him, he is thrown to the ground to wail and moan, to foam at the mouth, to grind his teeth, and to stiffen up. I brought him to Your followers, but they could do nothing with him. Can You help us?
Jesus: ¹⁹ O faithless generation, how long must I be among you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.
²⁰ They brought the boy toward Jesus; but as soon as He drew near, the spirit took control of the boy and threw him on the ground, where he rolled, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus (to the father): ²¹ How long has he been like this?
Father: Since he was a baby. ²² This spirit has thrown him often into the fire and sometimes into the water, trying to destroy him. I have run out of options; I have tried everything. But if there’s anything You can do, please, have pity on us and help us.
Jesus: ²³ What do you mean, “If there’s anything?” All things are possible, if you only believe.
Father (crying in desperation): ²⁴ I believe, Lord. Help me to believe!
²⁵ Jesus noticed that a crowd had gathered around them now. He issued a command to the unclean spirit.
Jesus: Listen up, you no-talking, no-hearing demon. I Myself am ordering you to come out of him now. Come out, and don’t ever come back!
²⁶ The spirit shrieked and caused the boy to thrash about; then it came out of the boy and left him lying as still as death. Many of those in the crowd whispered that he was dead. ²⁷ But Jesus took the boy by the hand and lifted him to his feet.
²⁸ Later He and His disciples gathered privately in a house.
Disciples (to Jesus): Why couldn’t we cast out that unclean spirit?
Jesus: ²⁹ That sort of powerful spirit can only be conquered with much prayer and fasting.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Prayer and fasting. The secret to doing miraculous things in My name is to stay connected intimately with Me through prayer and fasting. The disciples who tried to expel the demon from the young man couldn’t do it because of their limited connection with Me. They didn’t have the deep connection that comes from knowing Me intimately.

Does that mean you must memorize every word of every book of the Bible? No, but you should read it. Read it through from cover to cover. It really isn’t that long, you know. In most translations, the Bible is only 1500 pages. That’s less than five average-sized novels. I guarantee you’ll get more out of My 1500 pages than you’ll ever get out of five novels.

Then talk to Me and use the time you would spend doing something else with Me. Fast for Me. In My time on earth, it often meant fasting from food because the time spent preparing meals for a day, eating, and cleaning up meant a great deal of time. Then you killed the animal, slaughtered it, roasted it, baked bread, and the process to eat took six to eight hours from start to finish. Fasting that time for Me meant spending that time with Me instead of spending it on the routine of preparing food and eating it.

What do you routinely that you can give up for Me? Maybe it’s a few hours of television each week. Maybe it’s those extra holes of golf or that Saturday afternoon ball game. Maybe it is a meal or two. The point is, spend time with Me and get to know Me. That’s how you learn to let Me work through you to do My will for others.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Don’t take someone else’s word for the truth (Mark 8:27-37), October 31, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 8:27-37

Set – Job 22; Mark 8

Go! – Job 22; Mark 7-8

Mark 8:27-37
²⁷ As He traveled with His disciples into the villages of Caesarea Philippi, He posed an important question to them.
Jesus: Who do the people say that I am?
²⁸ They told Him about the great speculation concerning His identity.
Disciples: Some of them say You are John the Baptist, others say Elijah, while others say one of the prophets of old.
Jesus (pressing the question): ²⁹ And who do you say that I am?
Peter: You are God’s Anointed, the Liberating King.
Jesus: ³⁰ Don’t tell anyone. It is not yet time.
³¹ And He went on to teach them many things about Himself: how the Son of Man would suffer; how He would be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes; how He would be killed; and how, after three days, God would raise Him from the dead.
³² He said all these things in front of them all, but Peter took Jesus aside to rebuke Him.
Jesus (seeing His disciples surrounding them): ³³ Get behind Me, you tempter! You’re thinking only of human things, not of the things God has planned.
³⁴ He gathered the crowd and His disciples alike.
Jesus: If any one of you wants to follow Me, you will have to give yourself up to God’s plan, take up your cross, and do as I do. ³⁵ For any one of you who wants to be rescued will lose your life, but any one of you who loses your life for My sake and for the sake of this good news will be liberated. ³⁶ Really, what profit is there for you to gain the whole world and lose yourself in the process? ³⁷ What can you give in exchange for your life?

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I asked Peter the ultimate question I ask everyone. “Who do you say I am?” It’s an important question that must have an answer from your heart, not just your brain. I asked the disciples who others thought I was to lead them into the question, but it’s always easier to answer that question. They didn’t look at each other or compare notes, they just answered. “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, others think one of the prophets. It’s not hard to tell Me what others might be thinking about Me.”

What about you, though? That’s the heart of the message. Who do you think I am? Unless you understand that I am One with the Father and Spirit, part of the triune Godhead, present at creation, you’ll struggle all your life with who I am and what I can do in your life. I was fully human, but also fully God. I know it’s hard to understand. You don’t need to understand. You just need to believe me.

Listen to My word, watch the transformation in the lives of those who make Me their Lord, let Me make the same transformation in you. You will know that I am who I say. No one can do the things I do. No one can help you the way I can. No one can give you the peace I give. No one can wipe away guilt from your life like Me. Because no one else can claim the title Son of God.

But until you personally recognize Me as God incarnate, the one died to pay the penalty for your sins. The one who rose from the tomb to live forever at the right hand of the Father. Until you know Me as your personal Lord and Savior, you will not know in your heart that I am Christ, the long awaited Messiah. Only when I am Lord of your life will you be able to say with Peter that I am God’s Anointed, the Liberating King. Give your life to Me and discover the truth for yourself. Anything less means taking someone else’s word for it.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God changes people (Mark 6:1-13), October 30, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 6:1-13

Set – Job 21; Mark 6

Go! – Job 21; Mark 5-6

Mark 6:1-13
¹ Jesus went back into His own hometown where He had grown up, and His disciples followed Him there. ² When the Sabbath came, He went into the synagogue in Nazareth and began to teach as He had done elsewhere, and many of those who heard Him were astonished.
Those in the Synagogue: Where did He gain this wisdom? And what are all these stories we’ve been hearing about the signs and healings He’s performed? Where did He get that kind of power? ³ Isn’t this Jesus, the little boy we used to see in Joseph’s carpenter shop? Didn’t He grow up to be a carpenter just like His father? Isn’t He the son of Mary over there and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, Simon, and their sisters? Who does He think He is?
And when they had thought about it that way, they became indignant and closed themselves to His message.
Jesus (seeing this): ⁴ A prophet can find honor anywhere except in his hometown, among his own people, and in his own household.
⁵ He could not do any of His great works among them except with a few of the sick, whom He healed by laying His hands upon them. ⁶ He was amazed by the stubbornness of their unbelief.
Jesus went out among the villages teaching, ⁷ and He called the twelve to Him and began to send them out in pairs. He gave them authority over unclean spirits ⁸ and instructed them to take nothing with them but a staff: no money, no bread, no bag, ⁹ nothing but the sandals on their feet and the coat on their back.
Jesus: ¹⁰ When you go into a house, stay there until it is time for you to leave that town. ¹¹ And if someone will not accept you and your message, when you leave, shake off the dust of that place from your feet as a judgment against it. On the day of judgment, that city will wish for the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah.
¹² And so His disciples went out into the countryside, preaching the changed life as Jesus had taught them, ¹³ casting out unclean spirits and anointing the sick with oil to heal them.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Do you ever think back about some of your childhood friends and wonder about the change in their lives? Perhaps you see their face on a television newscast and think, “I remember him! I never thought he would do something like that, he was such a nice guy.” Or, “How did he ever make it to the top of his industry? When I knew him he was the laziest guy in the class.”

Maybe you remember someone you went to high school or college with and never thought they would amount to much because they were the worst student, biggest cut up, most ill behaved student you could imagine. But people change, and I change them even more. Take a look at Paul. He was in the business of finding, capturing, and killing Christians because he thought they were damaging the “true” faith of the Jewish people. But then Paul met Me on his trip to Damascus and I changed him completely. Paul suffered tremendously as a result of his change. The people he formerly worked for tried their best to kill him because of the message I gave him to spread to the world.

Others run from Me and the change is not pretty. Everyone has some good in them because I made you and everything I make is good. But people can turn from Me and like rotting meat begin to decay and spoil and smell. You may not see the decay physically, but you’ll see it in behavior, character, and relationship. You’ll see their life begin to fall apart spiritually and spiral into certain destruction until they turn again to Me.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe the transformation that some have had. That’s what happened with the people in Nazareth. Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t this the guy we went to school with every day? Isn’t this the kid we played with growing up? How can He be the Messiah? He grew up with us. He can’t be the Messiah, He went grew up in the same place we did, he just can’t be the Messiah. We know what His brothers and sisters are like. Surely, He’s the same. He can’t be the Messiah.

Well, I was and I am. Sometimes you just need to open you eyes and recognize I can transform lives. Maybe you need to go through the transformation yourself to realize just how much I can change a person. If you think I can’t change someone completely, try Me. Let Me change you and you’ll find that no one is too hard for Me to give a complete makeover from the inside out.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Advantage – now! (Acts 4:1-20), October 29, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 4:1-20

Set – Job 20; Mark 4

Go! – Job 20; Mark 3-4

Mark 4:1-20
^1-2 Jesus went out again to teach by the Sea of Galilee. When the crowd became unmanageable, He climbed aboard a boat and sat down to teach the people listening on the shore by telling them parables. One of His teachings went like this:
Jesus: ³ Listen! A farmer went out and sowed his seed. ⁴ As he scattered it, one seed fell along the hardened path, and a bird flapped down and snapped it up. ⁵ One seed fell onto rocky places where the soil was thin, so it sprang up quickly. ⁶ But when the hot sun scorched the fragile stems and leaves, the seedling withered because its roots didn’t go deep in the soil. ⁷ One of the seeds fell among the weeds and thorns, which crowded the seedling out of producing a crop. ⁸ And the rest of the seeds fell in good, rich soil. When they sprouted, the plants grew and produced a crop 30, 60, even 100 times larger than expected for every seed that the farmer had sown.
⁹ All who have ears to hear, let them listen.
¹⁰ When they were alone, the twelve and others close to Him asked why He always taught in parables instead of explaining His teachings clearly.
Jesus: ¹¹ God has let you in on the inside story regarding the workings of the Kingdom—the hidden meanings. But the crowds—I teach them in parables ¹² as the prophet Isaiah predicted,
So that when they look, they see and yet do not understand.
When they hear, they listen and yet do not comprehend.
Otherwise, they might really turn and be forgiven.
¹³ Do you mean to say that you didn’t understand My parable of the sower? That was the key parable. If you don’t see what I was trying to teach there, how will you be able to understand any of the others?
¹⁴ The seed the farmer is sowing is the good news, God’s word. ¹⁵ Some people are the seed thrown onto the path, and the tempter snaps up the word before it can even take root. ¹⁶ Others are the seed thrown among the rocks. Those people hear the word and receive it immediately with joy and enthusiasm; ¹⁷ but without deep roots, doubt, trouble, or persecution instantly withers their faith. ¹⁸ Still others are the seed tossed among weeds and brambles. The word has reached them, ¹⁹ but the things of this life—the worries, the drive for more and more, the desire for other things—those things cluster around close and choke the life of God out of them until they cannot produce. ²⁰ But those last seeds—those sown into good soil? Those people hear the word, accept it, meditate on it, act on it, and bear fruit—a crop 30, 60, or 100 times larger than the farmer dropped to earth.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

A lot of people will tell you that if they heard Me face to face they would believe, but they wouldn’t. You have a significant advantage over those who listened to Me on the hillsides of Judea. You have 2000 years of people who have interpreted My parables, lived the life I showed My apostles and disciples, and gave witness to the truth of the things I said.

The people of the land heard My words for the first time. My preaching was radical. I told them things that turned the religious thought of the day upsidedown. Many didn’t like the rules and regulations of the religious leaders of the day. They didn’t care for the mixed authorities of Jerusalem and Rome. Many weren’t sure which was worse, the dictates of the Temple or those of the Emperor. So, when I began to preach a message of love God and your neighbor and everything else would fall into place, it was a message they longed to hear. Yet it confused many and they didn’t understand what it meant.

Others thought I came to overthrow the bonds of the Roman oppression and final bring back the political freedom the nation longed for. Israel hadn’t enjoyed real political freedom since the Assyrians started collecting tribute. That was five centuries earlier. They were ready for freedom and longed to revolt against the tyrannical rule of the Romans.

The priests certainly were confused. They were happy with the arrangements they had with their priestly lineage and didn’t see someone from David’s line taking over their scholarly role of teaching others how they should live under the law of Moses. But there I was sharing with the people what the laws really meant. How hatred was the seed of murder. How lust sparked adultry. How carefully setting aside a tenth to give to the Temple didn’t mean anything to the Father when you let your father and mother starve.

I brought the reality and revelation of the law to the people and they didn’t know how to handle it. You benefit from the many letters my disciples wrote to the early churches, the commentaries and studies available today. You have no excuse for not listening to My instructions and following Me.

So now that your excuses are gone for wanting first-century experiences, how about getting into My word and learning about Me. Really let yourself go and let Me take control of your life. That’s what My word demands. Die to self and be born anew in Me. You won’t be sorry if you do.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Learn from Job and his trust in God (Acts 19), October 28, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Job 19

Set – Job 19; Mark 1

Go! – Job 19; Mark 1-2

Job 19
¹ Job answered his friends in frustration.
² Job: O how long! How long will you torture me and pound me with your chatter?
³ What is it now? Eight times? Nine times?
No, surely it’s ten times you have insulted me.
Ten times you’ve shamelessly acted to harm me.
⁴ Even if I have erred, my faults lie with me alone.
⁵ However, if you must exalt yourselves at my expense,
if you must proffer my own disgrace as evidence against me,
⁶ Then you ought at least to know that I have been wronged by God.
Yes, His net is closed about me.
⁷ Look! I cry out, “Violence!” but no response comes.
I shout for help, but justice eludes me.
⁸ He is a roadblock. He will not let me pass;
He has covered my roads in darkness.
⁹ He has stripped me of my honor,
torn the crown off my head.
¹⁰ He comes at me from all sides, but I attempt to leave;
He rips out my hope as if it were a tree in dry ground.
¹¹ His anger burns white-hot against me,
and He considers me His enemy.
¹² His militia arrives to raise a siege ramp against me
and to surround my dwelling.
¹³ He has driven my relatives far from me;
I am cut off from my friends.
¹⁴ My entire family has failed me;
my best friends have forgotten me.
¹⁵ Everyone in my house, including my maidservants,
treats me like an outsider;
I am a stranger to them now.
¹⁶ When I send for my servant, he does not come.
I even plead with him with my own voice.
¹⁷ My breath is strange; even my wife avoids me;
I’m loathsome to my relatives; they can’t stand to be around me.
¹⁸ Even young children taunt me,
and when I seek to rise, they mock me.
¹⁹ My closest friends can no longer bear me,
and anyone I have ever loved has turned against me.
²⁰ I am reduced to skin and bones;
I have barely escaped by the skin of my teeth.
²¹ Show me your pity, my friends, show me your pity!
For truly, I have been struck by the hand of God.
²² Why do you pursue me as God has done?
Is my emaciated body not satisfying enough for you?
²³ What I would give to have my words taken down,
to have them inscribed for posterity on a scroll.
²⁴ No! More than that!
To have them chiseled with iron filled with lead—
carved in stone for all eternity.
²⁵ Besides, I know my Redeemer lives,
and in the end He will rise and take His stand on the earth.
²⁶ And though my skin has been stripped off,
still, in my flesh, I will see God.
²⁷ I, myself, will see Him:
not some stranger, but actually me, with these eyes.
Toward this end, my deepest longings pine away within my chest.
²⁸ If you ask, “How will we pursue him
since the root cause of his suffering lies in him?”
²⁹ You ought to fear the sword yourselves;
for the sword bears fury’s punishment
in order that you might realize there is, in fact, a judgment.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Job laments his condition. No wonder! His friends mock him, the children run away from him or make fun of his condition. He is covered in boils and is reduced to skin and bones. His wife and family will have nothing to do with him. He’s lost everything and those who used to serve him won’t even talk to him. Job is alone on an ash heap surrounded by three men who only ask him to tell them about his unrepentant sins…of which he has none to confess.

What I like about his lament, though, is his confidence that he will have a unique revelation at the end of it. Did you hear what he said? “And though my skin has been stripped off, still, in my flesh, I will see God. I, myself will see Him: not some stranger, but actually me, with these eyes. Toward this end, my deepest longings pine away within my chest.”

Job is starting to tire, as anyone would, but he still looks toward Me as his redeemer. He still hopes to see Me with his own eyes. He still expects rescue from the suffering he faces. And Job looks to Me as his Savior. That’s where Job’s confidence lay. I could see into Job’s heart when I told Satan Job was a righteous man. He was proving Me an accurate judge. Despite all Job was going through, he still put his confidence and faith in Me as he goes through the trials I allowed Satan to press upon him.

Learn some lessons from Job. Never give up. Understand you may never know why you go through the trials you face, but I will never let you face more than you can handle. And you don’t know who else is looking at your life to watch how you weather the storms you are facing. Just keep trusting in Me. I’ll get you through it.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Life demonstrates your words (Acts 28:17-31), October 27, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 28:17-31

Set – Psalms 114; Acts 28

Go! – Job 18; Psalms 114; Acts 27-28

Acts 28:17-31
¹⁷ Three days after his arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders.
Paul: Brothers, although I committed no wrong against our Jewish people or our ancestral customs, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. ¹⁸ The Romans examined me and wanted to set me free because I had committed no capital offense. ¹⁹ But my Jewish opponents objected, so I had to appeal to the emperor—even though I had no charges against me and had filed no charges against my nation. ²⁰ I wanted to gather you together and explain all this to you. I want you to understand that it is because of Israel’s hope that I am bound with this chain.
Jewish Leaders:²¹ We haven’t received letters from Judea about you, and no visiting brother has reported anything or said anything negative about you. ²² So we are interested in hearing your viewpoint on the sect you represent. The only thing we know about it is that people everywhere speak against it.
²³ They scheduled a day to meet again, and a large number came to his lodging. From morning until evening, he explained his message to them—giving his account of the kingdom of God, trying to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets’ writings. ²⁴ Some were convinced, but others refused to believe.
Paul (adding as they left in disagreement): ²⁵ The Holy Spirit rightly spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
²⁶ Go to this people and say,
“You certainly do hear, but you will never understand;
you certainly do see, but you will never have insight.
²⁷ Make their hearts hard,
their ears deaf, and their eyes blind.
Otherwise, they would look and see,
listen and hear,
understand and repent,
and be healed.”
²⁸ So let it be known to you that God’s liberation, God’s healing, has been sent to the outsiders, and they will listen.
²⁹ Then the local Jewish leaders left Paul to discuss all he had told them.
³⁰ For two full years, he lived there in Rome, paying all his own expenses, receiving all who came to him. ³¹ With great confidence and with no hindrance, he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the ultimate authority—the Lord Jesus, God’s Anointed, the Liberating King.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The wheels of man’s justice systems ran slow in Rome just as they do now. Paul sat in prison for two years before his case was finally heard and charges against him were dismissed. Yes, he was on house arrest, but that doesn’t mean he had freedom. He still had guards outside his door. He wasn’t free to move about the city or attend the synagogue or do the things he would like to do. His movements were restricted by the court and soldiers ensured he didn’t violate the terms of his arrest.

Paul didn’t let his time go to waste, though. During his days he preached to the guard. Many turned their lives over to Christ. Many learned about Paul’s faith because of their duty to guard him. They couldn’t make him stop talking about his God. They couldn’t leave … and so they listened. And many were convinced.

What was the difference between his brother Jews who went away unbelieving and those Roman soldiers who became part of the church in Rome? The Jews started with closed hearts and ears. They didn’t want to believe anything other than what they heard from their rabbis. Perhaps the Roman guards didn’t want to hear anything different either. But the Jews heard Paul’s words and left unbelieving.

The Roman guards heard, maybe unbelieving at first, but they had to stick around and not only listen, but they watched Paul’s life day after day. And that’s the difference. Every day the guards saw the difference Christ made in Paul’s life that they didn’t see in the lives of any of the other religions around them. The pantheon of gods they worships didn’t transform their lives. The Jews and their traditions didn’t make a difference in the lives of those around them. They just lived by rules. But Paul… He and those like him bowed to Christ were different and their lives showed. The guards wanted what Paul had and listened to learn how to get it.

Do you spend enough time with Me to let Me transform you? Do you spend enough time with those you want to hear the good news to let them see the transformation in your life and see that My message isn’t just words but has life transforming power? It takes both to be effective. Paul let his life show that My message is true. You can do the same.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

There is hope! (Job 17), October 26, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Job 17

Set – Job 17; Acts 26

Go! – Job 16-17; Acts 24-26

Job 17
Job: ¹ My spirit has collapsed; my days have been blotted out;
the grave is prepared for me.
² There are mockers all around me;
my eyes are fixed on their unwarranted opposition of me.
³ Show me a sign! Vouch for me, God!
Who is there to give me his hand, guaranteeing his pledge?
⁴ I think no one is there because You have closed up their minds,
made them unable to see or understand;
so You will honor none of them.
⁵ You have heard, “Whoever denounces his friends for land
will watch his children go blind.”
⁶ But God has turned me into a swear word for everyone;
I have become a symbol of human darkness;
I am the face on whom one spits.
⁷ All my afflictions cloud my vision;
the members of my body are wasting away;
I am a mere shadow of what it once was.
⁸ Those of moral fiber are appalled at this;
innocent men grow indignant at the wicked.
⁹ Even still, the righteous embrace their way of life;
those with clean hands go from strong to stronger.
¹⁰ By contrast, I look to you, my friends, and I say,
“Come ahead, all of you; try your words once more.”
I still won’t expect to find a wise man among you.
¹¹ Even now my days have passed me by;
My plans lie broken at my feet;
the secret wishes of my heart grow cold.
¹² And yet my friends say, this loss of hope is for good,
turning my dark night into what appears to them as day.
In the pitch darkness, these broken plans and secret wishes speak to me.
They say, “There is light nearby.”
¹³ If I hope only to live in the land of the dead,
if I prepare for myself a bed in the darkness,
¹⁴ If I speak to my burial pit, calling it “Father,”
and to the worms in the earth, calling them “Mother” and “Sister,”
¹⁵ Then where will I find my hope?
And who will see it?
¹⁶ Will hope go with me to the place of death?
Will hope accompany me into the ground?

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Have you noticed Job no longer blames Me for his troubles. He doesn’t know why he struggles in agony and suffers each day the loss of his children, his home, and his worldly goods. He doesn’t know why all his friends have turned against him and assume he has done evil to deserve God’s punishment. Job doesn’t understand the trials he endures at the moment, but recognizes that it isn’t punishment from Me.

Job is in deep despair, though. He has come to the end of his rope and wishes only to be rid of all the suffering. Job wants hope that there is something besides the suffering he has endured for so long.

The good news for you is I have lifted the veil that covers death’s door with My resurrection. You have seen beyond the pale of death because you know that I rose from the dead and so there is also hope in your resurrection. Because I am prepaing a place for you on this side of the great divide, you have hope beyond the grave. You no longer need to live with the despair Job and his friends suffered in their day.

Job heard of the grave and his generation heard some rudimentary teachings about life after death, but I gave you proof when I burst forth from the tomb on that first Easter morning. I promised I would come back to bring you to live with Me. I told you I would build a room for you in My house and there is plenty of room for everyone who believes in Me. You don’t need to feel hopeless. You don’t need to think this is the end. You don’t need to assume this is all there is. There is hope because I have already overcome all the suffering and sorrow and pain that accompanied Me to the cross. Now you can now your next destination and know the short suffering in this life will come to an end when you give your life to Me.

You don’t need to be in despair as Job was. You can have hope and you can know hope today by giving your life to Me. Do it. You won’t be sorry.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Wrongs don’t make right (Acts 23:12-35), October 25, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 23:12-35

Set – Job 15; Acts 23

Go! – Job 15; Acts 21-23

Acts 23:12-35
^12-13 That morning a group of more than 40 Jewish opponents conspired to kill Paul. They bound themselves by an oath that they wouldn’t eat or drink until he was dead. ¹⁴ They told the chief priests and elders about their plan.
Jewish Opponents: We’ve made an oath not to eat or drink until this man is dead. ¹⁵ So you and the council must ask the commandant to bring Paul to meet with you. Tell him that you want to further investigate Paul’s case. We’ll get rid of the troublemaker on his way here.
¹⁶ Now Paul had a nephew who heard about the planned ambush; he managed to gain entry into the barracks and alerted Paul. ¹⁷ Paul called one of the officers.
Paul: Take this young man to the commandant. He has news the commandant needs to hear.
¹⁸ The officer took him to the commandant.
Officer: The prisoner named Paul asked me to bring this man to you. He has some kind of information.
¹⁹ The commandant led him away so they could speak in private.
Commandant: What do you want to tell me?
Young Man: ²⁰ The Jewish council is going to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow under the pretext that there will be a thorough examination. ²¹ But don’t agree to do it, because 40 assassins have bound themselves to an oath not to eat or drink until they’ve killed Paul. Their plan is in motion, and they’re simply waiting for you to play your part.
²² The commandant sent the young man home with these instructions: “Don’t tell a soul that you’ve spoken with me.” ²³ Then he called for two officers.
Commandant: At nine o’clock tonight, you will leave for Caesarea with 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen. ²⁴ Have a mount for Paul to ride, and conduct him safely to Felix the governor.
²⁵ He wrote the following letter:
²⁶ Commandant Claudius Lysias greets his excellency, Felix, Governor. ²⁷ The accompanying prisoner was seized by Jews who were about to kill him. I learned he was a Roman citizen and intervened with the guard here to protect him. ²⁸ I arranged for a hearing before their council ²⁹ and learned that he was accused for reasons relating to their religious law, but that he has done nothing deserving imprisonment or execution. ³⁰ I was informed that a group was planning to assassinate him, so I sent him to you immediately. I will require his accusers to present their complaint before you.
³¹ So the soldiers followed their orders and safely conducted Paul as far as Antipatris that night. ^32-33 The next day, the horsemen conducted him on to Caesarea as the foot soldiers returned to the barracks. The horsemen delivered the letter and the prisoner to Felix who read the letter. ³⁴ The only question Felix asked concerned the province of Paul’s birth. When he learned Paul was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said,
Felix: As soon as your accusers arrive I will hear your case.
He placed Paul under guard within Herod’s headquarters.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Sometimes the harshest criticism can come from within the religious sectors of society. People thinking they are acting in the name of their god do the cruelest things to other human beings. Paul experienced it with the Jews who thought he preached blasphemies against their traditions. It’s interesting they forgot their own laws to try to stop him. They plotted Paul’s murder to stop him from talking about a Man who loved others.

Number six on My list of ten commandments given to Moses, the first commandment dealing with relationships outside your relationship with Me and your parents. You would think they could remember that little detail in their dealing with Paul, but these forty men, not just one, but forty, took an oath to kill Paul before before they would eat or drink again. They wanted to get Paul out of the way and would do anything to do it. Even break My most sacred laws, My ten commandments, to do so.

I often wonder how people can make the leap from religious piety to murder or breaking My other laws with abandon they way they do, but it happens more often than I’d like to remember. And it wasn’t just with those leaders of the Temple and synagogues of the first century. It happens in churches all over the world. People have their pet projects or pet doctrines that someone questions or disrupts and suddenly they will do anything to stop the stray voice. Anything! And they will do these things in My name. What irony.

My warning to you, be careful in your conduct. Watch for false prophets, but let Me take care of them. You are not responsible for their punishment or even their banishment from the world. You don’t need to listen to them or let them enter your fellowship, but murder? Hardly. Love is the answer. Grace and mercy are far more effective instruments than those used by people outside My grace and love.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.